Colt being under non US ownership for a few years now, what is their status? It’s not a US company (which is criminal in my view), but at least a firearms company and a good one far as I know. We hear nadda about Colt these days. Still making quality ARs and 1911s? Quality slipped, improved, no changes? It seems they get no discussion at all online, but they did have a presence at SHOT at least. That new rifle looks nice, but there’s a lot of great choices today for that $, and loyalty to the brand of those buying for the Colt roll marks are all but gone:
I was (I guess I still am) a big Colt AR fan with several of their “older” ARs including two LE6960s and several variations of their LE6920s. That said, I have lost track of their current lineup and quality since their ownership changed in the last handful of years.
$1999 MSRP is way too much for this variant considering all the other options out there these days. But, I hope they are successful in reestablishing their brand with good quality products. The AR world is just better off with good Colts in it, in my opinion.
I just don’t know why you’d bother at this point. Aside from one of their SOCOM barrels, which seems to still be holding solid I think, what’s the point?
The one Colt I really want but DO NOT need is the M4 SOCOM pin & weld thing with the US Govt markings and the quad rail. I already effectively have one or two now, but the all Colt one is too cool.
I saw one of the scumbag dealers online was doing the old shady sell the uppers and lowers separately crap for way more money than the gun as a whole. Maybe Thoroughbred?
For Colt to go lo pro gas block and Mlok? No thanks. Not a fan of either.
I have one of said Colt M4A1 SOCOMs including the ACOG I put on top. Safe queen but love it
That said, My favorite Colt is the rare LE69ME (Mlok Extended). It’s got a long 22” Mlok rail that extends OVER the 16” barrel, TWO low pro gas blocks AND it’s 9mm.
Hey, man. No such animal exists. I was just giving MarkM some grief and having a little fun. I’ve been a forum member for a lot of years and, while it’s been a long time since I’ve been on here and posted, I’m well aware of his disdain for 9mm and, apparently Colt doing lo pro gas blocks and Mlok… But I do have a lot of Colts!
The “two low pro gas blocks” should have been a giveaway but I was intrigued by the description. I can see how the full length m-lock and 9mm would definitely appeal to Markm. .
I think Colt gets a bad reputation, or at least a lesser reputation than they should. Colt is past due for upping their game, or I guess I should say upping their offerings. However, it seems like each time Colt steps outside their comfort zone, those offerings don’t sell. Monolithic Colt uppers, ultra shorty folding stocks, and ambi lowers never really did well. Look at their bolt guns or .308 gas gun offerings, the only time you hear about them is when AU emails you.
I agree Colt still needs to make changes. Changes to their website and media presence, as well as product changes. I would still like to point out that Colt is making some of the best ARs available, especially out of the common makers. The issue isn’t quality for Colt, the issue is finding the next big thing, or at least Colts version of it.
Some immediate things Colt could do would be to use the CZ lineup, and rebrand them as Colt. It would cost VERY little to implement this one. Colt could either be the Lexus, or the Toyota in the relationship (hopefully that analogy works for people), which would allow for an increased distribution network as well as generic additional sales. Next I think Colt could capitalize on some of the history they have created. Making a NYPD ESU clone, making a Ranger Regiment clone, etc etc. Options like these are small runs and would both gain interest, as well as helping garner fresh interest.
Great thread Will, I’ll have to check in a bit more often.
Additionally CZ should lean on Colt and help them develop and market a first class duty grade fighting pistol. Even if it’s just polishing the CZ P10 series I think there would be buyers because of the name. Maybe pick up some LEO agency contracts. Also leverage CZ expertise in strikers to produce a good sub compact carry pistol.
The key is that the pistols need to be perfect or nearly perfect out of the box. Colt is more of a luxury brand than CZ so they can play Lexus to CZ’s Toyota. So that means solid reliability and durability with high end features added. If they bring something with a pony on the slide that runs like a raped ape, stacks bullets on target, looks nice, and lasts there will be buyers.
I was mostly interested in new offerings yes, but also whether Colt is still Colt in terms of QC etc under new ownership. We hear Colt quality has gone to hell etc, etc, not seen any evidence of that myself. Me, I think monolithic via 6490 and related is peak Colt. For a long time, Colt had the their mil contracts and showed no interest in their civilian market and I’m not sure people will ever forgive them for that. Finally, the Colt name carried a lot of weight with my gen and prior, means little to modern gun buyers who think they’re all the same. They can no longer rely on their name or history, they need to capitalize on it correctly as you outline, and bring forth some new ideas.
This thread renewed my interest of Colt (ARs - not pistols).
My interest in Colt ARs began in the late 90s and early 2000s. My actual first Colt AR was a very high quality, basic LE6920 with the “restricted” LE, .mil only roll mark I got right after the assault weapons ban ended. I still have it and shoot it. Truly a time Colt was considered the “gold standard” of a basic M4 style AR.
You mention their issue is not quality. I’m curious what you know of the current status under CZ? If you will recall Colt’s quality started to become a question, for at least their civilian ARs, when they lost the .mil contract for M4s and M4A1s to FN. For years, Colt’s own marketing of the LE6920 was it came off the same assembly line and used the same parts as their .mil guns. Remember the criticism that they started to get when apparently they started outsourcing parts and quality was supposedly taking a bad turn? Hell, there’s a 50 page thread somewhere on this forum about this including the criticism from that former Colt guy who was fueling the flames.
I see just this last December, it appears Colt did get an M4A1 contract to supply units to Israel. Also mentions suppressors and flashhiders? Curious if you know anything about this, especially the suppressor thing? Here is part of the article I read from Guns.com:
“Connecticut-based Colt’s Manufacturing this week was tapped to supply the military with new carbines as part of an eight-figure contract.
The $12,934,700 firm-fixed-price award, issued by the U.S. Army Contracting Command, is for Colt M4A1 carbines, suppressors, and flash hiders. The full amount was obligated at the time of the award and is drawn from fiscal year 2025 Foreign Military Sales funds allocated for Israel. It follows a series of awards going back to 2018 for the handy 5.56 NATO carbine, typically for foreign military sales…”
