Posted on 09/19/2019 9:28:42 AM PDT by GIdget2004
Colt Firearms will be ending its production and sales of its AR-15 rifles due to lack of public demand amid excess market capacity.
Colt released a statement on Thursday to clarify the decision, which was made because the company simply isn’t selling enough of the rifles in the civilian marketplace to continue devoting the resources into it.
Colt President and CEO Dennis Veilleux said, “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.”
(Excerpt) Read more at americanmilitarynews.com ...
I call bullshit.
It is now a commodity.
There is little $$$ to be made as others make it cheaper and in many cases, better.
I thought they gave up years ago? I bought my 6920 because they were giving up.
It is getting hard for Colt to sell their $600 rifles for over $1000?
Agree. It is total BS. Colt has succumbed to the left I believe. Not only will this cut down on the availability of the AR-15, but will also make them unaffordable.
Have ARs gone up in price? Used or new?
It probably costs them less than $80 to make that $1,000 rifle.
Yes, I remember this also. It is quite possible they have exhausted or are close to exhausting their supplies or this is recycled news.
You can make your own, customized, for a lot less than they sell.
Hardly. Colt had already suspended manufacture to clear supply. 80% lowers were selling for $20. Finished lowers can be had for $50. And the number of manufacturers increases all the time. There are plenty of other folks making uppers d rifles, as well.
It will fall on deaf ears that this affects only the civilian market. Military and police production will continue. Because the AR-15 is not a weapon of war.
I think the Colt AR-15 Sporter is banned by name in Kalifornia. I don’t recall Colt objecting to this, perhaps because they were too busy fulfilling orders for military and police.
I know. I own a Colt. It is OK but not worth what I paid for it. Colt was about the only company I knew of that was making them for civilian use when I bought it. It has the stupid, non standard lower they were using at the time. I basically paid a Daniels Defense price for a very plain Jane rifle. I have bought many since for less and every one of them works at least as well, even the $350 budget build I assembled. If Colt dropped their price to a reasonable level, I think they could compete. Whoever prices their stuff is nuts.
We had Colt AR’s on Swift Boats in Nam, and I bought a Colt M4 carbine a few years ago...great rifle.
But there is no shortage of AR-platform rifles on the market and the price range and options are amazing.
Didn’t Colt file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection a few years ago?
From COLT’S own page...
https://www.colt.com/news/2630
Published 09/19/2019
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
Hee Hee. BCM wins again!
It is my understanding colt decided to do this because their rifles are rather expensive compared to competitors and they are actually concentrating on building up their pistol and revolver line. So I don’t think they’ve made a bad political move it’s just a business decision although some may try to construe it as that.
There is currently more than enough supply of AR-15’s for the market demand. Prices are lower the last few years than they have been previously, and the overall quality level has risen. The industry has gone through quite a bit of change and where Colt used to only have 1 or 2 competitors with a quality product 30 years ago, there are literally dozens of manufacturers that can directly compete against Colt. That has forced prices down.
My opinion is that Colt is suspending civilian sales for a few reasons - retasking production capacity to FMS orders, inability to demand huge profit margins like they used to, maybe some SJW posturing, etc. Colt has been struggling as a company for a long time and my impression is that they are not run by “gun guys”.
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