2017: Colt's re-entry into the revolver market

[reddog81]

Hmmm, I thought that already happened in 2013, 2014, 2015, or maybe 2016.

I hope it happens but I'm not holding my breath. Give that Kimber has entered the market and most large manufacturers are expanding their offerings it would seem to be feasible.

 

[senecaap]

It would be nice, but no. Colt is struggling right now on every front. Colt ceded the DA revolver market to Smith and Ruger while the police market was still a revolver only proposition, and real money was to be made. They can't get the numbers Ruger can and their attempt to compete with the Vaquero with the economy Cowboy (the price of which you could buy two Vaqueros)was a dud....and that is a market they had a 100 year head start on. I still buy their 1911s but that hill is long lost.

Right now, at the cost of new machinery and tooling and new training and labor, their DA revolver pricing would have to pick up at current crazy collector level to be anywhere near break even. The same people who are amazed by Kimber's new revolver would snarl in revolt at a similar offering from under the blue dome. Whatever was released would immediately be compared to a Python (as opposed to current competition), be panned as inferior (and it would be), and wind out costing Colt millions or perhaps even putting the last nail in.

I could be wrong, and wish I was, but as Silly Wizard sang "the old days will ne'er come again."

 

[John Fugate]

2016- I couldn't believe it either, here are few new models that just rolled off the assembly line. They are making them in .22 .32 and .38, who knows whats next.










Heres one they are working on for next year,,






Even a big bore in the works,,





Who knows maybe a few small frame .22 target models might show up.



SOMEBODY WAKE ME UP IM DREAMING ,,,

 

[retiredbadge8091]

I doubt it, but then again S&W is bringing back a Model 66 snubbie allegedly so anything's possible.

 

[Faulkner]

I love Colt's revolvers...the cylinder rotates in the RIGHT direction, and the cylinder unlocks in the correct direction!

I also think Colt's design has always had something over the S&W...especially the Python, and Trooper models, as well as the Agent.

I'd love to see a reintroduction of COLT branded revolvers - even if they simply bring back the models they once produced, but what I and I am sure no others want to see is the reintroduction of Colt stratospheric pricing!

I mean, in case nobody else ever noticed, I actually OWN Uberti and "genuine" modern production COLT BP revolvers that are CLEAR "litter mates" in terms of build, with the Colt branded version having received specific markings and finish to match originals from way back. I have long had my suspicion that Colt SAA revolvers are basic Uberti contract pieces that are then shipped to Colt for the proprietary final finishing, and this is exactly how Colt could LEAP right back into the DA revo market! The RIA M206 uses the Colt pattern already...crudely done, but if NICELY done, and updated with an alloy frame, maybe alloy barrel shroud with steel insert, such a gun could come in at a more modern, more "saleable" weight and IF priced right...somewhere close at least to the S&W competition, yet with "COLT" stamped on the barrel, it would indeed sell like hotcakes.

I often wonder about the greedy mindset of whatever bean-counter CEO is running any given gun company that seems oblivious to the REALITY of gun positioning and pricing! I mean, sure, you CAN Charge $2K for a "COLT" SAA, and you'll sell about 50 a year, or you can charge $600 for a "COLT" SAA and sell AS MANY AS YOU CAN MAKE per year!!!!!!!

I love Colt's design, but, being a "user" of guns, I don't love them so much that I would buy one just to look at for a premium.

Colt's always seemed to be smoother, that's for sure. But for real duty use a S&W 586/686 or even a Ruger GP100 was more robust than a Python any day of the week.

 

[tndrfttom]

Pietta Python Replica?

Not to change the subject but whatever happened to the Python replica that Pietta said they were going to make? It got some discussion in 2015/16 and I thought that a prototype had been shown at the 2016 Shot Show. Just curious.

 

[Tom K]

2016- I couldn't believe it either, here are few new models that just rolled off the assembly line. They are making them in .22 .32 and .38, who knows whats next.
....



....

Colt needs to go to Sparta, TN and get some shiny brand new boxes. Some of those look decades old.

 

[dmar]

2016- I couldn't believe it either, here are few new models that just rolled off the assembly line. They are making them in .22 .32 and .38, who knows whats next.










Heres one they are working on for next year,,






Even a big bore in the works,,





Who knows maybe a few small frame .22 target models might show up.



SOMEBODY WAKE ME UP IM DREAMING ,,,

I know that's just the tip of the iceberg, John, but that's an awesome collection!

 

[dmar]

2016- I couldn't believe it either, here are few new models that just rolled off the assembly line. They are making them in .22 .32 and .38, who knows whats next.










Heres one they are working on for next year,,






Even a big bore in the works,,





Who knows maybe a few small frame .22 target models might show up.



SOMEBODY WAKE ME UP IM DREAMING ,,,

I know that's just the tip of the iceberg, John, but that's an awesome collection; beautiful Colts!

 

[les.b]

John:

Thanks with sharing some of the finest Colts I have ever seen with us!! What a shame that the world will never see revolvers of that quality again. And I include the Smiths from that era as well. I have a lot of Colts, many from the era of your collection, but none in the pristine condition that yours exhibit.

Best Regards, Les

 

[Harkrader]

The question for me is: What do they have to offer?

Compact? Covered.
More than 6 shots? Covered.

Attractive? In the eye of the beholder.

Collectible? *I'M* not interested. I am not a museum.

Spectacular accuracy? Really?

Dirt cheap. Would anyone, in the U.S., at least, buy a new $200 Colt?

What would it compete against? New Model 27? 686? It would have to be, uh, spectacular - whatever THAT would mean - and competitively prices.

Ruger GP-100? SP-101? Well, I do think there's room for Colt, there.

I also think a new .44 shooter would be of interest. I have an Anaconda I used to carry backpacking, but went through a series of S&W .44s finally settling on the 329PD for all but big bear territory.

The Anaconda is close in size to the 29 and if Colt made one with the kind of killer looks of the Anaconda that wasn't extravagantly priced, I'd jump.

I already have a Det Spec and don't feel I need an alternative. Same for the Police Positive.

Commemoratives? I am not a museum.

Maybe they can do something alternative, like the Rhino or Kimber, but I can't imagine it.

 

[Engine49guy]

IMO Colt would be wise to reintroduce a SS Python since that model gets the most attention and price premium nowadays,
Priced under $900 without any IL or MIM with full parts interchangeability with the older ones and Im VERY interested... a .22lr Version of the SS Python would also catch my interest.

A SS copy of the Diamondback in .22lr, .32 Mag and .38 Special in various barrel lengths (especially 3" and 4") would also interest me if priced in the $700 range... otherwise not so much .

 

[DWalt]

If Colt ever does decide to get back into the DA revolver business (which I doubt), you can bet they will not be manufactured in the USA, but possibly assembled and finished here.

 

[rwt1405]

Not going to happen.

 

[Targets Guy]

Nice looking revolvers. Thanks for sharing.

 

[gman51]

I read that a Colt big wig said Colt would not be making revolvers again because Colt has lost about all their revolver gunsmiths and that making a quality revolver now would be to costly to be competitive.
BUT and we all know there could be a but....... and maybe tomorrow Colt could be making revolvers. All I can say is it would have to be very high quality yet competitive priced or it will be a bust for Colt. I don't see Colt investing in training people to make a quality revolver.
I have three Colt revolvers and they are all impressive guns.

According to this article The Cobra will be hitting the LGS this January.
American Rifleman | The Keefe Report: Colt Cobra—A New Factory Double-Action Colt

 

[hkcavalier]

Without tooling I think we may see the Colt name on guns made elsewhere, but unless they're hiding something very well I really don't see how they'd make new guns.

 

[GoHogs]

Colt IS making and introducing a new Colt revolver - a "Colt Cobra" .38 Spl +P - fiber optic front sight, steel frame and a new grip structure with what appear to be Colt marked Hogue grips.

 

[John Fugate]

I appreciate the nice comments on my old Colts , I think all we have left are memories of what once was. It's hard to imagine a company could make such great quality In the 1930's, being 80 years behind the technology that is available to us today. It's not about what we know today and what we are capable of building ,, it's what there not willing to do to make it happen. You know Colt could theoretically build a better gun than they did 80 years ago. But to accomplish that it would take another motive other than just the bottom line, it would take a company to want to build a better product or possibly the best product. The bottom line is that's not going to happen , because of the almighty bottom line. Quality has went to hell in all aspects of manufacturing. Build it cheaper, build it faster and if we're making money ,, who cares. We are in a who cares era ,, look around at all the beautiful molded plastic craftsmenship that surrounds your world. The arms on your computer chair look a lot like , your new S&W pistol which closely resembles your remote control to your Samsung TV . Yea ,,,, were there sadly enough. 2017

 

[DWalt]

Putting aside all other considerations, at least for me, there is a good feeling I get when picking up one of the classic Colt DAs from between the wars that is not the same as I get from picking up any DA S&W. I'm not at all sure that if Colt started manufacturing new DAs, they could capture that same feel.

Case in point, the re-introduction of the Ford (retro)Thunderbird in the early 2000s. It was a good-looking car, but by 2005 it just couldn't make the grade with the buying public, one reason (among many others) being that many buyers said that it just didn't have the same driving "feel" as the classic T-Bird little cars of the mid-1950s.