Colt headed for bankruptcy?

Here is a basic way tosave the company by doing this:

A: Making the type of guns that people desire--like me--ie--exact makes for their SAA guns.

B: Sell them at reasonable prices starting well below what their guns are priced at now.

C: Make a new generation for all of their SAA line. Same goes for their GI fouty fives.Make those EXACTLY like the WWI and WWII versions--finish and all.

D: Create something new.

E: Make more commemoratives--but starting at about half the price of those they have done recently. Keeping a large segment of gun buyers out of buying because of high prices--makes noo one money--therefore--THEY lose.

I dont see that being so tough to do???
 
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That's a shame. My first off-duty gun was a Cobra purchased new in 1968 and I still have it. It's not carried much anymore b/c I'm told if it breaks parts will be hard to find plus finding someone who knows Colts will be harder. When I take it to the range it still shoots great, smoothest double action of any small .38 I own.
 
the ringo kid said:
Here is a basic way tosave the company by doing this:

A: ......
Click to expand...

Good list. To this I would add BLACK POWDER PISTOLS. I think there is a very large market for real Colt percussion pistols. They did this briefly a few years ago and those guns now sell at a nice premium. Very desirable with the black powder crowd.

They can be made inexpensively and sell for almost the price of a cartridge gun. The margins would be great, and they could sell them direct thru the mail in most jurisdictions. If they could get them to market for twice the price of the Italian clones I think they would sell well.
 
the ringo kid said:
Here is a basic way tosave the company by doing this:

A: Making the type of guns that people desire--like me--ie--exact makes for their SAA guns.

B: Sell them at reasonable prices starting well below what their guns are priced at now.

C: Make a new generation for all of their SAA line. Same goes for their GI forty fives.Make those EXACTLY like the WWI and WWII versions--finish and all.

D: Create something new.

E: Make more commemoratives--but starting at about half the price of those they have done recently. Keeping a large segment of gun buyers out of buying because of high prices--makes noo one money--therefore--THEY lose.

I dont see that being so tough to do???
Click to expand...

Only one problem: You have to WANT to see things as they are, and to be willing to take risks and change. Ain't gonna happen. See OODA loop diagram.

Kallokain: Re-Imagining Agile part 2: Designing from the outside in
 
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That is just it, you can only commemorative so much. I bought an ANVIII from them. Mine was numbered in the 200s or so and I thought wow I have something that only a few hundred will be made of. Then they went and produced 5 thousand of them. I could not sell it fast enough and now they are selling for hundreds less than when they were new. My tactical smiths are worth more, it was a shame really.

If you are going to make commemorative models then limit them to lower production like no more than 500 or 600. It is not limited nor desirable if you make thousands of them and everyone and their uncle have one. I bought one of three (1 .45 ACP, 1 .22 LR, and 1 .357 MAG) of my state issued Henry Big Boy's in 357 magnum/ 38 special and I will never sell it. It is 1 of 1 and there will be no more and I own it.

Colt kind of ruined the whole special production commemorative thing for me.
 
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I currently own 9 Colt 1911s ranging from 1914 to around 1990. I've never had a problem with any of them. I think this whole "Colt makes junk" thing has been way overblown by a few sub-standard guns.

However, Colt has been struggling bad since the 1960s. Union problems, loss of skilled labor and mostly really bad management has had the vultures picking at Colt's bones for a very long time. This is at least the third, maybe fourth, story of Colt's impending bankruptcy to come out in just the last year or two. Yet each time the deadline looms, somehow they manage to save the company for another round.
Sadly, I fear those bones have been pretty much picked clean. The old Colt's we knew and loved is as good as dead. Its just too far gone to make any kind of real comeback. They keep hanging in there and putting up a good fight, but its just a matter of time. :(
 
I was under the impression they had already secured a debt restructuring agreement and had received an injection of cash in order to meet the payments on their existing debt.

Has that changed?
 
As stated by several people further up this string, Colt has been a marketing disaster for close to 50 years. I would hate to see them go belly up, but I would not be surprised if they do. And they have only their own management to blame for their problems. If you don't react to market forces you die.
 
Very sad, but they did it to themselves.
They forgot the little people that kept them going for so long.
 
Not offering the revolvers like in the past like the snakes figuring the gov contracts were good enough is there demise. If the gov bailed out the auto makers with colt being more important they should help out colt too.

My new s&w may have some changes in the classic revolver there still offering them and I'm still buying them. I stick with a manufacturer who still offers what we want. So be it you snooze you lose. Where's my discount frequent buyers card from s&w?
 
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BigBill said:
Not offering the revolvers like in the past like the snakes figuring the gov contracts were good enough is there demise. If the gov bailed out the auto makers with colt being more important they should help out colt too.

My new s&w may have some changes in the classic revolver there still offering them and I'm still buying them. I stick with a manufacturer who still offers what we want. So be it you snooze you lose. Where's my discount frequent buyers card from s&w?
Click to expand...
let's buy some new s&w firearms. Let's show them our support. They been good to everyone for all these centuries let's show them our support in return.
 
Colts problem stem from turing their backs on us, the gun buyers and depending to heavily on government contract that they have since lost.

My suggestions to Colt,

Remove top management

Downsize, file bankruptcy if needed.

Move South, get away from the unions and the anti-gun north.

Relocate your most skilled key workers and pay them a fair wage.

Sell the best product you can for the lowest profitable price.

Reinvest in the best equipment, tech and people you can find.

Stay with your base, 1911's,SAA,DA wheel guns and AR's
but at the same time borrow, beg or steal a Glock, MP or HK type striker fired pistol design, that works and is competitively priced.

Make customer service your number one priority, attend all major gun shows.

Trash your dealer stocking program.
 
Colt is owned by a group looting their profits. How will becoming more competitive do anything but line more pockets?

Zero innovation, riding their name, losing the government contracts that have paid the bills for 50+ years. Sure, the name is still worth something. Say hello to "Colts" made in Turkey or the Philippines as has been stated by others.
 
4506517 said:
I was under the impression they had already secured a debt restructuring agreement and had received an injection of cash in order to meet the payments on their existing debt.

Has that changed?
Click to expand...

Sounds like Greece :D
 
Nothing much to add, other than I never saw them as anything special and won't miss them. As already stated, the only reason to get a Colt is to say "it's a Colt". They do nothing that other quality products do not do.
 
the ringo kid said:
Here is a basic way tosave the company by doing this:

A: Making the type of guns that people desire--like me--ie--exact makes for their SAA guns.

B: Sell them at reasonable prices starting well below what their guns are priced at now.

C: Make a new generation for all of their SAA line. Same goes for their GI fouty fives.Make those EXACTLY like the WWI and WWII versions--finish and all.

D: Create something new.

E: Make more commemoratives--but starting at about half the price of those they have done recently. Keeping a large segment of gun buyers out of buying because of high prices--makes noo one money--therefore--THEY lose.

I dont see that being so tough to do???
Click to expand...

You're talking about a HUGE capitol expenditure. Ain't gonna happen.

My only experience with a Colt was in 1970 while in the Academy. I was looking for a duty weapon and went to a LGS that allowed me to shoot both a Diamond Back and a Nickel Model 19. No contest, bought the 19 and that was the only duty weapon I ever carried.

Bob
 
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