Without the RIA/armscorp would we have a new Colt?

[WestKentucky]

Curiousity strikes. We lost Colt revolvers decades ago. There was still a clear market for them though, but over time the horde of Colt revolver fans slowly either transitioned over to other brands, or bought up older Colt guns. Then seemingly out of nowhere we have a copy of an agent come o to the market from the Phillipines. It sold like crazy, and showed just how much of a market there still was/is for a Colt style revolver. Without that knowledge or without that market share being in play, would Colt have ever bothered to reintroduce their double actions? To me it seems like the thought was that there was enough interest which RIA/Armscorp proved to dabble, and a quick dabble led quickly to a bellyflop into the market with the Cobra and now the Python with people discussing Anaconda and Diamondback guns as hopeful additions. In my book, the RIA revolver helped clear the path by showing a market existed and the collectors showed where it could be profitable.

 

[shoebox1.1]

Interesting theory. Highly plausible

 

[Electricmo]

Why RIA? What about all the S&W’s that were and are sold ? Rugers?

 

[HB]

People aren’t buying RIA because they are “colt styled”. They are buying them because they are functional and $200

 

[CraigC]

We lost Colt revolvers decades ago.

Do people not realize that Colt never stopped producing the SAA???

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Do people not realize that Colt never stopped producing the SAA???

I'm *not* paying ~$2k and waiting 2 years for a Colt SAA when I can buy a used Colt, Ruger Vaquero, or any number of decent Italian clones.

 

[1KPerDay]

I'm *not* paying ~$2k and waiting 2 years for a Colt SAA when I can buy a used Colt, Ruger Vaquero, or any number of decent Italian clones.

Yeah why pay $1800 for a new Colt when you can buy a used Colt for $2300?

 

[Mr. Mosin]

Yeah why pay $1800 for a new Colt when you can buy a used Colt for $2300?

Ah. I was unaware of the price hike of new vs used Colt's

 

[WestKentucky]

Ah. I was unaware of the price hike of new vs used Colt's

If it’s indicative of the early new pythons, that’s the cost a man pays for one that has been fired a few times to make sure the cylinder doesn’t end up staying still... $500 proving fee.

 

[sabbfan]

I’d say it has more to do with Kimber’s new revolver and the remaining popularity of the Smith, Ruger Taurus etc revolvers than the Armscor, I’ve handled the M200 and it’s definitely a $200 revolver. I’m sure it shoots but it’s not going to make anyone fall in love with revolvers.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

I heard a theory that Colt ceased production of civilian ARs to make way for their revolver reproduction. Originally their salesman said it was because Colt doesn't feel like Civilians should have ARs. But the former theory restores my hope in the company.
Don't know what's true and what isn't.

 

[357 Terms]

. It sold like crazy, and showed just how much of a market there still was/is for a Colt style revolver.

I'm sure those at Colt would have a chuckle at the comparison of the RIA being a "Colt style revolver"
I think RIA showed there was a market for a $250 revolver.
From the ones I've handled I would only speak of Colt in the same sentence as an Armscorp as in "this may fit a holster for a DS", or a reference to the cylinder release.

 

[sabbfan]

I heard a theory that Colt ceased production of civilian ARs to make way for their revolver reproduction. Originally their salesman said it was because Colt doesn't feel like Civilians should have ARs. But the former theory restores my hope in the company.
Don't know what's true and what isn't.

Its more likely their AR’s weren’t selling as the market is saturated, and a Colt branded revolver was an almost guaranteed seller based on the name alone, especially since it turned out to be a good product as well. Colt might not make always make the best decisions but I think this one was a good one.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

Colt might not make always make the best decisions but I think this one was a good one.

I completely agree. For the company that literally invented the modern revolver, was a shame they ever stopped producing their starred product.
I'm a sucker for their revolvers too, just a homely-family like feeling when I think of their revolver lineup.

 

[CraigC]

I'm *not* paying ~$2k and waiting 2 years for a Colt SAA when I can buy a used Colt, Ruger Vaquero, or any number of decent Italian clones.

What you would and would not pay for is irrelevant. The OP stated that Colt stopped making revolvers decades ago and that is simply untrue.

To your comment, the thread is about Pythons so a $2000 is not exactly a different ballpark.

The Vaquero doesn't even scratch the same itch, so if that's an option, the Colt never was in the first place.

There are lots of folks who don't want to pay $2000 for any revolver but the fact remains that there are distinct differences in quality between $500 and $2000 SAA's and replicas.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

The Colts that people want are the SAAs and the snake guns. If you went down a firing line and asked 50 random shooters "would you be interested in a re-introduced Detective Special?", I'm betting you would get 50 funny looks.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

The Colts that people want are the SAAs and the snake guns. If you went down a firing line and asked 50 random shooters "would you be interested in a re-introduced Detective Special?", I'm betting you would get 50 funny looks.

yea the detective special isn't even my favorite. Reintroducing the Official Police would get a straight glance from me, as well as my wallet

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

Although current output of the Single Action Army is very, very slow and sporadic, Colt never completely stopped manufacturing them.

The used 2nd Gen from 1968 at the bottom of this photo cost $680 out the door. Somebody had removed all the blue and most of the colors of the Case Hardening in an effort to make it look old. That did not bother me, I have been shooting it for close to 20 years now, with nothing but Black Powder 45 Colt ammunition. Of course that was close to 20 years ago, it would probably cost a little bit more now. The one at the top of the photo from 1973 cost $1600 a couple of years later. Nobody had messed with the finish on it. Yeah, I have put a little bit of muzzle wear on it over the years.






A 2nd Gen New Frontier from 1965 that I paid $900 for last year. The grips are not original, that's why they don't fit perfectly. Ask me if I care.






My point is, there are some terrific old Colts out there, but you have to beat the bushes a little bit.

I have a few others, both 1st Gen and 2nd Gen, but they were a bit more spendy.



Regarding the popularity of the Python: I rack it up to that stupid TV show about zombies, where one of the characters is armed with one. Since that show came out, there has been a resurgence of interest in the Python.

Kind of like the S&W Model 29. S&W had been producing the 44 Magnum, which later became the Model 29 since 1956, but sales did not really take off until the Dirty Harry movie came out in 1971.

Then there was the S&W Schofield. Sales of the replicas did not take off until the movie The Unforgiven, with the Schofield Kid character, came out in 1992. Roy Jinks once commented that after that movie came out he got a lot of inquiries about 'Schofield' owners that turned out not to be Schofields at all. But that is a tale for another time.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

A 2nd Gen New Frontier from 1965

Looks like a Ruger Blackhawk. From what I understand, Ruger brought back the old west with their Blackhawk after Colt ceased production for a few years, and after the Blackhawk took off, Colt started making the SAA again. That New Frontier follows the 50s trend to make western revolvers modern?

I could be completely wrong about my history though

 

[Mr. Mosin]

@CraigC you miss the point, and I'm not in a mood to enlighten you

 

[CraigC]

Obviously.

 

[357 Terms]

Funny derailment! ...
With all the references to $2000 SAA Colts and other expensive and coveted high quality revolvers...
This is what the OP was referring to...

 

[Mr. Mosin]

What you would and would not pay for is irrelevant. The OP stated that Colt stopped making revolvers decades ago and that is simply untrue.

To your comment, the thread is about Pythons so a $2000 is not exactly a different ballpark.

The Vaquero doesn't even scratch the same itch, so if that's an option, the Colt never was in the first place.

There are lots of folks who don't want to pay $2000 for any revolver but the fact remains that there are distinct differences in quality between $500 and $2000 SAA's and replicas.

For the common man, Colt may have well stopped revolver production decades ago. Why am I gonna pay $1500 to $2000 for a SAA when I can pay $500 and get a near identical replica ? For the common Joe that's gonna shoot one box of ammo a year, the Colt is just a name. $1500 is a lotta groceries. I will admit, the only and only Colt I've fondled... er... handled was an absolute masterpiece of quality and craftsmanship. But it wasn't worth $2000. Not to me, and not to most Average Joe's.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

A $200 crapshoot. Even in *my* personal situation, with my love of revolvers that borders on a fetish/obsession; I'd go with a Ruger LCP over any of those I've handled.

 

[CraigC]

For the common man, Colt may have well stopped revolver production decades ago. Why am I gonna pay $1500 to $2000 for a SAA when I can pay $500 and get a near identical replica ? For the common Joe that's gonna shoot one box of ammo a year, the Colt is just a name. $1500 is a lotta groceries. I will admit, the only and only Colt I've fondled... er... handled was an absolute masterpiece of quality and craftsmanship. But it wasn't worth $2000. Not to me, and not to most Average Joe's.

If you want to discuss the merits of $2000 revolvers versus $500 revolvers, start another thread.