[kev]

The only thing I have to say is GOOD.

• Colt has ignored the civilian market for way too long.
  
• They have refused to provide customers with a diversified product.
  
• Took too long releasing the civilian version of the M16 A4.
  
• Consumers have to jump through hoops to buy a colt product. As in they have to find a distributor.
  
• Where are the 6.5 and 300 blackout uppers?
  
• Why cant I order colt products straight from their website?

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2014/11/foghorn/colt-teetering-brink-bankrupcy/

Colt Defense LLC warned that it could default by the end of the year, as the privately owned company, which has suffered from declining demand for rifles and handguns, is likely to miss a payment to bondholders.

I can order a BCM, PSA, Spikes,,,, or any other number of quality brandnames off the internet straight from the manufacturer, and have that upper delivered to my home or employer, why should I buy a colt?

I would like to have a colt bolt carrier group. But I do not want to jump through hoops to find one. I can go to the BCM or PSA webpage and order all the parts I want. BCM bolt carrier groups are some of the best on the market. Why would I jump through hoops to buy a Colt when I can buy BCM straight from the BCM webpage and have it delivered to my home?

Colt is about to reap what they sow.

The sad thing is Colt is doing nothing to very little to compete. If I want a colt upper to go on my PSA or BCM lower, I have to look all over the internet. That is not how the current market operates. Chances are Colt is going to continue its pre-1990s business model right into bankruptcy

If a customer wants a bolt carrier group, sell it.

If a customer wants an upper, sell it.

There are too many good quality AR-15s on the market for colt to continue not catering to customers.

 

[Robot]

I'm guessing the state they are in, Connecticut, and the Union employees have something to do with this.

 

[kev]

I'm guessing the state they are in, Connecticut, and the Union employees have something to do with this.

Colt thinking they are too good to sell to civilians.

Colt focusing "only" on the M4 in 223 / 5.56mm.

What year was the M16 A4 introduced to the military? And we are just now seeing the A4 released to the civilian market?

No direct sales to consumers.

 

[Robot]

"Some criticized Colt's range of handgun products in the late 1980s as out of touch with the demands of the market, and their once-vaunted reputation for quality had suffered during the UAW strike"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt's_Manufacturing_Company

Auto workers strike made their quality go down, hmmmmm. I'm guessing Colt employees are UAW union members or at least sympathizers with that union.

 

[catmando]

capitalism is a GOOD thing, it strains out the worthless companies from those that produce good gear

 

[Enzo Lupara]

The AR 15 isn't my thing but I don't understand why they wouldn't better market their products and add new products that would sell well. I just checked out their website and the only revolvers listed were the Single Action Army in .357 or .45 Colt and the New Frontier in .44 special and .45 Colt.

A lot of us geezers would gladly pay for a new Colt Python made from superior materials with the qualities that the original was known for. Ruger still makes good money on their older product lines. I was just thinking last night that I would like a Super Redhawk in .454 casul or another Blackhawk, this one in .45 Colt

 

[Preacherboy]

Colt doesn't even produce (at least to sell to us) even close to as many pistols as other gun manufacturers...that's why I always thought it was more difficult to find Colt guns.

With that being said I have a Colt 6920 and a couple Colt 1911. I'm happy.

I think I have 4 PSA AR's though.

 

[kev]

I think I have 4 PSA AR's though.

With companies like this who cater to what consumers want:

PSA
BCM
Noveske
Daniel Defense
LMT
SIONICS

Why buy a colt?

I have been pondering on buying a 300 blackout upper. It sure will not be a colt, because as of yet I have not seen a colt 300 blk upper.

Colt is like the big 3 automakers in the 1970s. They think they do not have to adapt to a changing market, then along comes Nissan and Toyota. All of a sudden there is competition. People are not buying their product anymore, oh crap, now what?

This is not the 1980s or 1990s. People use this thing called "the internet" to order what they want. Having a product delivered to a customers front door is a foreign concept to colt. If a small company like Palmetto State Armory can do it, then so can Colt.

Colt needs to get with the times or they will be asking for a bailout like GM.

 

[Cahlan]

I've never really dealt with Colt, due to the availability of other high quality AR suppliers, but people seem to be willing to pay top dollar for that pony. I can't say I'm surprised at all though.

 

[KaBar67]

The Government contract must be slowing, Colt's bread and butter. I'm sure there were issues relating to meeting these contracts involved in their dismissal of the civilian market. Or maybe it was a political choice as some suggest. If so, that was stupid. Consider Beretta that covers both bases.

Interestingly, American manufacturing in other areas (especially high tech) is undergoing a boom of sorts.

 

[Unobtanium]

Hell, I'll sell you a L NIB legit colt bcg.
Colt is not hard to get a hold of. At all.

 

[Unobtanium]

The Government contract must be slowing, Colt's bread and butter. I'm sure there were issues relating to meeting these contracts involved in their dismissal of the civilian market. Or maybe it was a political choice as some suggest. If so, that was stupid. Consider Beretta that covers both bases.

Interestingly, American manufacturing in other areas (especially high tech) is undergoing a boom of sorts.

Slowing? They lost it. FN has it.

 

[Robot]

Perhaps they want to go under. Union contracts can be re-negotiated then.

They may have not sought other markets, as they are unable to compete in them as the company is currently structured.

I bet they come back stronger and leaner.

Perhaps Beretta will buy them at fire sale prices :

 

[Preacherboy]

If I had to go do battle right now...I'd take my Colt though over my PSA, RRA builds though.

For my handgun I'd take my Glock over my Colt 1911.

Even with RRA you can order stuff right off their website and have it sent to your home. I just ordered their 18" competition upper (since BCM never seemed to have the one I wanted in stock). Then low and behold I see something similar on PSA's site for cheaper!

I just wanted 1 Colt 6920 just to say I have one to be honest with you.

 

[kev]

Hell, I'll sell you a L NIB legit colt bcg.
Colt is not hard to get a hold of. At all.

Gunbroker has 2 or 3 listings for colt bcg, all in the 160 - 170 price range. G&R has them for $199.

Or, I can go to bcm and buy their bcg all day long for $169.

PSA has their premium bcgs on sale from time to time for $100.

 

[hank scorpio]

As has been pointed out, UAW is 90% of Colt's problem. Remington fixed this by moving to NC, FN to SC, and so on and so forth.

The other issue is that for a very long time, they only perused military contracts in lieu of a civilian market. In their defense though, that market really hadn't boomed until the sunset of the AWB. Even prior to the ban an AR-15 had a particular stigma that it doesn't have today.

The Unions nearly crushed Colt once, and I happen to own one of their ill fated Model 2000 pistols in all it's jam-o-matic glory, so I can attest to what went wrong during that timeframe. Colt is a great company that needs a better direction as well as a healthy dose of voting with their feet. Unions can't exist where there is no job(and shouldn't exist at all). If they were to move to a right to work state, bring back the snake pistols, and concentrate on continuing to build a 5.56 and 308 to the level that they do, they'll be fine.

 

[Unobtanium]

Gunbroker has 2 or 3 listings for colt bcg, all in the 160 - 170 price range. G&R has them for $199.

Or, I can go to bcm and buy their bcg all day long for $169.

PSA has their premium bcgs on sale from time to time for $100.

So what's the problem?

 

[Unobtanium]

As has been pointed out, UAW is 90% of Colt's problem. Remington fixed this by moving to NC, FN to SC, and so on and so forth.

The other issue is that for a very long time, they only perused military contracts in lieu of a civilian market. In their defense though, that market really hadn't boomed until the sunset of the AWB. Even prior to the ban an AR-15 had a particular stigma that it doesn't have today.

The Unions nearly crushed Colt once, and I happen to own one of their ill fated Model 2000 pistols in all it's jam-o-matic glory, so I can attest to what went wrong during that timeframe. Colt is a great company that needs a better direction as well as a healthy dose of voting with their feet. Unions can't exist where there is no job(and shouldn't exist at all). If they were to move to a right to work state, bring back the snake pistols, and concentrate on continuing to build a 5.56 and 308 to the level that they do, they'll be fine.

Unions do have a place though.

 

[Richard Slekzik]

They Coasted on Government contracts,but thats winded down,and they totally missed the boat on the Civilian,Concealed Carry,and Defensive Handgun market, the last colt I bought was a magnum carry 357 snub in 2002,got lucky I guess because it was a pretty good revolver,the 38super 1911 I bought in 1999 was terrible,i got it home and disassembled it,and it was full of metal shavings and had to make parts replacements and upgrades for reliability.

 

[Robot]

they totally missed the boat on the Civilian,Concealed Carry,and Defensive Handgun market, .

My guess is they didn't miss the boat, they knew they had too much overhead to be competitive in that market. Edited, sounds like too much debt and incompetence in management:

http://www.businessweek.com/article...ers-owners-have-led-it-to-crisis-after-crisis

interesting article