Colt bashing?

1192 Views 13 Replies 10 Participants Last post by FirearmsPlus.FL, Nov 28, 2001

RickB

Discussion Starter · Nov 26, 2001

I was reading through the latest Handguns magazine, and noticed a couple of Colt references, and a few other things that I found interesting. One, was a complete road test of the Springfield Loaded. This pistol has been on the market for four or five years, so why does it need another test? I have yet to see a test of the XSE Colts, even though they've been out only a couple of years. In the test, the author mentioned "Colt's now defunct 1991"; is that more Colt's-not-selling-to-the-public BS, or is he referring to the new rollmarks? There was also a quite detailed slamming of the Double Eagle, by the same author, in which he complains at length about the external drawbar (which never gets much commentary when it's on a Beretta), and the lower-than-most-DA's bore line. This guy used the fact that the DE's trigger mechanism runs parallel to the rest of the action, rather than below it as in most DA's, as an area for criticism. Most people will acknowlege that the DE's action design allows a lower bore axis, while this guy seems to think raising the bore axis (a la S&W DA) allows a better purchase on the trigger. I suspect he just doesn't like the fact that Colt isn't sending them any ad revenue.

Save

1 - 14 of 14 Posts

Greg Adams

· #2 · Nov 26, 2001

Rick I agree with you. Most gun writers anymore remind me of whores. They never write a bad review and they seem to get great joy out of slamming Colt.

I will be the first to admit that Colts QC fell for a few years but I feel that they are now producing the best 1911's that they have ever made. I recently obtained a Gold Cup Trophy. The slide to frame fit was perfect and the barrel fit was also. I could not get any movement pushing down on the barrel hood. I wish I could say the samething for the two SA's I have, a TRP and a loaded.

The first time I shot the Trophy off of sandbags at 25 yards I was rewarded with a 1 inch group. I don't know why Colt is not advertising more but word of mouth works better. We should tell all our friends about Colt's quality and let them shoot our toys so that they can become believers.

Long live Colt.
1911 Best damn Government

Save

RickB

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 26, 2001

It was pointed out on another forum that the same author, again in the same issue, refers to Colt as being out of business, or soon to be. They probably wouldn't let him keep a test gun, so he won't review it, and will badmouth them at every opportunity.

Save

Steve333

· #4 · Nov 26, 2001

Handgun magazine reviews are about as reliable as reviews done in computer magazines on software and hardware products. Reader beware.

------------------
Steve333

Save

RonS

· #5 · Nov 26, 2001

When I attended the Colorado School of Trades in the 70's the instructors’ referred to the gun magazines as "comic books". There are really only two worth reading now, "Rifle" and "Handloader". The American Rifleman is slowly improving but it is a far cry from the scholarly quality of past decades. As far as the rest are concerned most would tout a laser sighted, chrome plated, pearl handled Derringer for a service sidearm if there were enough ads to make it worth while. I have not bought a mainstream gun rag in a long time, the "American Rifleman" of course comes to the house, but I got sick of the poor quality of the research and writing in the rest.

Save

PigPen

· #6 · Nov 26, 2001

I agree with every word written in this thread to this point.........but..(You knew it was coming didn't you)...Even though it isn't true, Colt brought the rumor on themselves with that hokie-pokie, wishy-washy, who knows what they intended announcement about closing sales to the civilian market and they are paying the price with the public and the dealers.

If you ask me (and so far no one of note has asked me), Colt intended to do exactly what they said and close the sales to civilians. Then (again pure speculation on my part) I think they saw what happened to S&W with the boycott (I still ain't buying one) and said "oh, Just kidding". "That's not what we meant at all". In any event, it isn't true and the fact that so many think it is true just leaves more Colts for me

.

Having said all of that (and withdrawing nothing), the writer's in the rags have done what you accuse them of for as long as I have been reading rags. I no longer read them much but I did in the sixties and they were full of crap then.....As some one said. all good reports.

I hope I offended no one.

PigPen

See less See more

Save

Inspector Callahan

· #7 · Nov 27, 2001

Ayoob test drove the XS. He wrote up a decent review of it in his yearly Complete Book of Handguns. Couple of years ago, as I recall.

Cheers.

[This message has been edited by Inspector Harry Callahan (edited 11-26-2001).]

Save

FirearmsPlus.FL

· #8 · Nov 27, 2001

Originally posted by PigPen:
I agree with every word written in this thread to this point.........but..(You knew it was coming didn't you)...Even though it isn't true, Colt brought the rumor on themselves with that hokie-pokie, wishy-washy, who knows what they intended announcement about closing sales to the civilian market and they are paying the price with the public and the dealers.

Actually, though the Washington Post said that Colt was no longer selling to the public, Colt never said that. I called them the day I saw the article. They sent around a letter to distributors soon after that said which models they were discontinueing, and that they'd continue making the 1911 models.

If you ask me (and so far no one of note has asked me), Colt intended to do exactly what they said and close the sales to civilians. Then (again pure speculation on my part) I think they saw what happened to S&W with the boycott (I still ain't buying one) and said "oh, Just kidding". "That's not what we meant at all". In any event, it isn't true and the fact that so many think it is true just leaves more Colts for me

.

But, who cares if the public stops buying your guns if you're no longer selling guns to the public?

It's pretty well known Colt has been in financial trouble for a while (long before Kimber).
Just as likely, there was word passing that Colt's M4 contract would back them up on production status. When rumor said Colt wasn't building guns except for the military (technically correct since Colt only produces runs of guns, not continuous production of all models) all back-stock was cleaned out within hours, creating a vacuum that Colt could do nothing to fill for 6 months.

Save

Double Naught Spy

· #9 · Nov 27, 2001

Colt may not have actually said that they were not selling to the public, but their web site clearly states that if you want to buy a Colt firearm, then you have to go through a Colt dealer. Unless you are a dealer, then you won't be getting a gun directly from Colt. In short, that says that Colt is not selling to the public, although it makes guns available to dealers to sell to the public. So, Colt definitely cares whether or not the public buys their guns even though they do not sell to the public.

Check it out... http://www.colt.com/colt/html/a_products.html

Save

The artis formaly Redzone

· #10 · Nov 27, 2001

I have some Colt a advertisement from a magazine. I believe the year is 1929 and its advertising the release of the C1911 38Super caliber. Why advertise as they do the things they always did. Build beautiful reliable firearms. They did state it was superior target ammo to the .45ACP which only worked for a year or two.

Save

PigPen

· #11 · Nov 27, 2001

Originally posted by FirearmsPlus.FL:

Originally posted by PigPen:
I agree with every word written in this thread to this point.........but..(You knew it was coming didn't you)...Even though it isn't true, Colt brought the rumor on themselves with that hokie-pokie, wishy-washy, who knows what they intended announcement about closing sales to the civilian market and they are paying the price with the public and the dealers.

Actually, though the Washington Post said that Colt was no longer selling to the public, Colt never said that.

Click to expand...

You make a very valid point about if not selling to the public, then who cares if they buy. I admit that I don't know what was going on at the corporate level but I saw a letter from Colt with my own eyes, sent to the dealers, which gave me the impression that Colt intended to stop marketing (making available) firearms to the public. It's been a long time and details escape me but a short time latter, they announced to the dealers that they would continue to make a few models available through a special division with a slightly different name while Colt pursued LE and military sales.

Look, at the very least, Colt communicated to dealers and the public that they were dumping us. Intentional or not that was the impression that I and most of those that I talked with got from their communications. I know absolutely nothing about the Washington Post Announcement to which you refer. I got my information at the time from Colt. The Colt distributor that I have dealt with, said he would not be getting any more Colts and that when his current inventory was sold there would be no more for the public!!! They might make a few patrs runs with existing inventory.?!%

No, I'm afraid that at the very best Colt is complicit in the affair. If nothing else they are guilty of poor communication but I think they are guilty of much more than that.

What their motives were, why they changed their minds (if they did), was it a publicity stunt, these are unknowns. That they are at fault is not an unknown.

PigPen

[This message has been edited by PigPen (edited 11-27-2001).]

Save

Templar333

· #12 · Nov 27, 2001

It's rather fascinating when I read all the above about the situation with Colt. The frustrating thing is no one really knows if it's a present situation with Colt or past. They don't make it any easier by keeping almost mute on the subject. From what little that I know and believe, Colt's probably focusing on the military market, possibly foreign more that anything else. From a biz point of view, that makes sense but at what cost to the local 'fans' so to speak.
Word as it, this one from someone inside, that they are working with the Greek army on something.

Save

Double Naught Spy

· #13 · Nov 27, 2001

Templar333, you are correct. People wonder why they keeping hearing rumors that Colt is not doing well, may fold, or may stop production for the civilian market. Apparently, Colt is doing nothing obvious to let the public know how well or poorly they are doing. Apparently, they are producing guns, but not doing any sort of customer outreach. From what I have seen of other companies that are in trouble is that they often will try to cut non-essential stuff that costs them money. Sometimes it may be the surplus labor, benefits to labor, advertising, R&D, etc. Colt really does not give the impression of being a strong company.

Save

FirearmsPlus.FL

· #14 · Nov 28, 2001

Originally posted by PigPen:
I know absolutely nothing about the Washington Post Announcement to which you refer. I got my information at the time from Colt. The Colt distributor that I have dealt with, said he would not be getting any more Colts and that when his current inventory was sold there would be no more for the public!!! They might make a few patrs runs with existing inventory.?!%

Yeah, teh letter I saw said they were only producing SAA's, Model O's and Cowboy's.
And, I had a few distributors (Valor first) call saying Colt was no longer selling guns, and we'd better buy their overpriced guns..

Other distributors said they'd heard rumors, but seen nothing concrete, but that there was a buying frenzy.

Save

1 - 14 of 14 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month