[flashbunny]

I don't know the exact details of the buy-out, but Saf-T-Hammer could have ditched the HUD agreement by simply buying the assets of S&W piece by piece.

That's correct --- and that's one reason I wouldn't mind S&W going bankrupt. Someone would be able to buy the patents, designs, and machinery used to make the guns without being burdened by the agreement. The agreement would die, the guns would live on.

This is also the one fact that renders the "we can't lose another gun maker" point moot. Any void left by S&W's demise would be filled, one way or another.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Today's Colt isn't the old Colt. Sames with Winchester and several others...