Colt close to bankrupcy

[irishrob]

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2014/1 ... bankrupcy/

[Whootsinator]

Lack of innovation will do that to a company, when everyone else around you is intelligently evolving.

[guncrank1]

This is not the first time Colt was or near bankrupt, when you depend on the government as your main customer, when the contract ends or is cancelled , you can die when that happens.
Happened to Knight's Armaments.
Colt was just bigger with more worth so it took longer.
That is one reason gun companies moved to west and south, cheaper labor costs.
Wow so they pay the skilled worker less.
That way the most skilled move to other work/companies- so then you die quicker.
YGG is right.
Plus the AR market is in a down ward spiral ,all the 07 that got in the market will be gone in a year or two or they will be a player in the back rifle market.

[Frailer]

This is what happens when you put all your eggs in one basket.

[jackalo626]

This is what happens when you put all your eggs in one basket.

Agreed.

[Toecutter1978]

Only Colt that interests me are the older GI model. The 1991 is muh at best. Sad thing is a new Colt is so overpriced for what you get. Well it is in my eyes. Hope they can figure something out. A decent priced setup would be great, but I doubt Colt really cares about coming out with that.

[Toddstang]

Freedom Group will end up buying them out, just wait and see.

[Niceguy]

Freedom Group will end up buying them out, just wait and see.

And eventually our government will buy "freedom" out...

[WLJ]

Colt has been on the ragged edge of going under for years, they haven't introduced a new design in recent memory other than the FUBARed Colt 2000 which nearly sank the company then. The only thing that kept them afloat for the past 50 years was the Govt M16/M4 contracts and they've lost that. They can't seem to get out of the mindset that their name alone will carry them along.

[Rext]

They should come back with their classics like S&W did. New Pythons and such would kill for a while

[DDgunslinger]

Colt has been relying on their name and .mil contracts for years... either show some innovation or fall to the way side like all the rest. It's that simple.

[Mike]

"Colt Classic" Pythons and snake guns would help but they would probably screw that up as well.


Someone will buy them up and they will still have Colt marked guns being produced.

[Toddstang]

They should come back with their classics like S&W did. New Pythons and such would kill for a while

That would be the best thing even the old Civil War era revolvers.

[WLJ]

They should come back with their classics like S&W did. New Pythons and such would kill for a while

That would be the best thing even the old Civil War era revolvers.

Doubt very seriously they could sell enough of them to keep the company afloat. What they need is a new up to date design to compete with with the likes of Glocks, S&W M&P line, etc..... to bring in badly needed cash. How many new models has Glock, S&W, Ruger, Beretta, CZ, and others introduced in the period since Colt last introduced anything other than the POS 2000?

Lets face it, when they lost the govt AR contracts it was as if the life support was pulled on a 130 year old man in a coma who hasn't been awake in over 40 years.

[RecoilSensitive]

Ya they would have to bring proces way down on stuff to compete in civ market fully

[Toecutter1978]

Ya they would have to bring proces way down on stuff to compete in civ market fully

That won't happen. Even the basic 70 series they produce sometimes gets around a grand. Too many other choices out there

[Dave1965]

I think Rex is right, bring out lots of the old SNAKE wheel guns at a little more reasonable prices. Introduce a cheaper revolver like the Smith J frame. Pump out more of the 70 series and other 1911 and especially at a little cheaper price.

I would much rather buy a colt 1911 at 800 than a kimber or smith.

And the revolvers are awesome.

Lower the price on a introductory Colt AR like the sporter Smith or DPMS and it would outsell them all.

[Toddstang]

This is what turned a lot of Colt fans away from Colt during the Billary years:
http://articles.courant.com/1996-09-19/ ... e-officers

This was the start of losing the civilian market.

[ssracer]

I've never understood why people on sites like M4C still hold Colt as the gold standard for AR15's. They've been pumping out the exact same thing for half a century with no new innovation.

[Toddstang]

Visited M4C one time. That's all I needed.
LOL!

[Frailer]

I think Rex is right, bring out lots of the old SNAKE wheel guns at a little more reasonable prices...

I don't know if it would be possible. I doubt there are enough craftsmen with the skill required, which would require extensive (and expensive) training or equally expensive technology.

I also don't think there is a sufficient market. I'm a revolver guy, but even I have no interest in a Python.

[Dave1965]

Colt name is the colt name. Tons of people recognize it and respect it. Doesn't make it right or wrong but it is what it is. I would love to have a 4" version of each of the snake revolvers. Have had a few over the years. I would prefer a lower price Colt M4 over any of the lower or mid tier M4 type guns. It will hold its value better because of name recognition alone.

[Whootsinator]

I've never understood why people on sites like M4C still hold Colt as the gold standard for AR15's. They've been pumping out the exact same thing for half a century with no new innovation.

They are the Gold STANDARD. The standard is acceptable, but can and should be exceeded. Currently basic Colt ARs from Walmart and the like are the cheapest way to reliably meet that standard, so I'd call their current pricing pretty reasonable.

I'd agree that they should bring back some of their classics, but I don't believe it would save them. I don't believe the profits could equal the amount of money it would take to get them back up and running efficiently in the short term. Long term, I absolutely think it would benefit them. First, get caught up in technology with everyone else in the AR game and keep the already reasonable prices for base models to at least stop sliding down their slippery slope. Then, CONTINUE innovating all around and bring back the classics with quality to match the originals.

[WLJ]

I've never understood why people on sites like M4C still hold Colt as the gold standard for AR15's. They've been pumping out the exact same thing for half a century with no new innovation.

And they bought the design from Armalite to boot.

[Toecutter1978]

This is what turned a lot of Colt fans away from Colt during the Billary years:
http://articles.courant.com/1996-09-19/ ... e-officers

This was the start of losing the civilian market.

Crazy how they push junk and call it innovative