Report: Colt to Cease AR-15 Production for the Civilian Market

Doesn't surprise or really bother me.

The AR market is flooded and many of the offerings are better quality than Colt and extremely competitive money wise. I could see other manufacturers pulling out of the AR market.
I'd think margins are pretty thin on complete guns as well as many parts and accessories. So again, no surprise.

They acquired the patent in 59. I imagine they see the writing on the wall and decided to bow out and concentrate on the 1911. There are still other manufacturers out there. I suppose the patent ran out.

I tend to believe they have a warehouse(s?) full of ARs they cannot sell for a profit. This is a business decision. When Colt can make a profit on them they will and then restart making ARs for the civilian market.

Popeye said:

I tend to believe they have a warehouse(s?) full of ARs they cannot sell for a profit. This is a business decision. When Colt can make a profit on them they will and then restart making ARs for the civilian market.

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I would tend to agree. It's been a long time since i looked at colt AR prices but from what i remember they were really high compared to the rest of the world selling them. I can't even remember the last time i seen a colt AR in someones hands. They are always Spikes, Daniel, S&W or another..

colt has not really been competitive or a powerhouse in sales for a very long time............

they have been riding the brand name as their main selling point.......which is a purty poor business practice since that is more or less all they bring to the table........

I just hope this frees up some capacity to make SAAs. They're ridiculously hard to find. Maybe they'll make enough to drop the prices some, too.

You are not familiar with Colt and their "pricing", are you?

Here's the rule on Colt SAA's. The prices only go up. Bought my first one in 1972. Never have I seen the prices go down. They froze during one of Nixon's "Phase" programs in 1973. But SAA's prices never went down.

Colts are watch maker quality guns. They can’t compete with the hundreds of other AR manufacturers who blow out nice, quality AR’s at discount prices. It’s a smart decision on their part. It has nothing to do with political pressure.

Levant said:

I just hope this frees up some capacity to make SAAs. They're ridiculously hard to find. Maybe they'll make enough to drop the prices some, too.

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Hopefully, they will bring back the 'snake' revolvers, Python, Anaconda, etc.

Mad Scientist said:

Hopefully, they will bring back the 'snake' revolvers, Python, Anaconda, etc.

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I thought i read something several months ago that they were doing that?

Their AR quality? Yet, you'll now see pricing sky rocket for their AR's now.

If I was in the market for a “watch maker quality” AR. I wouldn’t be looking to Colt.
Daniel Defense, Sig Sauer comes to mind before Colt.

Lengthy but good video from a former Colt employee...

And now every Colt AR has appreciated by $1000.

I do not judge the quality of a gun by it's price tag.
I have bought some high dollar junk in my day,
and some really great quality stuff for a bargain.
Colt puts out some good stuff, but were their AR's really that much better than the competition for the price point?
Don't know. But I have some S&W M&P and DPMS AR's which have been great shooters for a lot less.
I will continue to support Colt in the pistol category.

Mad Scientist said:

Hopefully, they will bring back the 'snake' revolvers, Python, Anaconda, etc.

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In the video I posted the guy talks about this and says even if they bring them back, The very experienced craftsman/gunsmiths that Colt had building them are no longer there.