Cz has bought colt

[strimmer_13]

Just read that 4 days ago cz have bought out colt and will have added then to the list they own (brno and dan wesson-didnt know that either). Not that it matters much to the UK market, not much - if any- colt guns gets sold here. 

Edited February 15, 2021 by strimmer_13

[Vince Green]

I'm not sure the extent to which colt actually manufacture their own products anymore. From being an A1 brand name up to about the 1970s when most of their guns sold on the strength of the name alone they have lost a lot of ground 

[NoBodyImportant]

Colt unionized,  and like all companies that unionize the quality suffers. 

[Lloyd90]

I think their M4’s / AR15’s are still held in high regard! 

[strimmer_13]

Just seems a strange buy for cz, unless they wanted the factorys/manufacturer facilities to push further into the American Market. 

[Vince Green]

6 hours ago, Lloyd90 said:

I think their M4’s / AR15’s are still held in high regard! 

Colt bought the patent for the AR15 from Armalite in about 1959 but their patent expired in 1977. Their golden era was the military contracts during the Vietnam War

Since then the design has been copied by literally dozens of different companies in different versions

The colt brand became retro, they started reintroducing their most famous models that had long been discontinued like the Peacemaker and the 1911.

even a presentation model of the 1860 Army.

A big hit to their business was when the American police went over to semi autos. Up till then the Colt Python was what every policeman saved up his pay to buy himself.

Edited February 15, 2021 by Vince Green

[Lloyd90]

25 minutes ago, strimmer_13 said:

Just seems a strange buy for cz, unless they wanted the factorys/manufacturer facilities to push further into the American Market. 

 

CZ rifles are really well thought of in the USA, much more so than the U.K. 

The UK seems to love their rimfires but the US loves the big centre fire rifles. 

Also the US market is infinitely bigger than probably the UK and EU market combined. 

15 minutes ago, Vince Green said:

Colt bought the patent for the AR15 from Armalite in about 1959 but their patent expired in 1977. Their golden era was the military contracts during the Vietnam War

Since then they have been copied by literally dozens of different companies in different versions

 

Absolutely, although just like over here you get people with the attitude "the old ways are the best ways". Which isn't always wrong. 

I believe there are a bunch of COLT M4's kicking around in the USA that are fully auto. A friend of ours had one when we stayed in America and visited them. They said they're getting real hard to get hold of now and the cost is pushing something like $25k. 

[enfieldspares]

5 hours ago, Vince Green said:

Colt bought the patent for the AR15 from Armalite in about 1959 but their patent expired in 1977. Their golden era was the military contracts during the Vietnam War

Since then they have been copied by literally dozens of different companies in different versions

This. What exactly other than the name do they offer? The 1911? Alreasy done as good or better by US@S, Remington-UMC, Remington-Rand, Ithaca et al back in WWI and WWII. The Single Action Army? Again Ruger did it better with the Vacquero. Casull did it better in .454 Casull. So that leaves the revolvers. As an actual experienced revolver user none offered anything Smith ?& Wesson didn't do better and with Smith's L Frame 586 and 686 any particular advantage the Python or Diamonbdack was lost. Colt's did not have Smith's squared "hump" at the rear of the grip so all would torque in the hand if fired double action. So what's left? The Detective Special and the muzzleloading Dragoon, Army, Navy and etc.? You can't progress on that alone. Like Iver Johnson and Harrington & Richardson and others Colt belongs now to the history books. Its glory days as a standalone independent firearms maker are gone. Partly because that market has gone. Black rifles and plastic pistols are the new high altar. Quality revolvers or cheap revolvers? Nobody wants them and those that do buy pre-Bangor Punta Smith's or "genuine" Colt items or original IJ and H & R manufacture.

Edited February 15, 2021 by enfieldspares

[Vince Green]

12 minutes ago, enfieldspares said:

This. What exactly other than the name do they offer? The 1911? Alreasy done as good or better by US@S, Remington-UMC, Remington-Rand, Ithaca et al back in WWI and WWII. The Single Action Army? Again Ruger did it better with the Vacquero. Casull did it better in .454 Casull. So that leaves the revolvers. As an actual experienced revolver user none offered anything Smith ?& Wesson didn't do better and with Smith's L Frame 586 and 686 any particular advantage the Python or Diamonbdack was lost. Colt's did have Smith's "hump" at the rear of the grip so all would torque in the hand if fired double action. So what's left? The Detective Special and the muzzleloading Dragoon, Army, Navy and etc.? You can't progress on that alone. Like Harrington & Richardson and others Colt belongs know to the history books. Its glory days as a standalone independent firearms maker are gone.

 

For many years Colt lived on their name, in terms of brand identity Colt was the best known name in the business. A fact owed as much to Hollywood  as to anything they did to justify their reputation. 

The 1911 was designed by Browning in any case, but the fact it was carried by every serviceman through two world wars, plus Korea and Vietnam gave it and the name a massive bond with American men

Edited February 15, 2021 by Vince Green

[NoBodyImportant]

5 hours ago, Lloyd90 said:

I think their M4’s / AR15’s are still held in high regard! 

They are buy name.  The latest ones and not made by Colt.  They buy parts and assembled them.  I collect Colt Ar15 going from 1978 to 2018.  I have zero desire to get a new one.  Some of my colts.  

4 hours ago, Lloyd90 said:

 

CZ rifles are really well thought of in the USA, much more so than the U.K. 

The UK seems to love their rimfires but the US loves the big centre fire rifles. 

Also the US market is infinitely bigger than probably the UK and EU market combined. 

 

Absolutely, although just like over here you get people with the attitude "the old ways are the best ways". Which isn't always wrong. 

I believe there are a bunch of COLT M4's kicking around in the USA that are fully auto. A friend of ours had one when we stayed in America and visited them. They said they're getting real hard to get hold of now and the cost is pushing something like $25k. 

They have been over 35k each for a while now.  

[bluesj]

Not sure but I think the name still has a following in the us and the new python seems to be liked so I guess CZ think they can build on the history.

[enfieldspares]

1 hour ago, bluesj said:

Not sure but I think the name still has a following in the us and the new python seems to be liked so I guess CZ think they can build on the history.

No "hump" on Smiths as there is on Colts. Colt's revolvers torque in double action. If Colt eliminated the torque by redesigning the backstrap shoulder they'd have a better design. Smith backstraps are "squared". They bed into the web between thumb and forefinger. Colts are rounded. It is a design flaw.

Edited February 15, 2021 by enfieldspares