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Colt Suspends Civilian AR-15 Manufacturing

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 2:34 pm
by chamberc

Re: Colt Suspends Civilian AR-15 Manufacturing

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 2:43 pm
by carlson1
Sell outs, but the truth is their quality went bad a long time ago.

Re: Colt Suspends Civilian AR-15 Manufacturing

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 2:45 pm
by C-dub
That's not a suspension. They are shutting it down. :grumble

Re: Colt Suspends Civilian AR-15 Manufacturing

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 2:46 pm
by Grayling813
Colt rifles "may" be in demand in military and law enforcement markets, but I doubt they are still the "finest quality firearms in the world."

As long as Colt gets significant taxpayer funded contracts, why should they bother to make products for the taxpayers?

http://thegunfeed.com/official-statemen ... an-rifles/
Official statement from Colt Manufacturing about civilian rifles…

Published 09/19/2019
Company Response to Questions about Colt Participation in Consumer Markets

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (September 19th, 2019) – There have been numerous articles recently published about Colt’s participation in the commercial rifle market. Some of these articles have incorrectly stated or implied that Colt is not committed to the consumer market. We want to assure you that Colt is committed to the Second Amendment, highly values its customers and continues to manufacture the world’s finest quality firearms for the consumer market.

The fact of the matter is that over the last few years, the market for modern sporting rifles has experienced significant excess manufacturing capacity. Given this level of manufacturing capacity, we believe there is adequate supply for modern sporting rifles for the foreseeable future.

On the other hand, our warfighters and law enforcement personnel continue to demand Colt rifles and we are fortunate enough to have been awarded significant military and law enforcement contracts. Currently, these high-volume contracts are absorbing all of Colt’s manufacturing capacity for rifles. Colt’s commitment to the consumer markets, however, is unwavering. We continue to expand our network of dealers across the country and to supply them with expanding lines of the finest quality 1911s and revolvers.

At the end of the day, we believe it is good sense to follow consumer demand and to adjust as market dynamics change. Colt has been a stout supporter of the Second Amendment for over 180 years, remains so, and will continue to provide its customers with the finest quality firearms in the world.

Very respectfully,

Dennis Veilleux, President and Chief Executive Officer

Re: Colt Suspends Civilian AR-15 Manufacturing

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 2:55 pm
by rtschl
This is fake news that the media and antis want to claim that they have scored a victory in our back yard. Colt had already announced that their LEO and military contracts were a priority and without trying to say it - that their civilian competitors were essentially outselling them. So they posted a message on their website to correct the misconception that they are not committed to the civilian market. But you can read their actual statement here: https://www.colt.com/news/2630

There are so many better rifles and competitively priced lower end ones that Colt can't compete. For the average or serious rifle customer, Colt just isn't a really good choice and hasn't been for a very long time.

Re: Colt Suspends Civilian AR-15 Manufacturing

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 4:06 pm
by ELB
Colt has a contract to convert 500,000 or so M4s to M4A1s. AFAIK, it is the only DOD contract they have, or at least the only sizable one. They are not a supplier for the new generation of 6.8mm rifles. They cannot afford to do poorly on the government contract, they need this to remain a viable government contractor in the future, and everybody and their brother are making AR15 variants for the commercial market. So yes this seems to be about business decisions and not caving to MomsWithTooMuchTimeAndNotEnoughSmarts.

Re: Colt Suspends Civilian AR-15 Manufacturing

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 7:22 pm
by dlh
Has anybody done a market share analysis of AR15 sales?

I assume Smith and Wesson, Ruger, Mossberg, Remington (Bushmaster) and others will be glad to hear of one less competitor.

Re: Colt Suspends Civilian AR-15 Manufacturing

Posted: Thu Sep 19, 2019 7:58 pm
by Jusme
rtschl wrote: Thu Sep 19, 2019 2:55 pm This is fake news that the media and antis want to claim that they have scored a victory in our back yard. Colt had already announced that their LEO and military contracts were a priority and without trying to say it - that their civilian competitors were essentially outselling them. So they posted a message on their website to correct the misconception that they are not committed to the civilian market. But you can read their actual statement here: https://www.colt.com/news/2630

There are so many better rifles and competitively priced lower end ones that Colt can't compete. For the average or serious rifle customer, Colt just isn't a really good choice and hasn't been for a very long time.

:iagree:

Colt ARs are not the industry standard, they never worked to increase their civilian market, nor lowered their prices, to compete with better rifles, at better prices. In fact Colt has done very little to appeal to the civilian market with any of their firearms. The believe that they can rest on the laurels of their 1911s, SAA etc. other manufacturers, such as Ruger, and S&W have surpassed Colt, by meeting consumer demand and innovation. JMHO

Re: Colt Suspends Civilian AR-15 Manufacturing

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 12:07 pm
by The Annoyed Man
Also, as I recall, this isn’t the first time they’ve done something like this. Maybe they think they’ll stay in tight with gov’t if they stop selling to civilians. Maybe I think I’ve managed to avoid spending Colt money for an AR from day one, and see no reason to change. So this doesn’t really affect me.

Re: Colt Suspends Civilian AR-15 Manufacturing

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 3:38 pm
by Jago668
Colt and HK both hate the civilian market. This isn't a gun company bowing to pressure, this is market forces at work. Sell a B quality rifle, at A+ prices, and this is what happens.

Re: Colt Suspends Civilian AR-15 Manufacturing

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 3:55 pm
by rotor
Bought my Colt 6920LE at WalMart before the insanity. Times have changed.

Re: Colt Suspends Civilian AR-15 Manufacturing

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 4:37 pm
by mayor
Colt made AR-15?

Re: Colt Suspends Civilian AR-15 Manufacturing

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 4:38 pm
by G.A. Heath
Colt does not seem to be able to make it in the civilian market anymore, and until the company makes changes it won't. The government contracts are their business model.

If colt wanted to make it big in the civilian market they would need to make premium products that match their premium prices or sell at mid tier prices for their mid tier product. If they brought back the python with the quality it was known for they could easily charge premium+ prices and never see d. If they dropped the price on their ARs by three hundred dollars a unit they wouldn't be able to make enough of them. The problem is they won't do it because they don't have to since they stay afloat with those government contracts.

Re: Colt Suspends Civilian AR-15 Manufacturing

Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 10:19 pm
by Charles L. Cotton

Re: Colt Suspends Civilian AR-15 Manufacturing

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 8:05 am
by RoyGBiv
If I have limits on my capacity to manufacture goods (labor, shop space, etc), I'm going to focus on making the most profitable goods. With the flood of AR sellers to the civvy market, if Colt con only make $200 on a civvy AR (guessing) or $500 on an LE or MIL AR (again, guessing), what would YOU make? Assuming they can fill their lines making LE and MIL goods, it would be an easy decision to focus on that. Although I'd be more careful about how I marketed the change. :lol: