Joined
·
5,681 Posts
They made it out of Chapter 11 once before, let's hope they can do it again.
Colt Defense files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
Colt Defense files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
It's official, Colt's files chapter 11
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
Joined
·
2,627 Posts
Two thumbs up, Tommy!
BUT...it looks (from the very short article) that they wish to continue "...manufacturing...in Hartford, CT." (sigh...)
Joined
·
1,727 Posts
The formula that seems to have eluded Colt's for, oh, the last fifty years is to produce a product people want at a price they can afford.
They practically owned the single-action market, but got pretty proud of themselves and handed the business to others who could build impressive guns at reasonable prices <cough>Ruger<cough>
They did own the 1911 market, but kept prices high while letting quality slip and introducing absurd complications like a firing pin block that prevented a gun dropped muzzle-down from discharging into...wait for it...the dirt.
They owned the M-16 market, but priced their civilian models so high that they opened the door to the myriad companies that are now producing quality, affordable versions.
Their double action revolvers at mid-twentieth century were second to none, but almost none could afford them.
At various times in my life I've lusted after a Colt's this-or-that, but when I've analyzed the value involved, there has always been a better option. I truly hope they survive and thrive; before I die I'd like to find at least one Colt's that's the best value in it's niche.
They practically owned the single-action market, but got pretty proud of themselves and handed the business to others who could build impressive guns at reasonable prices <cough>Ruger<cough>
They did own the 1911 market, but kept prices high while letting quality slip and introducing absurd complications like a firing pin block that prevented a gun dropped muzzle-down from discharging into...wait for it...the dirt.
They owned the M-16 market, but priced their civilian models so high that they opened the door to the myriad companies that are now producing quality, affordable versions.
Their double action revolvers at mid-twentieth century were second to none, but almost none could afford them.
At various times in my life I've lusted after a Colt's this-or-that, but when I've analyzed the value involved, there has always been a better option. I truly hope they survive and thrive; before I die I'd like to find at least one Colt's that's the best value in it's niche.
Joined
·
3,647 Posts
TO the Owners of COLT'S FIREARMS,
FLEE Hartford, CT & move the company "lock stock & barrel" (pun: intended) to SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, where you will be WELCOMED.
yours, sw
FLEE Hartford, CT & move the company "lock stock & barrel" (pun: intended) to SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, where you will be WELCOMED.
yours, sw
It doesn't matter where you're located if your holding company loads you with debt so that they can extract cash in the form of "advisory fees."
Behind Colt's Bankruptcy, Financial Engineering That Misfired - Bloomberg Business
It's popular to blame Colt unions for running up costs - and they did - but IMO they also made some good guns while they were doing it. Personally, I'm willing to pay more for a better product.
As a guy who ran a union shop at one time I'll say the union was very seldom the source of quality issues. It was the management chain, including me, when we ever said to the workers, "Just do the best you can with what you have." As soon as you say that it's no longer a union problem - it's management. I had a record 16 "Unfair Labor Practices" filed against me and I still couldn't find reason to blame them for quality failures. FWIW. (I was commander of a Defense Contract Administration office in the 1980s.)
Behind Colt's Bankruptcy, Financial Engineering That Misfired - Bloomberg Business
It's popular to blame Colt unions for running up costs - and they did - but IMO they also made some good guns while they were doing it. Personally, I'm willing to pay more for a better product.
As a guy who ran a union shop at one time I'll say the union was very seldom the source of quality issues. It was the management chain, including me, when we ever said to the workers, "Just do the best you can with what you have." As soon as you say that it's no longer a union problem - it's management. I had a record 16 "Unfair Labor Practices" filed against me and I still couldn't find reason to blame them for quality failures. FWIW. (I was commander of a Defense Contract Administration office in the 1980s.)
Joined
·
2,546 Posts
This has been kind of beat to death. Colt was always of the belief that people would pay their prices for their product, regardless of quality, because the prancing pony was on it.
I don't do business with them anymore, but it seems that they somehow transferred the brand arrogance to an Austrian named Gaston. Who at least keeps the prices down.
Bean counters are frequently the major cause of quality issues. Also those management types who want to boost the bottom line and are short sighted about ways to do that. They also clung to designs (internals) and production methods & machinery that originated when the horse was the predominant form of transportation.
I don't do business with them anymore, but it seems that they somehow transferred the brand arrogance to an Austrian named Gaston. Who at least keeps the prices down.
Bean counters are frequently the major cause of quality issues. Also those management types who want to boost the bottom line and are short sighted about ways to do that. They also clung to designs (internals) and production methods & machinery that originated when the horse was the predominant form of transportation.
Joined
·
5,681 Posts
Not the dirt, the shooter. I've seen it done on a video, and when it came out, I was working for a small arms importer so we happened to have a few thousand 1911's around, so we gave it a try.
If you load up a mag and drop the gun from eye level (obviously without anything in the chamber!) on a hard surface, the weight puts the gun falling basically hammer first. Sometimes the grip safety will hit, sometimes the hammer. So it lands on the hammer, breaks the sear and theoretically the gun goes off pointing at you.
Now in our drop tests, we did confirm it would drop on the hammer a little better than half the time. We couldn't get a seat to break. I did see where a seat did break on video but it was stopped at half cock. But supposedly it could fire. My old boss was an Army armorer and he said it wasn't exactly unheard of.
I personally don't think it's needed, but its presence won't prevent me from buying a Series 80 pistol. If the trigger job is done right, it will have very little effect on the trigger.
Still, if it disappeared tomorrow, I wouldn't shed any tears.
Joined
·
5,681 Posts
The problems for Colt just aren't Union related. They have been victims of corporate raiders, just one after the other for the past 40+ years. Now they appear to have it together, but it may be too late.
Despite the union, Colts labor force is perhaps their best asset. Their workers are long term and very skilled, if they move, they lose that. So moving would be a very tough call. Getting rid of the union would be nice, but not at the expense of quality. Getting rid of the North East would be a Godsend...but they don't want to lose their workforce.
They're in a tough spot, and I pray they make it, I really do. Last time they filed Chapter 11, I bought only Colts that year. An Anaconda, Stainless Commander, Nickle Peacemaker, Match Target AR, and that short lived .22lr pistol...can't recall what it was called.
Unfortunately I'm just not in a position to help out this time, but I wish them all the best.
Kevin
Despite the union, Colts labor force is perhaps their best asset. Their workers are long term and very skilled, if they move, they lose that. So moving would be a very tough call. Getting rid of the union would be nice, but not at the expense of quality. Getting rid of the North East would be a Godsend...but they don't want to lose their workforce.
They're in a tough spot, and I pray they make it, I really do. Last time they filed Chapter 11, I bought only Colts that year. An Anaconda, Stainless Commander, Nickle Peacemaker, Match Target AR, and that short lived .22lr pistol...can't recall what it was called.
Unfortunately I'm just not in a position to help out this time, but I wish them all the best.
Kevin
Joined
·
2,134 Posts
Personally I prefer the Springfield pin-safety (combination of light pin and heavy spring) myself--similar effect, but less moving parts to fail.
Sucks that this happens just as they reissue the Model M... of course, they *would* only do a piece of great interest to historians, militaria collectors and reenactors as an overpriced and underproduced limited edition.
Sucks that this happens just as they reissue the Model M... of course, they *would* only do a piece of great interest to historians, militaria collectors and reenactors as an overpriced and underproduced limited edition.
Joined
·
7,059 Posts
Not wishing them ill, but how many times can you shoot yourself in the foot before it's fatal... ?
They must have a special department on "boat missing" to decide where not to go next.
They must have a special department on "boat missing" to decide where not to go next.
Joined
·
1,176 Posts
Arizona might be even better.
1 - 12 of 12 Posts
