Colt suspends production of AR15 for civilian market ?

awonder

awonder

Glorified Babysitter
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 30, 2010
487
361
43
virginia
#1
I’ve never owned a Colt and now have another reason not to.

apnews.com

Colt suspends production of AR-15 for civilian market

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Gun-maker Colt is suspending its production of rifles for the civilian market including the popular AR-15, the company said Thursday in a shift it attributed to changes in consumer demand and a market already saturated with similar weapons.
apnews.com apnews.com
 
Last edited:
#2
Pretty sure there are threads on this already. The general consensus is to eff ‘em. What was once a great company should be left to die, as many others, who make a better product and are far more friendly to civilian 2A rights, have joined the market. Give your money to them instead.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2ndamendfan
#8
I don’t see this as much as them taking a political stance as much as they are not making any money selling over priced rifles in a VERY saturated market. Colt ARs aren’t what they used to be and the modern sporting rifle market has a lot of competition. Colt also has lost some of the military market. I was really surprised to see that the marines are using FN rifles.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Greg Langelius * and Stooxie
#10
20190918_195210.jpg
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Longshot231, wildcats, Charger442 and 4 others
#13
tomcatfan said:
I don’t see this as much as them taking a political stance as much as they are not making any money selling over priced rifles in a VERY saturated market. Colt ARs aren’t what they used to be and the modern sporting rifle market has a lot of competition. Colt also has lost some of the military market. I was really surprised to see that the marines are using FN rifles.
Click to expand...

FN has had the military contracts for a while and make a damn fine rifle.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Charger442
#15
tomcatfan said:
I don’t see this as much as them taking a political stance as much as they are not making any money selling over priced rifles in a VERY saturated market. Colt ARs aren’t what they used to be and the modern sporting rifle market has a lot of competition. Colt also has lost some of the military market. I was really surprised to see that the marines are using FN rifles.
Click to expand...
I agree 100%. Colt has a microscopic share of the military market. They lost out FN some time ago. I spent 14 years as a USAF PJ, pararescue. And I can only speak from my personal combat experience and personal opinion, for as little as that's worth. But the Colt M4 and M16-A2 are inferior in many ways to the FN battle rifle. Many ways. That's why FN built a huge plant in South Carolina and now essentially own the D.O.D. contract for the M4 variants, the M240, M249 and etc. The Colt M16/AR-15 is no where near what once was. And it wasn't that great to begin with. A jammed M16 cost my Dad an eye and 2/3 of a lung when his position was partially overrun in the I Corp, 1966 Viet Nam. This move was completely about Colt kissing up to certain levels of state and Federal government, popular opinion. Colt has been in and out of bankruptcy court at least 4 times in the last 20-25 years that I know of. Then there the is the little problem of massive tax problems in Massachusetts. And a huge of amount of debt being called when they couldn't meet their obligations. For the last 30 years Colt was and is THE example of complete and utterly incompetent management at the highest levels. I honestly believe the current crew of idiots that run Colt couldn't manage a hot dog stand with a government bailout and they'd still end up filing bankruptcy. I truly believe it would not hurt us, the consumers and law abiding citizen gun owners or the firearms industry one bit if they just shut the doors to the plant tomorrow morning. None of my military buddies nor a lot of friends and guys at my rifle club buy Colt ARs. We all buy LWRC, LMT, Daniel Defense for the premium stuff and Rock River and others for the real good stuff. There a lot of companies out there that build a lot better AR-15 than Colt. So let them stop building ARs and just close down completely. But I do understand the "getting one foot in the doot" theory of the liberal socialists in slowly grabbing everything from us. But I can assure this decision by Colt has nothing to do with military contract backlog. You have to have contracts and big orders to have a baglog. This is just a political move by a terribly mismanaged company reacting to idiots like Beto O'Rourke and the other wannabe socialists. My two cents from an old disabled veteran.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jamesr1, Dunraven, tomcatfan and 5 others
#16
And then the media got ahold of it today and turned it into a shit storm.
As if Colt is doing the right thing by ceasing production.
It isn't till you get to the end of the story does the truth come out.
I can't believe Fox fucked this up that bad.

www.foxnews.com

Colt suspending production of AR-15 for civilians

Gunmaker Colt is suspending production of rifles for personal use, including the popular and controversial AR-15 as lawmakers continue the fraught gun debate.
www.foxnews.com www.foxnews.com
 
#18
Colt Statement Regarding Cessation Of Commercial AR-15 Production
September 19th, 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
 
#19
don447 said:
I agree 100%. Colt has a microscopic share of the military market. They lost out FN some time ago. I spent 14 years as a USAF PJ, pararescue. And I can only speak from my personal combat experience and personal opinion, for as little as that's worth. But the Colt M4 and M16-A2 are inferior in many ways to the FN battle rifle. Many ways. That's why FN built a huge plant in South Carolina and now essentially own the D.O.D. contract for the M4 variants, the M240, M249 and etc. The Colt M16/AR-15 is no where near what once was. And it wasn't that great to begin with. A jammed M16 cost my Dad an eye and 2/3 of a lung when his position was partially overrun in the I Corp, 1966 Viet Nam. This move was completely about Colt kissing up to certain levels of state and Federal government, popular opinion. Colt has been in and out of bankruptcy court at least 4 times in the last 20-25 years that I know of. Then there the is the little problem of massive tax problems in Massachusetts. And a huge of amount of debt being called when they couldn't meet their obligations. For the last 30 years Colt was and is THE example of complete and utterly incompetent management at the highest levels. I honestly believe the current crew of idiots that run Colt couldn't manage a hot dog stand with a government bailout and they'd still end up filing bankruptcy. I truly believe it would not hurt us, the consumers and law abiding citizen gun owners or the firearms industry one bit if they just shut the doors to the plant tomorrow morning. None of my military buddies nor a lot of friends and guys at my rifle club buy Colt ARs. We all buy LWRC, LMT, Daniel Defense for the premium stuff and Rock River and others for the real good stuff. There a lot of companies out there that build a lot better AR-15 than Colt. So let them stop building ARs and just close down completely. But I do understand the "getting one foot in the doot" theory of the liberal socialists in slowly grabbing everything from us. But I can assure this decision by Colt has nothing to do with military contract backlog. You have to have contracts and big orders to have a baglog. This is just a political move by a terribly mismanaged company reacting to idiots like Beto O'Rourke and the other wannabe socialists. My two cents from an old disabled veteran.
Click to expand...

Never thought that a gun manufacturer would hire or promote liberal anti-gun executives unless they tricked Colt when they were hired. Colt was in the business of SELLING GUNS at one point in time I believe but it was a shocker to here them say they would stop selling to civilians which I can see their point. Its a very small market here, only 350 million people whom as of today could still buy their products unless they believe Nicolas Maduro was going to open Venezuela and its people to purchase Colt products ?

Thank You for your Service Don447 as well as your Father's Service.
 
#21
I don't buy for one second that they are so backlogged with military contracts that they can't or couldn't at the same time meet whatever demand they may have from the civilian market for their AR15s. This was a political statement plain and simple. Even if they were backed up they could have just as easy said "We will continue to sell AR15s to civilians and fill backorders as production allows" But what do expect out of a company based in MA.
 
#22
Saw this recently.

Colt’s Manufacturing Co. LLC, West Hartford, Connecticut, was awarded a $41,924,594 firm-fixed-price Foreign Military Sales (Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Federated States of Micronesia, Hungary, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macedonia, Marshall Islands, Palau, St. Vincent and Grenadines, and Tunisia) contract for production for the M4 and M4A1 carbines. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 18, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-19-D-0116)
Pulled from https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2019/09/19/colt-continues/
 
#23
Palmetto-Pride said:
I don't buy for one second that they are so backlogged with military contracts that they can't or couldn't at the same time meet whatever demand they may have from the civilian market for their AR15s. This was a political statement plain and simple. Even if they were backed up they could have just as easy said "We will continue to sell AR15s to civilians and fill backorders as production allows" But what do expect out of a company based in MA.
Click to expand...

Colt is nowhere near financial health. If selling 100% of their rifles to .gov contracts makes them more profit and turns faster cash flow, then that's what they need to do to survive.

You obviously don't know much about business to understand what they were saying so let me explain.

This:
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.
Click to expand...
means that the civilian market is so depressed that it's tough to make a buck in it so they're going to play in more profitable markets.

Also, NOWHERE in that release did it say that Colt's doesn't have enough capacity to fill existing orders from all markets.

BTW, Colt is based in Hartford, Connecticut.........
 
  • Like
Reactions: Charger442 and Blacksmith of Isaiah
#24
don447 said:
I agree 100%. Colt has a microscopic share of the military market. They lost out FN some time ago. I spent 14 years as a USAF PJ, pararescue. And I can only speak from my personal combat experience and personal opinion, for as little as that's worth. But the Colt M4 and M16-A2 are inferior in many ways to the FN battle rifle. Many ways. That's why FN built a huge plant in South Carolina and now essentially own the D.O.D. contract for the M4 variants, the M240, M249 and etc. The Colt M16/AR-15 is no where near what once was. And it wasn't that great to begin with. A jammed M16 cost my Dad an eye and 2/3 of a lung when his position was partially overrun in the I Corp, 1966 Viet Nam. This move was completely about Colt kissing up to certain levels of state and Federal government, popular opinion. Colt has been in and out of bankruptcy court at least 4 times in the last 20-25 years that I know of. Then there the is the little problem of massive tax problems in Massachusetts. And a huge of amount of debt being called when they couldn't meet their obligations. For the last 30 years Colt was and is THE example of complete and utterly incompetent management at the highest levels. I honestly believe the current crew of idiots that run Colt couldn't manage a hot dog stand with a government bailout and they'd still end up filing bankruptcy. I truly believe it would not hurt us, the consumers and law abiding citizen gun owners or the firearms industry one bit if they just shut the doors to the plant tomorrow morning. None of my military buddies nor a lot of friends and guys at my rifle club buy Colt ARs. We all buy LWRC, LMT, Daniel Defense for the premium stuff and Rock River and others for the real good stuff. There a lot of companies out there that build a lot better AR-15 than Colt. So let them stop building ARs and just close down completely. But I do understand the "getting one foot in the doot" theory of the liberal socialists in slowly grabbing everything from us. But I can assure this decision by Colt has nothing to do with military contract backlog. You have to have contracts and big orders to have a baglog. This is just a political move by a terribly mismanaged company reacting to idiots like Beto O'Rourke and the other wannabe socialists. My two cents from an old disabled veteran.
Click to expand...


TLDR.......
 
#25
308pirate said:
Colt is nowhere near financial health. If selling 100% of their rifles to .gov contracts makes them more profit and turns faster cash flow, then that's what they need to do to survive.

You obviously don't know much about business to understand what they were saying so let me explain.

This:
means that the civilian market is so depressed that it's tough to make a buck in it so they're going to play in more profitable markets.

Also, NOWHERE in that release did it say that Colt's doesn't have enough capacity to fill existing orders from all markets.

BTW, Colt is based in Hartford, Connecticut.........
Click to expand...
Ok fine I get that cater to military contracts where you can make money, but if the civilian market demand is so low for them right now then they didn't really need to say anything at all about not making rifles for civilians. They could have simply just proceeded with their military contracts and if people started questioning "Hey why are Colt AR15s hard to get right now" Then they could have said "Currently all production is going towards filling military contracts when production allows we will start filling civilian orders again" It could have been that simple. No need for a press release to sound like you are throwing civilians under the bus especially right now. JMO and thanks for the location correction I was thinking about Springfield.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jamesr1
#26
Palmetto-Pride said:
Ok fine I get that cater to military contracts where you can make money, but if the civilian market demand is so low for them right now then they didn't really need to say anything at all about not making rifles for civilians. They could have simply just proceeded with their military contracts and if people started questioning "Hey why are Colt AR15s hard to get right now" Then they could have said "Currently all production is going towards filling military contracts when production allows we will start filling civilian orders again" It could have been that simple. No need for a press release to sound like you are throwing civilians under the bus especially right now. JMO and thanks for the location correction I was thinking about Springfield.
Click to expand...


Repeated for emphasis.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jamesr1 and Steel+Killer
#27
Palmetto-Pride said:
Ok fine I get that cater to military contracts where you can make money, but if the civilian market demand is so low for them right now then they didn't really need to say anything at all about not making rifles for civilians. They could have simply just proceeded with their military contracts and if people started questioning "Hey why are Colt AR15s hard to get right now" Then they could have said "Currently all production is going towards filling military contracts when production allows we will start filling civilian orders again" It could have been that simple. No need for a press release to sound like you are throwing civilians under the bus especially right now. JMO and thanks for the location correction I was thinking about Springfield.
Click to expand...
It's not that the civilian demand for them is low. It's the current price for them has dropped to the point that the profit margin is not there.
And yes there is a good reason to make a public statement. FREE ADVERTISING. Shameless but it works. Especially since they included that they are still doing military and police work. Many people think that if the military and police use something that it's the berries. Look at how many people drink the Glock Kool Aid.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Blacksmith of Isaiah
#28
Palmetto-Pride said:
Ok fine I get that cater to military contracts where you can make money, but if the civilian market demand is so low for them right now then they didn't really need to say anything at all about not making rifles for civilians. They could have simply just proceeded with their military contracts and if people started questioning "Hey why are Colt AR15s hard to get right now" Then they could have said "Currently all production is going towards filling military contracts when production allows we will start filling civilian orders again" It could have been that simple. No need for a press release to sound like you are throwing civilians under the bus especially right now. JMO and thanks for the location correction I was thinking about Springfield.
Click to expand...

They made a statement to clarify that their decision was a FINANCIAL one and not a POLITICAL one like much of the press is insinuating it was.

Did our public school system fail so badly that people have no reading and critical thinking skills any more?
 
#30
308pirate said:
They made a statement to clarify that their decision was a FINANCIAL one and not a POLITICAL one like much of the press is insinuating it was.

Did our public school system fail so badly that people have no reading and critical thinking skills any more?
Click to expand...
The point is why did they have to make a statement in the first place to announce that they were not going to sell AR15s to civilians anymore, but I guess you’re a little slow.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jamesr1
#31
Palmetto-Pride said:
The point is why did they have to make a statement in the first place to announce that they were not going to sell AR15s to civilians anymore, but I guess you’re a little slow.
Click to expand...
Me slow? LOL

The only idiot who doesn't get what this is all about, despite multiple explanations by several different people, is YOU

Try practicing higher level thinking. It helps the world make sense.
 
#34
So their statement basically backed up exactly what I said in my first post. They aren't selling in the civilian market because the market is so competitive and saturated right now. They can't compete with others in the civilian market so they will leverage their contracts which makes them more money and has profit guaranteed in them. The same is not true for sales to the civilian market.
 
#39
don447 said:
I agree 100%. Colt has a microscopic share of the military market. They lost out FN some time ago. I spent 14 years as a USAF PJ, pararescue. And I can only speak from my personal combat experience and personal opinion, for as little as that's worth. But the Colt M4 and M16-A2 are inferior in many ways to the FN battle rifle. Many ways. That's why FN built a huge plant in South Carolina and now essentially own the D.O.D. contract for the M4 variants, the M240, M249 and etc. The Colt M16/AR-15 is no where near what once was. And it wasn't that great to begin with. A jammed M16 cost my Dad an eye and 2/3 of a lung when his position was partially overrun in the I Corp, 1966 Viet Nam. This move was completely about Colt kissing up to certain levels of state and Federal government, popular opinion. Colt has been in and out of bankruptcy court at least 4 times in the last 20-25 years that I know of. Then there the is the little problem of massive tax problems in Massachusetts. And a huge of amount of debt being called when they couldn't meet their obligations. For the last 30 years Colt was and is THE example of complete and utterly incompetent management at the highest levels. I honestly believe the current crew of idiots that run Colt couldn't manage a hot dog stand with a government bailout and they'd still end up filing bankruptcy. I truly believe it would not hurt us, the consumers and law abiding citizen gun owners or the firearms industry one bit if they just shut the doors to the plant tomorrow morning. None of my military buddies nor a lot of friends and guys at my rifle club buy Colt ARs. We all buy LWRC, LMT, Daniel Defense for the premium stuff and Rock River and others for the real good stuff. There a lot of companies out there that build a lot better AR-15 than Colt. So let them stop building ARs and just close down completely. But I do understand the "getting one foot in the doot" theory of the liberal socialists in slowly grabbing everything from us. But I can assure this decision by Colt has nothing to do with military contract backlog. You have to have contracts and big orders to have a baglog. This is just a political move by a terribly mismanaged company reacting to idiots like Beto O'Rourke and the other wannabe socialists. My two cents from an old disabled veteran.
Click to expand...
thanks for the info. informative for me.
 
#43
LeftyJason said:
Walmart
Dicks
Yeti

Any others?
Click to expand...

Colt's isn't dropping civilian sales of ARs due to political pressure. They're doing so due to business pressures on their bottom line.

THAT'S the difference between Colt's and those three.

This has been explained again and again but it doesn't surprise me that the explanation isn't registering with several of you. Basic knowledge of how businesses run is pretty rare amongst the average American. Just look at the level of ignorance displayed by many in the JEAllen went out of business thread...………...
 
#45
Blacksmith of Isaiah said:
I keep looking at that and hearing "stuff" but its beginning to look like the term Ponzi might be applicable

I hope that's not the case
Click to expand...
My bet is as simple a combination of low sales volume and super long lead times leading to running out of cash. Most of the people commenting on that thread don't understand the difference between profits and cash.
 
#46
Wtf is still buying colts in 2019 anyway? 1983 called and they want their pos overpriced ar back.... Only reason why Colt has lasted as long as they have is the neckbeards and fuds buy them thinking they are getting the best ar made. They overpay for a base model ar then think it is somehow worth more than what they paid cuz...it's a Colt lol get outta here with that bush leauge.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 308pirate
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

PatMiles
The Philippine vice president publicly threatens to have the president assassinated!
Replies
25
Views
2K
Edsel
Edsel
PatMiles
Man Attending Court for Suspended License Case Attends Hearing on Zoom While Driving (VIDEO)
Replies
0
Views
211
PatMiles
PatMiles
338LM_Sniper
WTB Colt AR15 / M4 Carbine Factory Box with Insert and Storage Bag.
Replies
3
Views
254
338LM_Sniper
338LM_Sniper
buffalowinter
SOLD Colt 601 Air Force fore-runner of the M16A1
Replies
6
Views
610
buffalowinter
buffalowinter
PatMiles
End of an Era: Boy Scouts of America Officially Changes Name to Embrace Inclusivity After 114 Years!
Replies
45
Views
2K
10ring'r
10ring'r
Top Bottom
Back
Home
Forums
Merch
Alerts