Triathloncoach
Member
One foot in the grave, the other on a banana peel.
Gun Manufacturer Colt Warns of Possible Default - WSJ - WSJ
Gun Manufacturer Colt Warns of Possible Default - WSJ - WSJ
Colt is knocking on Deaths Door
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This link is not behind a pay wall. Gun Manufacturer Colt Warns of Possible Default - iMarket Reports
Colt makes two of the most popular firearms designs in history, the 1911 and the AR15/M16. The problem is that so does everyone else in the gun manufacturing industry.
Depending on the US government for the bulk of your sales is risky.
Not having a diversified line of product is more risky.
Someone will probably by the name and trade marks at bankruptcy, but it won't really be Colt.
Colt makes two of the most popular firearms designs in history, the 1911 and the AR15/M16. The problem is that so does everyone else in the gun manufacturing industry.
Depending on the US government for the bulk of your sales is risky.
Not having a diversified line of product is more risky.
Someone will probably by the name and trade marks at bankruptcy, but it won't really be Colt.
James&theGiant1911
Member
they made the mistake of hiring a former defense commander as their CEO and head decision maker. They all but care less about the consumer market and that has been evident for years as their consumer catalogs are the same designs year after year. Not to mention their custom shop which leaves a lot to be desired. The consumer market is fragmented with a ton of specialty 1911 makers. One of them purchasing the name could make some wonderful pieces again.
Closest they came to opening a plant here is putting the blue awning over the doorway (been there for several years) into the "plant." County leaders say they have till Spring to go or get off the pot. They'll be out of business before then. Sad really, much like the rest of "industrial" America. Joe
Erich
Member
You could do a semester-long "How Not To Run A Business" class on Colt's - I wonder who'd be good at writing an "insider's" book on the whole debacle.
CatSnipah
Member
Default. Get bought. Reorganize & relocate. Reopen.
I'd hate to think what they'd have to get for a new Python, if it were the equal of the old ones. And let's be honest...how many would they really sell? Enough to justify doing it? Hate to say it, but most of today's shooters would probably rather have an ugly, mass-produced, piece of Tupperware.
Do you mean like Winchester, Marlin, Remington, Savage, Ithaca and a few others I can't remember?
When they are sold it's the end of that company as far as I'm concerned.
There will be pre 15's and post 15's. You won't want to buy a post 15. We all know why.
S&WIowegan
US Veteran
Their iconic brands have kept them alive longer than they deserved. One of the most mismanaged companies in history. They need to shed their liabilities and work force and start fresh somewhere away from New England.
Every time they drop a product, the existing items skyrocket in value. No benefit to the company.
RIP
Every time they drop a product, the existing items skyrocket in value. No benefit to the company.
RIP
... and do it someplace other than anti-2A Connecticut.
R. G. Amos
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Wonder how FN is doing.
+1
And not as big of a seller these days but the SAA is pretty iconic.
jframe
Member
No double action revolvers, no new rifles, nothing new in the auto pistol market, plus over paid and over benefitted UAW labor. China, here we come! How about a Chinese made SAA?
Why not. They built a very nice copy of a USGI 1911. My neighbor has one and I'm going to buy it when he liquidates his collection. It looks a little rough inside as you can see tool marks but it is equal or better than an original 1911A1, just doesn't have the correct roll stamp. $500 0r $1500, your choice.
While they might not be in as bad a shape as Colt, most gun makers are taking a bath these days. Purchases fueled by "The Panic" are long over with. There's product in gun shop show cases, but very little is moving. The owner of my LGS laments how slow it's been this year. AR's and 1911's are a glut on the market and cowboy action shooters are opt'ing for Ruger and Uberti six-shooters, not the venerable SAA. I've got a SAA, a Police Positive, and two Series 70 1911's that I love dearly, but as far as getting anything new from Hartford? Doubtful.
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When I was running an IT project at work, our hardware came from a small company that made a ruggedized tablet computer. Good people, good customer service.
They were bought out by a bigger company, with a history of dealing mostly with the US military.
Turn around time went from about a week to 2-3 months. The new management decided that they would use the same approach they used for the military to the civilian market. They'd let broken units sit until they had enough to make it worth while ordering parts. Depending on the problem that could be a week or 3 months.
I, along with some other civilian customers raised holy h*** with them and they went back to the old policy of fixing the stuff as we sent it in. Apparently, the military had tons of spares and could lose a unit for months without noticing it.
No doubt some of that mindset came to the company when they hired their new CEO.
They were bought out by a bigger company, with a history of dealing mostly with the US military.
Turn around time went from about a week to 2-3 months. The new management decided that they would use the same approach they used for the military to the civilian market. They'd let broken units sit until they had enough to make it worth while ordering parts. Depending on the problem that could be a week or 3 months.
I, along with some other civilian customers raised holy h*** with them and they went back to the old policy of fixing the stuff as we sent it in. Apparently, the military had tons of spares and could lose a unit for months without noticing it.
No doubt some of that mindset came to the company when they hired their new CEO.
Grayfox
US Veteran
Its a shame to lose such a historic brand. But as others have mentioned, they did it to themselves.
No doubt someone will buy them and a New Colt will be born. Hopefully the new owners will have more sense than the old ones.
No doubt someone will buy them and a New Colt will be born. Hopefully the new owners will have more sense than the old ones.
The wonder is how long they've lasted. I've been collecting Colt catalogues for my entire shooting career expecting them to crater any moment.
Nothing like running a century-plus of effort and an iconic American company into the ground. They haven't been creative or competitive for 50 years now. If they go under now it'll be sad--but it won't matter.
Nothing like running a century-plus of effort and an iconic American company into the ground. They haven't been creative or competitive for 50 years now. If they go under now it'll be sad--but it won't matter.
HOUSTON RICK
Member
Given their prices and the average American income, difficulty would be expected.
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