Colt Halts Production Of Long Guns For The Retail Market
BY Herschel Smith
5 years, 2 months ago
Via WiscoDave, TTAG.
“We have just been notified by Colt Firearms that they will be discontinuing production of all Colt long guns to focus on regaining military contracts.
This isn’t surprising. After my son returned from Iraq and had a chance to work with the RRA rifle I had, he told me that the Colts they were issued were vastly inferior to my own rifle.
Colt has long ago jettisoned QA in favor of bulk government contracts. That isn’t the first mistake they’ve made, viz. the withdrawal from the revolver market to leave S&W the only manufacturer involved in revolvers, only then to see Ruger enter the market in a big way and then a resurgence of interest in wheel guns. Too bad they’ve lost all of their revolver mechanics and no longer make the Python (which still sells for $2500 – $5000 if you can find one).
Another aspect of their demise surely involves their commitment to Connecticut where the state hates them, their workers are union shop, and their senior management inept.
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On September 12, 2019 at 5:49 am, ragman said:
I have a Colt Defense AR and it is a quality rifle, if on the expensive side. That being said, I’m building an AR for substantially less that will be a superior firearm. We have so many choices now that Colt is irrelevant in the big picture and management doesn’t seem to care about American Citizens. Any gun manufacturers that stay in Connecticut deserve to go outta business.
On September 12, 2019 at 7:57 am, Bram said:
I used to work my unit Armorer on our small arms. There was an amazing difference between the Colt M16A2s and the those manufactured by FN and others. The Colts were literally loose – if you grabbed the stock and handguard and twisted, there was an amazing amount of play. No play at all with the FNs.
Guess which ones were more accurate and reliable? And guess which I made sure I was issued as my rifle?
On September 12, 2019 at 8:04 am, Fred said:
That statement doesn’t make sense. Why would they idle a current line of business if it were profitable in hopes of a future unknown line of business. Something is wrong(er) at Colt than meets the eye or they are simply re-tooling for larger runs. My guess, exactly as ragman stated, their product is comparatively too expensive. Probably, they are not making money, and need to get back on the Uncle Sugar gravy train.
On September 12, 2019 at 8:28 am, Bram said:
Senators Dodd and Lieberman had the pull to keep the gravy flowing for Colt. Bluemental and Murphy don’t.
Colt now has to compete with the likes of Sig, FN, and others who have seriously upped their game – for both military and civilian sales.
On September 12, 2019 at 10:34 am, MTHead said:
All that, and the fact they have been tossed around wall street like a 20 dollar hooker at a Clinton party. Stupid is as stupid does. All they’ve done lately is sully Sam Colts good name. They can’t die quick enough.
On September 12, 2019 at 12:39 pm, Fred said:
Tom Gresham @Guntalk says this story might not be true.
On September 12, 2019 at 5:40 pm, Pat Hines said:
Colt has two choices, move into the south and cooperate with FN in South Caroline or go out of business.
On September 13, 2019 at 10:34 am, Arthur Sido said:
Businesses that don’t adapt, die. The long gun market is changing rapidly and it seems like Colt hasn’t been paying attention. Like others have said, being HQd in a state hostile to the 2nd Amendment doesn’t help. For the vast majority of gun owners you can get a rifle of similar quality for a lot less money.
On September 14, 2019 at 8:20 am, John said:
The Colts are junk as was revealed in the politically twisted military acceptance trials.
Also, Colt did this back in the 70’s and 80’s and when the military orders dried up, so did Colt.
On September 15, 2019 at 8:43 pm, StillSworn said:
You might want to deepen your research and watch future events.
Trim the paint brush. Shed the emotions.
On September 15, 2019 at 9:08 pm, Herschel Smith said:
@StillSworn,
People tell me I have no emotions. I’m sure it isn’t true, but in this case I have no commitment at all to Colt, nor do I wish them ill. I do not have any Colt Firearms. I’m sure I never will, unless someone wants to gift me a Python.
This is all clinical. I suspect Colt is in trouble.