Did Colt stop making revolvers?

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Not true.
Colt has spent literally millions upgrading the "civilian" side with modern CNC centers & so on in the past two years.
They were putting more into the military side for several years because without those military contracts here & abroad, there would be no Colt today.

They took their DA revolvers off the market because people were not buying enough to keep them in production.

Old story, old nonsense.
Colt did what they did because it was either take that route or go under.
Denis
 
As much as I’d like to see Colt re-enter the DA revolver market, I believe that it would be very difficult for them to succeed in the market.

The first hurdle would be the size of the market. Right now there are two manufactures of quality DA revolvers, S&W and Ruger. Is there really enough demand for quality DA revolvers to support a third manufacturer? I doubt it. Quality DA revolvers, to me, seems to be a niche market. Moderately priced semi automatic pistols seems to be the current growth market.

To have any hope of getting any market share of a limited market Colt would need to be price competitive with S&W and Ruger. To do that Colt would need to develop new designs for their revolvers to make optimum use of modern manufacturing methods and materials.
This leads to the second hurdle, which I believe, are the Colt fans themselves. The big question is would these fans accept a new Colt that by necessity was substantially different from the old Colts? I like many people would like to buy a new Python as good as the old ones for $995, but that cannot happen. I suspect that if Colt introduced a newly designed DA revolver with a CNC machined investment cast frame filled with MIM parts that the Colt fans would be very disappointed and critical of it. So that even if the revolver was an equal match as far as form, function, quality and price to S&W or Ruger it would carry the stigma of not being a “real Colt” and sales would suffer.

In summary, As much as I’d like to see it, I just don’t see how Colt could successfully re-enter the DA revolver market.
 
DPris said:
Not true.
Colt has spent literally millions upgrading the "civilian" side with modern CNC centers & so on in the past two years.
They were putting more into the military side for several years because without those military contracts here & abroad, there would be no Colt today.

They took their DA revolvers off the market because people were not buying enough to keep them in production.

Old story, old nonsense.
Colt did what they did because it was either take that route or go under.
Denis
Click to expand...
And pray tell me what semi-automatics they sell?

What to compare to the Glock? The Nano? The S&W M&P? The TCP from Taurus (ok they make a $600 buck SA rehash.)

Deaf
 
What semi-automatics do they sell????
Go to the website & look.
They're not trying to compete with Glock.
Denis
 
As much as I’d like to see Colt re-enter the DA revolver market, I believe that it would be very difficult for them to succeed in the market.

The first hurdle would be the size of the market. Right now there are two manufactures of quality DA revolvers, S&W and Ruger. Is there really enough demand for quality DA revolvers to support a third manufacturer? I doubt it. Quality DA revolvers, to me, seems to be a niche market. Moderately priced semi automatic pistols seems to be the current growth market.

To have any hope of getting any market share of a limited market Colt would need to be price competitive with S&W and Ruger. To do that Colt would need to develop new designs for their revolvers to make optimum use of modern manufacturing methods and materials.
This leads to the second hurdle, which I believe, are the Colt fans themselves. The big question is would these fans accept a new Colt that by necessity was substantially different from the old Colts? I like many people would like to buy a new Python as good as the old ones for $995, but that cannot happen. I suspect that if Colt introduced a newly designed DA revolver with a CNC machined investment cast frame filled with MIM parts that the Colt fans would be very disappointed and critical of it. So that even if the revolver was an equal match as far as form, function, quality and price to S&W or Ruger it would carry the stigma of not being a “real Colt” and sales would suffer.

In summary, As much as I’d like to see it, I just don’t see how Colt could successfully re-enter the DA revolver market.
Click to expand...

well why couldn't colt produce the python the same way the produce the SAA? The produce top quality at a top price point. I have not seen a new SAA for less then $1500. They could sell pythons for 1500-2000, and SOME people would pay. They cant compete with rugger or S&W at that price point, but Smith has the high end performance center models, and colt could easily erode their market share in that segment. I mean if you have a $2500 model 329 next to a $1900 python that's pretty good competition. So many companies make SAAs and the colts are the most expensive because of the quality and the name. Other then production capacity, their is no reason they could not sell and market a high end revolver. The reason they lost the DA market if you ask me is they didn't focus on the magnum rounds like S&W and Ruger.
 
Hashed & re-hashed over & over again.

Colt couldn't sell the Python for less than $2000 per & the market would not support either the startup costs or sustained manufacture.
That's exactly the problem- only "some" people would pay that price.
Colt can't afford the gun.

Colt continues the Peacemaker in small numbers because it's their iconic mascot product.
They also don't have to startup an entire new production process with it like they'd have to do with the much more complicated Python.

This comes up regularly.
Can't & won't happen. Python is dead.
Denis
 
Colt continues the Peacemaker in small numbers because it's their iconic mascot product.
They also don't have to startup an entire new production process with it like they'd have to do with the much more complicated Python.
Click to expand...

Yes but didn't colt go 30 or 40 years without making any SAAs? Then when demand was high enough they had to go back and retool their equipment etc. Yes the Double action is more complex, but it is possible. /where there is a will there is a way, but yes it will not happen. Unless one day I can afford to buy Colt :D Then it will. :eek:
 
Yea they make a few nickel and dime 1911s
Click to expand...

Really? Have you seen the 1911's Colt is producing now? They have a full line and they are well priced for their quality. They are not Glock, and don't want to be.
 
Blaise,
The key in your Peacemaker analogy is demand.

Ruger with his single-actions & the TV western craze of the late 1950s & early 1960s created sufficient consumer demand for Colt to re-introduce the Model P.
Those second generation guns carried on till prices rose & demand slackened enough to set up the third gen guns still offered on a limited basis today.
I was told by a Colt armorer (traveling armorer's school) years ago that Colt only keeps the gun going for its image.

There simply is no corresponding demand or market for the Python. Yes, as noted, SOME people would buy at $2000-$2500, but not enough.
Colt would have to establish an entirely new production setup for it, and that includes hiring & training additional workers, establishing parts vendor sources, establishing in-house parts inventory space & tracking systems, and then would have to either insert the gun into existing equipment for rotating production runs (further delaying availability of other guns that people gripe about) or buy new CNC solely for a gun that would only sell in limited numbers (which is not financially justified).

This is not the 1950s.
The market has changed entirely.
When you see plastic pistols ruling, concealed carry driving much of the market, and people complaining about the price on those, you should understand that a hand-fitted deluxe .357 Mag DA revolver in today's times built to the same standards as the Python can't succeed for Colt.
Denis
 
There's always somebody who either didn't get the original memo or who refuses to believe it. :)
Denis
 
Yes but didn't colt go 30 or 40 years without making any SAAs?
Click to expand...

No. They've always made them except for a few years during and after WWII. They stopped production on the SAA as the war began due to lack of sales. After the war they did not restart till the rise of Western movies brought Ruger and Great Western Firearms into the game. Then Colt restarted and has made them ever since.

The second Gen Colt's were post war collectors sometime refer to current production guns as the fourth Gen, though that's debated.

tipoc
 
In 2011 Colt's Manufacturing Co. produced 46,363 pistols and pistol frames. These were 1911 variants. They sell about all they produce.

In the same year they also produced 1454 single action revolvers.

Colt Defense, (legally a separate company but owned by the same "ownership group") produced 16,419 rifles and carbines from it's Hartford plant. It also produced more from it's Canadian plant but figures from there are not available.

These figures are taken from the ATFs website. 2011 is the last year figures are posted for.

tipoc
 
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DPris said:
What semi-automatics do they sell????
Go to the website & look.
They're not trying to compete with Glock.
Denis
Click to expand...
Like I said..they abdicated the marked to the other manufactures.

No police market, very little civilian CCW market, a few collector items are about it.

Deaf
 
Like I said..they abdicated the marked to the other manufactures.

No police market, very little civilian CCW market, a few collector items are about it.
Click to expand...

Like I said, in 2011 Colt Manufacturing produced 46,363 pistols. Colt remains one of the leading manufacturer of 1911 pattern pistols in the U.S. and globally.

They have a good slice of the civilian CCW, competition and target market, a tiny piece of the leo market, a new contract with the Marine Corp for 1911s, etc. They sell all they can produce.

But like they say, some folks are deaf so they can't read.

abdicated
Click to expand...
is an interesting choice of words. It means that they voluntarily gave up a slice of the market. You're wrong there. They lost a lot of market share but not voluntarily.

tipoc
 
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is an interesting choice of words. It means that they voluntarily gave up a slice of the market. You're wrong there. They lost a lot of market share but not voluntarily.
Click to expand...

If it wasn't voluntary it was just bad business decisions. Colts problem is they are no competition to what is out there. They have no "modern" semi auto pistol, and the lost the revolver market. They have ceased to be innovators, and because of that they have lost market share on all there products, and have left certain markets all together. For them to become competitive gain, they would have to close down reorganize, make new capital investment and basically start from scratch. The cant compete in any civilian market with any of their guns.
 
If it wasn't voluntary it was just bad business decisions.
Click to expand...

Yep a lot of it was just bad decisions. There have been about 100 threads on this forum alone on that topic.

Colts problem is they are no competition to what is out there. They have no "modern" semi auto pistol, and the lost the revolver market. They have ceased to be innovators, and because of that they have lost market share on all there products, and have left certain markets all together.
Click to expand...

You, unfortunately know little about Colt. Take some time to learn.

Colt internationally and the M16

http://www.nrablog.com/post/2013/03...itary-in-NRAs-American-Rifleman-magazine.aspx

The 1911...

http://www.americanrifleman.org/blogs/marine-pistol-gotw/

When is the last time you visited their website? Or read an article about the steps the company has recently taken?

Interesting how many folks detest Colt yet know next to nothing about what they do or have done. They deaf to it. I ain't a gr3eat Colt fan, but true things are true and nonsense is nonsense. Colt survives and produces some excellent guns.

tipoc
 
For them to become competitive gain, they would have to close down reorganize, make new capital investment and basically start from scratch. The cant compete in any civilian market with any of their guns.
Click to expand...

Colt can compete in the civilian market with their semi-autos.

Even if they had the capital, they would not be competitive with S&W or Ruger in the DA revolver line. Selling a few is not justification for millions of investment dollars. Would you invest a million or 10 million to help Colt?

Forget about DA revolvers and Colt. Enjoy their older pieces and move on. They really did make some great DA revolvers.
 
The point is debatable to no end. I'm glad they made them, I'm glad they're producing quality SAs, 1911s and carbines still and I'll continue to hope for their future success as more shooters come to appreciate those products that roll out the door.
 
When is the last time you visited their website? Or read an article about the steps the company has recently taken?

Interesting how many folks detest Colt yet know next to nothing about what they do or have done. They deaf to it. I ain't a gr3eat Colt fan, but true things are true and nonsense is nonsense. Colt survives and produces some excellent guns.
Click to expand...

I don't detest colt, I just think they are managed poorly. Yes that is a nice 1911, but Kimber did it first, and kimber makes the same gun for cheaper. Kimber outfoxed them on one of their iconic products, how is that competitive? I love their products, they are wonderful and feature some of the best craftsmanship out there. I have been on their website, and know some of what they are doing. All they are doing is expanding offerings in certain product lines. They are not doing anything really competitive to what is already out there. They are responding to the competition, rather then being truly innovative. I know quite a bit about them, enough to know they are not competitive.
 
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But, they're still here & they're still selling guns.
They're just not selling the guns YOU want them to sell.
So?
Get over it.
Denis
 
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