I worked in manufacturing for 40 years. During that time, I only met one ex military officer that succeeded in manufacturing. Most did a horrible job and did not last very long. One of the reasons was that the ex officers had a "we just got to play the game" attitude. Another reason is that the military doesn't need to make a profit. These people are only trained to manage a budget. And to not make waves.
@@tboon5155 there are still alot of companys who make guns very akin to the spirit of Colt ... like the springfield armory ar15 ...there are probably dozens other good examples ... but Im not too deep into powder powered guns yet ... cause lame German laws and money issues XD
What happened to Colt is back in the day when I was gun shopping and I went to their website it had two buttons, one said "Click here for military." the other said "Click here for law enforcement." They literally didnt have a product for the civilian.
Yes, anyone who know business knows Colt should have made a fortune in civilian sales during the Obama Administration. Every other manufacturer did well, but not Colt.
For anyone else reading this comment The 6920 is not the best for the price by far The only reason I would ever tell someone to buy a 6920 is if you aren’t sure you like AR-15s because they hold value well because people will pay extra for that roll mark
The 2005 NRA Annual Meeting was here in Houston. Colt had discontinued all double action revolvers, and even though the Clinton gun ban had expired, Colt had not gone back to selling "pre-ban" type rifles to the civilian market (as you mentioned). I went by their booth and told them I felt they were ignoring the civilian market. The Colt rep was a rude jerk. I soon went out and bought a (Windham) Bushmaster rifle, never even considered a Colt.
Colt embraced the typical boomer "i got mine screw the future generations of Americans" attitude that so many companies have. And they will never ever see a single penny from me.
@13R^D free floated hand guard that's easier to clean because all the dirt stays on the piston itself. The marine corps makes you turn in your gun white glove inspection ready ever time. Guys with the m27 where usually done cleaning there rifles at least an hour earlier. Also doesn't have the fix front sight which is in the way when using the acog. Also has a slightly longer handguard which is nice when you have long arms and don't want your support hand hitting the peq16 on the side of you handguard. Finally better furniture that design more modern shooting no more of that a2 bullshit. Just my opinion as a former marine infantryman.
@13R^D my unit never let me change anything on my rifles as far as furniture because the officers had a stick up there asses. Also marines are no longer taught to use irons so they are pointless if no one knows how to use them. All new marines are taught on acog in boot camp because they are standard issued. When I got to my unit the highest rank was a e4 who joined in 2011 most people had never even bothered to zero the back up irons on the m4 because they didn't know how. so the fixed front sight is useless. Also the m27 does have iron sights. Like modern ar15 on the civilian market it has flip up irons. The weight difference wasn't that much especially when compared to the m4a1 with socom barrel. Your right about the direct gas being lower recoil. But the m4 still recoils more than it should. I hate the carbine gas system it increases firing rate and lowers reliability if we where talking the Canadian's c7a2 I might say the guns better than the m27 but the governments m4 and m4a1 are subpar. Ar 15 are great guns but colt and the US government have screwed the disign up with the m4. There is benefits to the m27 but it's mostly that the guns are easier to maintain and we aren't getting beaten to hell old guns. The m4 I first got was a colt which is weird because colt lost the contract to fn before the marine corps ever change to the m4. Also the reason the guns are more expensive is because of a lack of mass production if everyone had a m27 it would cost basically the same as a m4. When the marine corps ordered 20000 guns it brought the price down from 3000 dollars to 1300. Finally the m27 are more accurate the m4s. They are both with in military serviceable specs but guys with the m27 always had it easier qualifying.
13R^D the match-grade M27 free-float barrels are so accurate that they can be used as DMR’s; in fact, the newly adopted M38 DMR is just a standard M27 with a higher-powered scope. Also their heavier profile over a the thinner and inferior M4 barrel makes them much better suited for heavy and sustained fire. Issued M4’s do not come standard with free-float barrels. While they are heavier, M27’s are extremely versatile and can fit into any role within a squad
You hit the nail on the head with the AWB garbage. I'll never forgive the companies that decided civilians just weren't good enough to buy their product.
I was part of that, well if you do not care about us, we do not care about you, group you mentioned. Colt was treating civilian sales like it was a favor to us. We should be so grateful that they even bothered giving us the time of day. Well and attitude like that gets you right where you are now. There are plenty of other firearm companies we can go too thank you very much. It is really sad that Colt went the way it did. They had so much potential. They were once the innovators. Now they are just a shell of what they once were.
Colt has always felt like that. Old fudds that treated others like plebs who should thank the gods they could get a Colt. To be honest, when I had an M4 I preferred FN over Colt (2005-2010). Colt has always seemed like they were just riding their name from the 1800s and early 1900s (to me).
Being a Marine and hearing what you have said about their management skills after retirement is just too damn true. My biggest obstacle after several combat tours was to keep the same effort but adjust the avenue of attack. You just can’t knife hand people in the civilian world and think that it won’t backfire. I was mad at first and then I just told myself “ONLY Marines are worthy to be led in a Marine fashion”.......that fixed a lot of my problems. I haven’t even raised my voice in 5 years and I have two promotions and doubled my salary. Marines make very good leadership.......once they adjust they’re attitude towards civilian life. I see once stellar Marines fall flat once the rank is in a memory plaque, sad but they forget the first thing we are taught......adapt.....and overcome.
You would have made a great software engineer. Colt sounds like typical corporate America BS. Been thru similar shit. You're not alone. Keep being you brotha!
Excellent explanation of Colt's sad, slow descent into ruin. I suppose that their eventual bankruptcy can only lead to a fresh start with a parent company that cares enough to attempt to rebuild the Colt name, as there's really nothing left to exploit or further destroy at this point. Only someone who genuinely wants Colt to succeed would ever consider attempting to shoulder that burden. And, of course, the first thing the new owner should do after the purchase is contact you ASAP.
I’m subscribed to both your channels. I get a kick out of the fact the people I watch for information watch each other. Keep up the great work on your channels guys. Thanks!
I grew up in Connecticut in the 60's and 70's. Colt was always a source of pride building some of the finest firearms in the world. I had several friends that worked there, and stated the same issue's you expressed. It was sad to watch a company from from "Hero to zero" in such a relatively short period of time. I hope they have the wisdom to pull their heads out of their asses, but I seriously doubt it.
I used colt-made rifles and carbines in The Army because I HAD TO . . . now as Private Citizen, having colt-made M4s go down multiple times on me in my military career, once in a firefight with a double-feed that required needle-nose pliers to clear . . . today you COULD NOT PAY ME to trust my life to a Horse Thief-made war profiteering piece of junk. Their "Good enough for Gub'mint Work" attitude has likely gotten good men killed and the main reason why the M16 system still has a poor reputation to this day. The AR15 design is a good, accurate, dependable rifle . . . provided it is made by someone who actually CARES.
Same here. I am cold war era and feel the same way, had to use the A1 . No way in hell am giving them my money. Or that crappy state they do business in. That company has gotten everything they deserve. His story vindicates my feelings.
I don't know if I'd blame Colt for military guns going down. Anyone who ever spent time in a government armory knows that most guns have well over 20,000 rounds on them. At that point, key parts have been replaced with non-Colt spare parts.
My buddies dad went to the local gun store with me to look at AR’s... he was dead set on getting a colt bc that’s what he remembered from back in the 80’s... after I showed him the Daniel Defense V7 and the LWRCi DI Rifle and compared it to the 6920 he left with the Daniel Defense V7.
@J B except for maybe some fancy or finishes and some different bells and whistles the AR-15 hasn't really changed . Just because you put a fancy stock and optic on it doesn't mean all the sudden it's some superior Buck Rogers gun. Since the early eighties I have owned tons of AR-15s from colt paw pof dd Anderson matrix areospace, the list goes on, they've all been base solid weapons and shared the same core components. Sure some are finished better than others but in reality other than the fluf they all do pretty much the same thing.
@@Sandhill1988 Theres a night and day difference between a standard Colt M-4 and a modern 14.5 carbine with mid length gas, proper gassing, a modern trigger and a proper buffer.
Story heard many times over across all types of companies, has happened to colt multiple times. It's all about people and there care for the mission. Excellent video.
This video and the 6920 video make me so happy that I bought all of mine during the golden days of the company. Shops like FN and SIG never ever stop innovating no matter what which is what makes them great.
First off, I’ve only recently caught onto this channel. Cold hard facts and opinions backed by experience. I love this, thank you. Secondly, this series on Colt is very telling. Thank you for all you’re doing.
I just watched this for the second time, after viewing it years ago, absolutely loved the details, input and content. Fantastic. Sincere thank you Chris.
Thanks for sharing all this industry information and your time at Colt. Most of the time when people work for their dream company and it turns out to be just another job (or worse) they'll move on and either not say anything or only tell their close family. So thank you for sharing your experience publicly
The interesting thing about Colt in Hartford CT....IS that it is in Connecticut. I learned how to shoot in CT as a kid back in the 70's. At that time CT was the center of firearms for America...Colt, Mossberg, Marlin, Winchester, Lyman...etc. All the small-bore competitions were held in Wallingford, CT. Then the government turned liberal/democrat and all the gun companies moved out. Hartford with the exception of the gang bangers is one of the most anti-gun capitals in our country now. Must have effected the gun manufacturing culture.
As always, nicely done. Go up the highway and you got Smith & Wesson and they seem to be doing well. I think one of the engineers on the M&P pistols was a former Colt engineer.
Chris unfortunately that happens alot with Military Contractors companies I worked at Lockheed Martin and I was hired because I had a high level of knowledge and skill with weapons and I was also hired because I was a US Marine. After 3 months I was promoted to Team Lead then Team Manager. I remember on a Navy program we were contracted for all small arms Maint and all Navy Range work. I was sent this Marine and former Army associates for work at the Arsenal. So that didnt work at all I wound up having to place them on admin leave then fired they where not worth the time and effort for employment in the end they were very disruptive and looked down at employees who were not military. Eventually I hired a person who I knew had expertise can work alone with no supervision. I have to say I had been embarrassed at their actions while employed being a former Marine I had to clamp down on what was going on. I dont wish to show military people in a bad way but it goes to show that hiring anyone just because your military isnt smart they should know their job or if you are hired for apprenticeship then be humble and happy a company has taken the time to bring you in on a entry level position that can lead to big and better including Officers in the military doesn't mean you can run a company.
What happened to Colt? They stopped innovating. Plus, they did not give the customer what they wanted. Plus, in the 1990s for a short period of time Colt stopped selling to the general public. I refuse to buy a Colt because of those factors.
I agree and disagree. Mostly with their AR-15s. I believe the reason for their stagnation with their AR-15s is us the consumers. Colt was the original maker of the M16 and it’s variants is the reason why Americans wanted a “mil-spec Colt M16”. Anytime Colt ever tried to innovate and deviate from “Mil-spec” people would bitch and mown, and yell “NOT MIL-SPEC”. Their focus on military contracts aside, how do you expect a company to thrive in the civilian market if all we wanted is one thing?
@@TeCHnORiOT Yes, it was in the 1990s. Colt restricted their AR-15s to only law enforcement and military. Some people made excuses for Colt, but I as a consumer refuse to buy Colt for various reasons like that.
I carried a Colt in Afghanistan and Iraq. I have clone builds of my deployment rifles, with furniture and slings from the actual deployments, I love owning the closest I can get to what I actually carried overseas. With that said, nothing I own was made by Colt -I will not buy anything from them. They have got to make the changes you recommended. I don't wish for their demise either, even after their mistakes and slaps in the face to the 2A community over the years, but unless they do a complete change-up of their organization, I'm out. The shame here is that a lot of great people were let go, the military suffered for it, and a longtime American name in manufacturing with the rich history only they have is all going down. Fix yourselves Colt, until then we're going elsewhere when we make our own purchasing decisions at the gun shop.
In the end now CZ bought Colt. Let's see how that turns out. Knowing CZ and how they run their business, I hope they'll fix Colt's "chronic" management diseases. As always an excellent video, sir! Very informative.
I drive by their factory twice a day, to and from my office. I decided to go with Stag because I'm not a fan of Colt's policies. Your vid are great. Thanks.
This was such a great video! The insight is priceless. I’m a colt guy just because of my Army service. Thanks again for another great video. You are a freaking national treasure!
Excellent video, extremely informative I had no idea about Colt and what went on behind the scenes. I’ve had experience with poor management and can empathize with what went on there. I hope they do make a comeback because they are truly an American icon.
If the NFA and Hughes Amendment get repealed maybe that will help Colt, probably not since they don't want to sell to the civilian market. It'd still be pretty sweet for me to get my hands on one of their M4A1s.
Back in the 70's I had a part time job at Bells, a major retailer and even a distributor of firearms in the Chicago area and one the owners that toured Colt's at the time remarked on how old the tooling was at the factory. Over the years, when going into typical gun stores, one seldom saw colt products in the gun stores that I frequented. Out of multiple guns that I have owned over the years, I have only owned one colt product that was of civilian origin. I have owned multiple smith and wesson hand guns that were intended for civilians. Now days an american company that only cares about government sales will be hurting when someone else gets those government contracts.
This channel is absolutely incredible. Its beyond me how you still have so little subscribers. I started school at SDI a few months ago and ever since my interest in the history aspect of firearms has increased and you have done a great job of filling that need.
It is interesting looking at the history of Colt. I am really enjoying your videos on Colt! Honestly though when I think of the Colt "Brand" it's not the first thing I think of when I think of a cutting edge manufacturer of firearms. And at times I have to remind myself they still make ARs. To me the brand feels "old" and stagnant, everyone has moved forward and more or less left Colt behind. Take companies like Sig, FN, Daniel Defense. Large brands with government contracts. But they are clearly not sitting still thinking that's it for them. They come out with new products, and fix issues with whats out when issues are found. They have the "We have this contract and you too can own what they use" since some people really want that. But that's not the only identity to the brand. Additionally on the media portion, Colt really seems one you have to actually actively look for. Take a new gun owner looking to get an AR, they're likely not going to pick up a Colt or even know who they are unless someone tells them about it. Most people today are going to look for a video review of a gun they're looking for. They want to see someone shooting the gun and giving their reactions to it. How many of those are Colt guns people are shooting? Versus guns from other brands that are getting into people's heads, so when they go into a FFL they're looking for that rifle they saw on RUclips. Also coming across as a company that doesn't care about the civilian market is a really bad move. Brand trust is insanely important. It's one thing if you primarily make unobtanium rifles for T1 SOCOM operators. (Or you're HK and you command an army of simps). But for a mass market brand, If it feels like you don't care about your customers, there's tons of different brands making a comparable or superior product who do care about their customers and will be happy to sell their guns to. These are tools to defend life and freedom, it's far more than a simple business transaction to buy a gun. You're buying something you intend to use to defend you or your family's life one day God forbid it comes to that. There's inherently going to be more meaning behind that brand name. It is a simple fact civilian firearm ownership is deeply ingrained in American culture to the point its literally enshrined in the Constitution. Coming across as not caring about the civilian market is brand suicide. I absolutely do want to see Colt make a comeback, actually turn the brand image around. The biggest thing is fighting the perception that's been built over years and catching up where they've largely been left behind and almost forgotten. Example How many people recognize the brand "Armalite" these days? Thank you for making this video!
I would do the same video on FN. They made the exact opposite choices that Colt made. They got all the contracts. They make firearms for the civilian market. They innovate. They make military firearms into civilian legal clones, like the Scar, SAW, P90, M4 and M16. The 509 pistol is a great design. FN is still getting updated contracts it seems almost monthly now.
Jordan Piazza This competition goes back to the John Browning days. If you really think about it Colt has been making these same mistakes since the 1900’s. Colt turned Down the browning pocket pistol to focus on military contracts.
@@geometro9512 Colt may not have seen or cared at the time, but it may have been FN's insight or just faith to accept that anything John Browning designed would be historical. FN accepted the Hi Power when no one else wanted it. Colt was foolish when they refused Browning a percentage of sales rather than a pure buy out of his patents. Hard to believe Browning basically gave away so many of his fabulous designs. If it were not for Browning several gun makers would have died long ago.
It is both a damnably ironic and pathetic shame that a foreign-owned gun manufacturer has far more respect for the Second Amendment rights of American civilian customers than a long-standing American Company like Colt!
@@Jet2416-Reloading FN didn't accept the Hi-Power, it was entirely their creation in order to compete for a French military contract. They commissioned JMB to design a pistol in the first place, and he came up with the Grand Rendement prototype before he died. In the end, almost nothing but the magazine (designed be Dieudonné Saive, FN's chief designer and the liaison engineer with Browning) was used from the Grand Rendement, and instead Saive started almost from scratch to deliver the Hi-Power that we are familiar with today. It was the French military commission that rejected it, by the way.
Like I have said in the past, you are one of the best if not the best reviewer . Now I know why, never knew you worked in industry / writer / reviewer. Great review , keep’em coming.
This reminds me of your discussion on the fall of the Ordnance Department. I reckon Colt will continue in that path to the same bitter end. Excellent; thanks!
I bought a Colt Combat Unit .45 in September. The thumb safety fell out of the gun and the frame was out of spec in a couple places. Still waiting on my refund.
When I saw the Expanse model on a shelf or whatever they call that thing, I knew Colt had sunk! I picked it up and with a few looks new it was either a farmed out hunk of crap or Colt was done.
x it’s that approach that has gotten Colt into its current demise. You want to own a gun company, or any company? Your ass better be in there everyday running it.
Great presentation. Colt should be a case study in business schools. Its amazing how an iconic brand can go from profitability to chaos in a few years. While its great to have military contracts for millions of M16s/M4s and residual LE and commercial sales - it can't be your business plan to perpetually have military contracts. Sure, duPont (PC French spelling) has been very happy to sell gunpowder and other explosives to the US military in wartime since the War of 1812, but they have also used their war profits to reinvest in producing other product lines like Nylon, Teflon, Tyvek, Kevlar and Lycra to name a few. (I think they still sell gunpowder to the government but won't advertise the fact.) Colt seemed to forget its commercial sales and paid the price. Now they are just another great American brand owned by foreigners. Yes, there is a limit on how many Peacemakers, Pythons and M1911s you can sell but sell the ones you can. Oh! Here's a crazy thought! How about trying to come out with a new firearm every 10 years or so? The Peacemaker came out in 1873, the M1911 in er... um... 1911 (I think), the Python on 1955 and the AR-15 in 1964. While all of those are still relevant today (though not necessarily state of the art) Colt can't point to truly successful new from the ground up product in the last 57 years. (I consider the M4 an evolution of the AR-15 and not a from the ground up new product.) One principle of business is innovate or die. They made millions on M4 sales in the 1990s and early 2000s. What did they do with the profits? Probably pay their execs hefty bonuses instead of building a new production plant in Tennessee. I predict that 10 years from now you will be able to buy a whole line of tactical gear with the Colt logo on it - but won't be able to find a new firearm made by Colt. Sad. Really sad.
A Case V-42 is a car payment. I saw a Colt version in a gun shop & got excited that they made a product with no moving parts at a price the average man an afford. The thing was such a POS, I decided to wait.
Such an excellent video Chris! I had no idea you were living in Rochester and commuting to Hartford on a weekly basis, on your own dime. Now that is dedication, man! Having worked in Defense Manufacturing (Not small arms though), I can see what your saying 100%, I've seen it myself. It's really sad to watch hard working dedicated machinists and factory workers ultimately lose their jobs because of a management team that had their heads up their asses!
So many “enterprise” level businesses make these same mistakes. I see these same things happening even in the software sector. Keep the same mgrs that drowns projects, let your good people bail, not release options the customers ask for, don’t give sales info they need. Great video brother!
Another case of brilliant minds, and craftsmen and women dedicated to excellence ruined by "hire him, he's my boy" management. The reason I left the Marines too. I loved my brothers that were in the shit with me. But there was nothing honorable about being a Sergeant and micro managed by SNCO's and boot butter bars. I'm very sorry for you especially sir that you needed to go through that in a civilian work force.
@@segwolfxviii2919 You better believe it can happen to them, HK is massively leveraged at the moment. They literally need every single military contract they have just to keep their head above water.
Lol 2 years later we now have 2 civilian legal mp5’s come to market and a bunch of vp9’s. Coincidence... I think not lol. Hk new they had an ace in the hole with a cone correct sp5 they could dangle Infront of the American market fit 2500 and people would line up around the block to buy them based on nostalgia and pop culture alone.
I was a translator right when we got off a Med float in 94 for a bunch of east European supply officers. As a E4 i got to see how they do dinner in the General officers O club...they had effing servants (not waiters). Flown in Alaskan Salmon (lejeune is on the effing coast) Looked like a scene from a French king's (or McArthur or Pattons) dinner party...Just as out of touch and all politics. Chesty Puller would have bent them in the parade ground himself!
Nice. It's sad, Colt made some great firearms, and Im happy to own a Colt Officers 1911, and AR. I grew up in CT, and remember driving by the factory all the time with my dad. Super interesting take, and great channel! Glad to be a new subscriber!
I'd make 10 times more than you. I worked for AT&T before and during the break up. AT&T became a nothing owned by Southwestern Bell because it had the piss poorest management that promoted each other because they were all from the same programs, went to colleges together. 200,000 people lost their jobs due to their incompetence.
@@robertcuminale1212 Sounds like a nightmare scenario. I've worked for state, county and Federal bureaucracies and it ain't much better. Morons that went hunting or fishing with the right dudes, graduated the same academy, were from the same hometown or the same college got preference. I've seen a ton of very qualified folks crapped on because they weren't from that right 'club'.
@@texas-raider he was going along with your "I wish I had $100.." cronyism comment by illustrating the corruption in the communications industry....reading comprehension Texas....
@@blue4629 Ah, my mistake. I'll edit that. And my apologies for not catching on and for my smart-aleck response, I didn't see what you guys meant at first. Sorry 'but that..
Let me preface this comment by saying I love the 1911, and I know it will always have a place in the heart of gun lovers who can appreciate a well made, well finished handgun crafted by traditional gunsmiths. Now that we got that out of the way : NOT MAKING ANY EFFORTS TO INNOVATE OR JUST AT THE VERY LEAST TRY TO KEEP UP WITH MODERN TRENDS IN HANDGUN DESIGN IS SUICIDE. If the military and LEO want polymer framed striker fired high capacity handguns, I don't care that you make a great 1911, you start making such a handgun for them. Once you have secured your company's future, then and only can you start making custom 1911s and SAAs on the side for the passionate fans. How they didn't even grasp such a simple concept is baffling.
@@timothysimpson9073 What are you talking about? Austrians can buy just about any gun they please. They're like the Czechs and Swiss in regards to less strict gun laws.
Great video. This is the reason why I subscribed and then subscribed again when the channel went back up. Your insider knowledge puts you leagues above other channels.
Great video! Wonderful insights into this company and the one product of theirs I’m proud to own. A post AWB Colt LE Carbine I picked up in 2009 or 2010. The lower has all of those great “Restricted Military/Government/Law Enforcement/Export.....” markings which I love. Of course, NY state immediately ruined the rifle by grinding down the bayonet lug, pinning the barrel permanently with a muzzle brake and pinning the collapsible stock too. Either way, still happy with the rifle since it was my first AR-15 and from a historic company. This video provides tremendous insights into things I was sensing, hearing or reading about Colt products but was unaware of. I’ve wanted to add a basic Colt 1911 Government model to my arsenal of military working guns and now realize that gun won’t come from this company. Springfield Armory perhaps. I only hope I can restore this Colt LE carbine to its original condition with a HBAR threaded with flash suppressor and bayonet lug, etc once I leave NY state. I was hoping to use original Colt parts but sadly, I now realize they may no longer be around. Maybe not. Thank you again sir for the excellent and informative video.
Management is a support function, not the starring role. Executives driving the company because they have an office and a title is a terrible idea. At every company, the underlings know how to do their job. I can't imagine a Walmart cashier asking permission to bag a customer's groceries or a car salesman asking the manager if he can talk to a prospective customer. It's what they are supposed to do.
I use to live 20 mins from the Colt Factory. Pain in the ass to get a job in any department, I've tried so many times. My aunt and uncle works there and go through lay offs consistently. Stag was 30 min drive for me but their pay was horrible. There was also PTR before they moved, Mossberg but pay wasn't competitive. There was also smaller AR/M16 manufacturing companies in the surrounding areas which I briefly worked for (OKay Magazines in New Britain) until I got into alright paying company for postal service machinery manufacturer.
The new Colt revolver looks interesting and has gotten good reviews so far. Colt seems to be common of American Manufacturing as a whole. The future is only as far those on top need to retire or leave to a better job. Engineering as a profession is very low in pay these days when you look across the board at other professions. So we have not attracted Engineers or people to stay in Engineering.
hell they don't have anything to sell on the civilian market, there are more gun shops in my area than ever before so the market is there...NO COLTS in any one of them, once in a great while for a couple days reside a one or two owner COLT..
If we get the NFA and Hughes Amendment repealed then maybe that will help Colt out. I'd love to get my hands on a Colt M4A1 and one of their 4-way M4s.
@@TeCHnORiOT How long do you believe we will even be 'allowed' to keep what we already own? This country's going to be drowning in it's own blood VERY soon!
@@SmallArmsSolutions Two years later and we now have a bill to abolish the ATF and NFA. Sure it won't pass HOWEVER this speaks volumes. COVID actually did a lot for gun rights by creating more gun owners. Yes, it created price hikes but there are more US gun owners then ever before, at least in the last few decades.
It is truly sad to see the demise of Colt. At this point, all of the stars have to align to see Colt rise above the rubble and, believe me, I want to see them rise again.
That type of thing happens a lot with military contractors. The top brass is military people who don't know the industry and the workers know their craft but don't know the military. If you're lucky you have a higher up with enough military clout that respects the employees and realizes how valuable they are.
I remember when the LE6920s were hard to get in the early years of the post-ban era because technically they were not for the commercial market. I remember there were only a few places to get them and the price was pretty much 1299. When they went to the standard FCG pins I bought my first one but within a few years they were selling in the 800 dollar range.
Cool video, but one thing to note. I was stationed at Schofield Barracks from 12/1999 until 7/2005 ( I extended). We already had the M4 in inventory when I arrived at Schofield that December. I believe they may have just gotten them earlier that year. Regardless, the US Army was already fielding the M4 to leg Infantry well before OEF kicked off.
I keep reading the comments about colt not supporting the civilian market. If I am not mistaken colts always have been after the government contracts. The Paterson aimed at leo and military and what ever the tx rangers were at the beginning. Then the Walker colt built there company on the idea of contracts and they just sold to citizens to.
I bought a Colt LE6920 . It didn't have the roll markings on the barrel . I called Colt and asked why . The guy at Colt said that's because its an after market barrel , who ever owned it before me must have put it on . I said I bought it brand new from a gun store . He said , well I guess it just slipped through ? WTH ! I put a Colt Diemaco 15.7 cold hammer forged heavy barrel on it plus Colt Diemaco ambi safety , Raptor charging handle , V7 titanium take down pins , BCM 6 position buffer tube , H2 buffer , Heavy carbine buffer spring , ALG Defense ACT trigger , Norgon ambi mag release , Magpul ACS butt stock , Magpul MOE grip , Magpul M-Lok hand guard , Magpul RVG vertical grip , Magpul ASAP QD ambi sling attachment point , Magpul MS3 QD single point sling , Colt Canada Troy Battle Sight , G,G&G quick disconnect scope mount and a Vortex Diamondback Tactical 1-16x44 . If only the barrel had come with roll markings on it I wouldn't have had to buy all that other stuff ..... Ya my wife didn't go for that either ! But I have one hell of a nice rifle now : )
Incredible video Chris. Very insightful and illuminating to hear the story as told by someone on the inside. I would give anything to be there and help Colt build their name again. I bleed colt blue just like many.
as a gun guy and a business guy, thank you for this detail video, you put out great information, Their sales and CEO had absolutely no business talent when they think they can just rely on military contract.
I worked in manufacturing for 40 years.
During that time, I only met one ex military officer that succeeded in manufacturing. Most did a horrible job and did not last very long.
One of the reasons was that the ex officers had a "we just got to play the game" attitude.
Another reason is that the military doesn't need to make a profit. These people are only trained to manage a budget. And to not make waves.
*I never left Colt. Colt left me, and I moved on. Great Vid, nice job, well done.*
WoW.!! Colt was so far off in so many ways, its mindblowing how they made it this far.
Sad thing is they have so many guns people would love to buy that they just don't make anymore.
@@tboon5155 there are still alot of companys who make guns very akin to the spirit of Colt ... like the springfield armory ar15 ...there are probably dozens other good examples ... but Im not too deep into powder powered guns yet ... cause lame German laws and money issues XD
P.S.A. will never leave you, and will never let typical American greed run amok and put profits above all else, especially morals.
"People associate guilt with silence". Words of wisdom, right there.
The term is silence is consent.
@@willedwards7009 WRONG. The phrase is 'silence is compliance'
What happened to Colt is back in the day when I was gun shopping and I went to their website it had two buttons, one said "Click here for military." the other said "Click here for law enforcement." They literally didnt have a product for the civilian.
Do you remember what year it was? I might look through the archived Colt website on archive dot org out of curiosity.
The passion of this man is admirable.
Agreed.
Passionate people at Colt get fired or beaten down to nothing unfortunately.
SmallArmsSolutions all too common in companies sadly.
Airsoft Action TV all to common in American companies. Not common in many European companies.
Terry Grossmann we generally have tougher employment laws in Europe. It is much harder to fire people.
Yes, anyone who know business knows Colt should have made a fortune in civilian sales during the Obama Administration. Every other manufacturer did well, but not Colt.
davidgcalderone just like how Remington is doing poorly today, everyone else is doing well.
Colt was too busy begging the govt for another M4 contract to worry about innovation or the civilian market as a whole.
They still could have even after Obama, why the pulled out I have no idea. The le6920 was the best AR-15 for the price by far
For anyone else reading this comment
The 6920 is not the best for the price by far
The only reason I would ever tell someone to buy a 6920 is if you aren’t sure you like AR-15s because they hold value well because people will pay extra for that roll mark
@@qk-tb2df you are incorrect. Please keep your opinion to yourself.
The 2005 NRA Annual Meeting was here in Houston. Colt had discontinued all double action revolvers, and even though the Clinton gun ban had expired, Colt had not gone back to selling "pre-ban" type rifles to the civilian market (as you mentioned). I went by their booth and told them I felt they were ignoring the civilian market. The Colt rep was a rude jerk. I soon went out and bought a (Windham) Bushmaster rifle, never even considered a Colt.
Colt embraced the typical boomer "i got mine screw the future generations of Americans" attitude that so many companies have. And they will never ever see a single penny from me.
A lot of what you say about the retired Marines is the reason a lot of Marines now get out after 4 years.
MOS in the name, I like it!
This was common in the military aviation industry as well check out the Northrup Grimman and the Tiger Shark scandal.
Unfortunately I see many companies with toxic management like that. Pity they drag so many good, hard working people down with them.
O say can you seeee
And now the Marine Corps has a throbbing hard on for the M27. An HK. Guess the Marine being in charge of Colt didn’t work out so well.
@13R^D free floated hand guard that's easier to clean because all the dirt stays on the piston itself. The marine corps makes you turn in your gun white glove inspection ready ever time. Guys with the m27 where usually done cleaning there rifles at least an hour earlier. Also doesn't have the fix front sight which is in the way when using the acog. Also has a slightly longer handguard which is nice when you have long arms and don't want your support hand hitting the peq16 on the side of you handguard. Finally better furniture that design more modern shooting no more of that a2 bullshit. Just my opinion as a former marine infantryman.
@13R^D my unit never let me change anything on my rifles as far as furniture because the officers had a stick up there asses. Also marines are no longer taught to use irons so they are pointless if no one knows how to use them. All new marines are taught on acog in boot camp because they are standard issued. When I got to my unit the highest rank was a e4 who joined in 2011 most people had never even bothered to zero the back up irons on the m4 because they didn't know how. so the fixed front sight is useless. Also the m27 does have iron sights. Like modern ar15 on the civilian market it has flip up irons. The weight difference wasn't that much especially when compared to the m4a1 with socom barrel. Your right about the direct gas being lower recoil. But the m4 still recoils more than it should. I hate the carbine gas system it increases firing rate and lowers reliability if we where talking the Canadian's c7a2 I might say the guns better than the m27 but the governments m4 and m4a1 are subpar. Ar 15 are great guns but colt and the US government have screwed the disign up with the m4.
There is benefits to the m27 but it's mostly that the guns are easier to maintain and we aren't getting beaten to hell old guns. The m4 I first got was a colt which is weird because colt lost the contract to fn before the marine corps ever change to the m4. Also the reason the guns are more expensive is because of a lack of mass production if everyone had a m27 it would cost basically the same as a m4. When the marine corps ordered 20000 guns it brought the price down from 3000 dollars to 1300. Finally the m27 are more accurate the m4s. They are both with in military serviceable specs but guys with the m27 always had it easier qualifying.
@13R^D they are running drum magazines now. At least some units.
@@rockerdude8000 thats just the military's choice you have free floated mk18 rifles and urgi uppers ahah
13R^D the match-grade M27 free-float barrels are so accurate that they can be used as DMR’s; in fact, the newly adopted M38 DMR is just a standard M27 with a higher-powered scope. Also their heavier profile over a the thinner and inferior M4 barrel makes them much better suited for heavy and sustained fire. Issued M4’s do not come standard with free-float barrels. While they are heavier, M27’s are extremely versatile and can fit into any role within a squad
Every time l see a Colt M16 A2, I remember my youth and what made me. I hope Colt can go back to be the company that once was. Great videos sir.
You hit the nail on the head with the AWB garbage. I'll never forgive the companies that decided civilians just weren't good enough to buy their product.
Blixem I doubt it’s ever been explicitly written into a contract but there’s always a lot of politics behind defense procurement contracts.
Thank your local boomers
I was part of that, well if you do not care about us, we do not care about you, group you mentioned. Colt was treating civilian sales like it was a favor to us. We should be so grateful that they even bothered giving us the time of day. Well and attitude like that gets you right where you are now. There are plenty of other firearm companies we can go too thank you very much.
It is really sad that Colt went the way it did. They had so much potential. They were once the innovators. Now they are just a shell of what they once were.
Colt has always felt like that. Old fudds that treated others like plebs who should thank the gods they could get a Colt. To be honest, when I had an M4 I preferred FN over Colt (2005-2010). Colt has always seemed like they were just riding their name from the 1800s and early 1900s (to me).
I build guns as good as Colt but I am getting better.
Being a Marine and hearing what you have said about their management skills after retirement is just too damn true. My biggest obstacle after several combat tours was to keep the same effort but adjust the avenue of attack. You just can’t knife hand people in the civilian world and think that it won’t backfire. I was mad at first and then I just told myself “ONLY Marines are worthy to be led in a Marine fashion”.......that fixed a lot of my problems. I haven’t even raised my voice in 5 years and I have two promotions and doubled my salary. Marines make very good leadership.......once they adjust they’re attitude towards civilian life. I see once stellar Marines fall flat once the rank is in a memory plaque, sad but they forget the first thing we are taught......adapt.....and overcome.
I absolutely agree. Marines are great at most things once they adjust to the particulars.
Marines aka Israeli Foreign Legion. Get over yourself
1 hour?! I can hear Nutnfancy’s heavy breathing
Hahahahahaha
Mmm.. A NutnFancy feature length review sounds like a good afternoon. Better get my popcorn.
PatriotUSA51~ good review sans unnecessary jargon
Thystaff Thywill he doesn’t say “homes” or “homie” either. Most professional guntuber I’ve seen
Do you really trust reviews from the guy who shills Kel Tec pistols though
You would have made a great software engineer. Colt sounds like typical corporate America BS. Been thru similar shit. You're not alone. Keep being you brotha!
Excellent explanation of Colt's sad, slow descent into ruin. I suppose that their eventual bankruptcy can only lead to a fresh start with a parent company that cares enough to attempt to rebuild the Colt name, as there's really nothing left to exploit or further destroy at this point. Only someone who genuinely wants Colt to succeed would ever consider attempting to shoulder that burden. And, of course, the first thing the new owner should do after the purchase is contact you ASAP.
bankruptsy, Colt is familiar with...How many times already...THEY ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG..
Hotels by the hour you say 😎😉
Yes, for prayer meetings and such.
I’m subscribed to both your channels. I get a kick out of the fact the people I watch for information watch each other. Keep up the great work on your channels guys. Thanks!
I believe you sir
I grew up in Connecticut in the 60's and 70's. Colt was always a source of pride building some of the finest firearms in the world. I had several friends that worked there, and stated the same issue's you expressed. It was sad to watch a company from from "Hero to zero" in such a relatively short period of time. I hope they have the wisdom to pull their heads out of their asses, but I seriously doubt it.
"If it ain't broke don't fix it" is the same mentality that gave us the M14. The world is always changing; If you can't keep up, somebody else will.
*P.S.A has entered the chat*
I used colt-made rifles and carbines in The Army because I HAD TO . . . now as Private Citizen, having colt-made M4s go down multiple times on me in my military career, once in a firefight with a double-feed that required needle-nose pliers to clear . . . today you COULD NOT PAY ME to trust my life to a Horse Thief-made war profiteering piece of junk.
Their "Good enough for Gub'mint Work" attitude has likely gotten good men killed and the main reason why the M16 system still has a poor reputation to this day.
The AR15 design is a good, accurate, dependable rifle . . . provided it is made by someone who actually CARES.
Same here. I am cold war era and feel the same way, had to use the A1 . No way in hell am giving them my money. Or that crappy state they do business in. That company has gotten everything they deserve. His story vindicates my feelings.
I don't know if I'd blame Colt for military guns going down. Anyone who ever spent time in a government armory knows that most guns have well over 20,000 rounds on them. At that point, key parts have been replaced with non-Colt spare parts.
My FN M16 A4 had zero problems. My colt M4s had a few.
that was the government problem not colt.
Considering my colt M4 that I first got was brand new I'm going to say it was a colt problem.
Love the longer, super detailed video! Really great info on Colt.
My buddies dad went to the local gun store with me to look at AR’s... he was dead set on getting a colt bc that’s what he remembered from back in the 80’s... after I showed him the Daniel Defense V7 and the LWRCi DI Rifle and compared it to the 6920 he left with the Daniel Defense V7.
@J B except for maybe some fancy or finishes and some different bells and whistles the AR-15 hasn't really changed . Just because you put a fancy stock and optic on it doesn't mean all the sudden it's some superior Buck Rogers gun. Since the early eighties I have owned tons of AR-15s from colt paw pof dd Anderson matrix areospace, the list goes on, they've all been base solid weapons and shared the same core components. Sure some are finished better than others but in reality other than the fluf they all do pretty much the same thing.
@@Sandhill1988 Theres a night and day difference between a standard Colt M-4 and a modern 14.5 carbine with mid length gas, proper gassing, a modern trigger and a proper buffer.
Story heard many times over across all types of companies, has happened to colt multiple times. It's all about people and there care for the mission. Excellent video.
Forgotten Weapons also has a video explaining the history of the Colt firearms company. IMO it's a good companion piece to this video.
I'm gettin' ready to watch that next! Ian's deep dive into everything gun is like pure ecstasy to us gun nerds.
All hail Gun Jesus!
Very different perspective, his view is as an outsider looking in.
Colt needs to be pro gun instead of pro government and pro gun control
This video and the 6920 video make me so happy that I bought all of mine during the golden days of the company. Shops like FN and SIG never ever stop innovating no matter what which is what makes them great.
First off, I’ve only recently caught onto this channel. Cold hard facts and opinions backed by experience. I love this, thank you.
Secondly, this series on Colt is very telling. Thank you for all you’re doing.
I just watched this for the second time, after viewing it years ago, absolutely loved the details, input and content. Fantastic. Sincere thank you Chris.
Thanks for sharing all this industry information and your time at Colt. Most of the time when people work for their dream company and it turns out to be just another job (or worse) they'll move on and either not say anything or only tell their close family. So thank you for sharing your experience publicly
The interesting thing about Colt in Hartford CT....IS that it is in Connecticut. I learned how to shoot in CT as a kid back in the 70's. At that time CT was the center of firearms for America...Colt, Mossberg, Marlin, Winchester, Lyman...etc. All the small-bore competitions were held in Wallingford, CT. Then the government turned liberal/democrat and all the gun companies moved out. Hartford with the exception of the gang bangers is one of the most anti-gun capitals in our country now. Must have effected the gun manufacturing culture.
As always, nicely done. Go up the highway and you got Smith & Wesson and they seem to be doing well.
I think one of the engineers on the M&P pistols was a former Colt engineer.
That explains alot, what about the M&P rifles?
@@pLAST3RdISAST3R clueless about that. Ask Mr bartocci about that.
S and W need to get out of that hell hole before there legislated and taxed out of existence.
Chris unfortunately that happens alot with Military Contractors companies I worked at Lockheed Martin and I was hired because I had a high level of knowledge and skill with weapons and I was also hired because I was a US Marine. After 3 months I was promoted to Team Lead then Team Manager. I remember on a Navy program we were contracted for all small arms Maint and all Navy Range work. I was sent this Marine and former Army associates for work at the Arsenal. So that didnt work at all I wound up having to place them on admin leave then fired they where not worth the time and effort for employment in the end they were very disruptive and looked down at employees who were not military. Eventually I hired a person who I knew had expertise can work alone with no supervision. I have to say I had been embarrassed at their actions while employed being a former Marine I had to clamp down on what was going on. I dont wish to show military people in a bad way but it goes to show that hiring anyone just because your military isnt smart they should know their job or if you are hired for apprenticeship then be humble and happy a company has taken the time to bring you in on a entry level position that can lead to big and better including Officers in the military doesn't mean you can run a company.
What happened to Colt? They stopped innovating. Plus, they did not give the customer what they wanted. Plus, in the 1990s for a short period of time Colt stopped selling to the general public. I refuse to buy a Colt because of those factors.
I agree and disagree. Mostly with their AR-15s. I believe the reason for their stagnation with their AR-15s is us the consumers. Colt was the original maker of the M16 and it’s variants is the reason why Americans wanted a “mil-spec Colt M16”. Anytime Colt ever tried to innovate and deviate from “Mil-spec” people would bitch and mown, and yell “NOT MIL-SPEC”. Their focus on military contracts aside, how do you expect a company to thrive in the civilian market if all we wanted is one thing?
RuralPrepper Anyone who refuses to buy a Colt might be an idiot, or worse, a liberal idiot.
Colt did and is doing the same thing Briggs and Stratton did. At least Briggs and Stratton woke up when Honda and Kawasaki started kicking their butt.
Didn't Colt at one time say that AR-15s weren't meant to be owned by civilians?
@@TeCHnORiOT Yes, it was in the 1990s. Colt restricted their AR-15s to only law enforcement and military. Some people made excuses for Colt, but I as a consumer refuse to buy Colt for various reasons like that.
I carried a Colt in Afghanistan and Iraq. I have clone builds of my deployment rifles, with furniture and slings from the actual deployments, I love owning the closest I can get to what I actually carried overseas. With that said, nothing I own was made by Colt -I will not buy anything from them. They have got to make the changes you recommended. I don't wish for their demise either, even after their mistakes and slaps in the face to the 2A community over the years, but unless they do a complete change-up of their organization, I'm out. The shame here is that a lot of great people were let go, the military suffered for it, and a longtime American name in manufacturing with the rich history only they have is all going down. Fix yourselves Colt, until then we're going elsewhere when we make our own purchasing decisions at the gun shop.
great video! switched to sig/cz 8yrs ago. great history info. It truly was an empire
In the end now CZ bought Colt. Let's see how that turns out. Knowing CZ and how they run their business, I hope they'll fix Colt's "chronic" management diseases. As always an excellent video, sir! Very informative.
I drive by their factory twice a day, to and from my office. I decided to go with Stag because I'm not a fan of Colt's policies. Your vid are great. Thanks.
I am amazed by the number of dealers that think that Colt has already gone out of business.
This was such a great video! The insight is priceless. I’m a colt guy just because of my Army service. Thanks again for another great video. You are a freaking national treasure!
So true, just because you’re a general officer doesn’t mean you know shit about running a firearm manufacturing company.
Or running shit at all.
You've obviously never met a Marine. Their ego is bigger than reality....obviously.
Excellent video, extremely informative I had no idea about Colt and what went on behind the scenes. I’ve had experience with poor management and can empathize with what went on there. I hope they do make a comeback because they are truly an American icon.
It’s amazing that I discovered you of “Why I despise the M14” video and learning about your history keep it up
Watching this feels like a VERY similar story to what happened at IBM
If the NFA and Hughes Amendment get repealed maybe that will help Colt, probably not since they don't want to sell to the civilian market. It'd still be pretty sweet for me to get my hands on one of their M4A1s.
Back in the 70's I had a part time job at Bells, a major retailer and even a distributor of firearms in the Chicago area and one the owners that toured Colt's at the time remarked on how old the tooling was at the factory. Over the years, when going into typical gun stores, one seldom saw colt products in the gun stores that I frequented. Out of multiple guns that I have owned over the years, I have only owned one colt product that was of civilian origin. I have owned multiple smith and wesson hand guns that were intended for civilians. Now days an american company that only cares about government sales will be hurting when someone else gets those government contracts.
18:45 "stay in a hotel that you pay by the hour"
😂 YES.
Isn't that called a motel?
I carried a Colt Pony as a backup gun, off the market two years later. Years later it was ahead of its time for the micro pistol market.
This channel is absolutely incredible. Its beyond me how you still have so little subscribers. I started school at SDI a few months ago and ever since my interest in the history aspect of firearms has increased and you have done a great job of filling that need.
It is interesting looking at the history of Colt. I am really enjoying your videos on Colt!
Honestly though when I think of the Colt "Brand" it's not the first thing I think of when I think of a cutting edge manufacturer of firearms. And at times I have to remind myself they still make ARs. To me the brand feels "old" and stagnant, everyone has moved forward and more or less left Colt behind.
Take companies like Sig, FN, Daniel Defense. Large brands with government contracts. But they are clearly not sitting still thinking that's it for them. They come out with new products, and fix issues with whats out when issues are found. They have the "We have this contract and you too can own what they use" since some people really want that. But that's not the only identity to the brand.
Additionally on the media portion, Colt really seems one you have to actually actively look for. Take a new gun owner looking to get an AR, they're likely not going to pick up a Colt or even know who they are unless someone tells them about it. Most people today are going to look for a video review of a gun they're looking for. They want to see someone shooting the gun and giving their reactions to it. How many of those are Colt guns people are shooting? Versus guns from other brands that are getting into people's heads, so when they go into a FFL they're looking for that rifle they saw on RUclips.
Also coming across as a company that doesn't care about the civilian market is a really bad move. Brand trust is insanely important. It's one thing if you primarily make unobtanium rifles for T1 SOCOM operators. (Or you're HK and you command an army of simps). But for a mass market brand, If it feels like you don't care about your customers, there's tons of different brands making a comparable or superior product who do care about their customers and will be happy to sell their guns to. These are tools to defend life and freedom, it's far more than a simple business transaction to buy a gun. You're buying something you intend to use to defend you or your family's life one day God forbid it comes to that. There's inherently going to be more meaning behind that brand name. It is a simple fact civilian firearm ownership is deeply ingrained in American culture to the point its literally enshrined in the Constitution. Coming across as not caring about the civilian market is brand suicide.
I absolutely do want to see Colt make a comeback, actually turn the brand image around. The biggest thing is fighting the perception that's been built over years and catching up where they've largely been left behind and almost forgotten. Example How many people recognize the brand "Armalite" these days?
Thank you for making this video!
All good things eventually come to an end.
I would do the same video on FN. They made the exact opposite choices that Colt made. They got all the contracts. They make firearms for the civilian market. They innovate. They make military firearms into civilian legal clones, like the Scar, SAW, P90, M4 and M16. The 509 pistol is a great design. FN is still getting updated contracts it seems almost monthly now.
Jordan Piazza This competition goes back to the John Browning days. If you really think about it Colt has been making these same mistakes since the 1900’s. Colt turned Down the browning pocket pistol to focus on military contracts.
@@geometro9512 Colt may not have seen or cared at the time, but it may have been FN's insight or just faith to accept that anything John Browning designed would be historical. FN accepted the Hi Power when no one else wanted it. Colt was foolish when they refused Browning a percentage of sales rather than a pure buy out of his patents. Hard to believe Browning basically gave away so many of his fabulous designs. If it were not for Browning several gun makers would have died long ago.
It is both a damnably ironic and pathetic shame that a foreign-owned gun manufacturer has far more respect for the Second Amendment rights of American civilian customers than a long-standing American Company like Colt!
@@Jet2416-Reloading FN didn't accept the Hi-Power, it was entirely their creation in order to compete for a French military contract. They commissioned JMB to design a pistol in the first place, and he came up with the Grand Rendement prototype before he died. In the end, almost nothing but the magazine (designed be Dieudonné Saive, FN's chief designer and the liaison engineer with Browning) was used from the Grand Rendement, and instead Saive started almost from scratch to deliver the Hi-Power that we are familiar with today. It was the French military commission that rejected it, by the way.
Love FN but they get real pricey.
Like I have said in the past, you are one of the best if not the best reviewer . Now I know why, never knew you worked in industry / writer / reviewer. Great review , keep’em coming.
This reminds me of your discussion on the fall of the Ordnance Department. I reckon Colt will continue in that path to the same bitter end. Excellent; thanks!
I bought a Colt Combat Unit .45 in September. The thumb safety fell out of the gun and the frame was out of spec in a couple places.
Still waiting on my refund.
Really, not even their 1911s are good
@@johnbacon4997 the m1911 a1’s they gave marsoc or recon (one of those marine units) were awful! The frames cracked and had reliability issues
@@jaydubs6354 lmao so much for best foot foward
@@johnbacon4997 lol unfortunately colts “best” was left in pre 2007
@@jaydubs6354 seems so
When I saw the Expanse model on a shelf or whatever they call that thing, I knew Colt had sunk!
I picked it up and with a few looks new it was either a farmed out hunk of crap or Colt was done.
The old blue dome in Hartford. I pass it everyday over to work, and it always gives me a sense of melancholy.
These longer videos are awesome. No one is making content of this quality.
Well if I ever win the lottery I'm buying Colt and putting you in charge, how about that.
x it’s that approach that has gotten Colt into its current demise. You want to own a gun company, or any company? Your ass better be in there everyday running it.
Great presentation.
Colt should be a case study in business schools. Its amazing how an iconic brand can go from profitability to chaos in a few years. While its great to have military contracts for millions of M16s/M4s and residual LE and commercial sales - it can't be your business plan to perpetually have military contracts.
Sure, duPont (PC French spelling) has been very happy to sell gunpowder and other explosives to the US military in wartime since the War of 1812, but they have also used their war profits to reinvest in producing other product lines like Nylon, Teflon, Tyvek, Kevlar and Lycra to name a few. (I think they still sell gunpowder to the government but won't advertise the fact.)
Colt seemed to forget its commercial sales and paid the price. Now they are just another great American brand owned by foreigners. Yes, there is a limit on how many Peacemakers, Pythons and M1911s you can sell but sell the ones you can. Oh! Here's a crazy thought! How about trying to come out with a new firearm every 10 years or so? The Peacemaker came out in 1873, the M1911 in er... um... 1911 (I think), the Python on 1955 and the AR-15 in 1964. While all of those are still relevant today (though not necessarily state of the art) Colt can't point to truly successful new from the ground up product in the last 57 years. (I consider the M4 an evolution of the AR-15 and not a from the ground up new product.) One principle of business is innovate or die. They made millions on M4 sales in the 1990s and early 2000s. What did they do with the profits? Probably pay their execs hefty bonuses instead of building a new production plant in Tennessee.
I predict that 10 years from now you will be able to buy a whole line of tactical gear with the Colt logo on it - but won't be able to find a new firearm made by Colt. Sad. Really sad.
A Case V-42 is a car payment. I saw a Colt version in a gun shop & got excited that they made a product with no moving parts at a price the average man an afford.
The thing was such a POS, I decided to wait.
Chris, excellent Video. It's a shame how arrogance is negatively impacting such an iconic Company!
Such an excellent video Chris! I had no idea you were living in Rochester and commuting to Hartford on a weekly basis, on your own dime. Now that is dedication, man! Having worked in Defense Manufacturing (Not small arms though), I can see what your saying 100%, I've seen it myself. It's really sad to watch hard working dedicated machinists and factory workers ultimately lose their jobs because of a management team that had their heads up their asses!
I have a contingent of Colt guns. I'm basically sitting on them until Colt goes under for good and then selling them for a premium to collectors.
How did I miss this video? Outstanding talk, thank you.
So many “enterprise” level businesses make these same mistakes. I see these same things happening even in the software sector. Keep the same mgrs that drowns projects, let your good people bail, not release options the customers ask for, don’t give sales info they need. Great video brother!
Another case of brilliant minds, and craftsmen and women dedicated to excellence ruined by "hire him, he's my boy" management. The reason I left the Marines too. I loved my brothers that were in the shit with me. But there was nothing honorable about being a Sergeant and micro managed by SNCO's and boot butter bars. I'm very sorry for you especially sir that you needed to go through that in a civilian work force.
HK Could be the next colt. Need to do more for the U.S. Civilian market.
Sup3r6f0ur
LMT, an American manufacture should be the new Colt. LMT sells to the U.S. Civilian Market.
No they have too many contracts for that to happen
@@segwolfxviii2919 You better believe it can happen to them, HK is massively leveraged at the moment. They literally need every single military contract they have just to keep their head above water.
Lol 2 years later we now have 2 civilian legal mp5’s come to market and a bunch of vp9’s. Coincidence... I think not lol. Hk new they had an ace in the hole with a cone correct sp5 they could dangle Infront of the American market fit 2500 and people would line up around the block to buy them based on nostalgia and pop culture alone.
@@jaydubs6354 I'm grateful for PTR Industry.
The problem was dealing with Officers. There is a reason enlisted Marines call them Zeros.
I was a translator right when we got off a Med float in 94 for a bunch of east European supply officers. As a E4 i got to see how they do dinner in the General officers O club...they had effing servants (not waiters). Flown in Alaskan Salmon (lejeune is on the effing coast) Looked like a scene from a French king's (or McArthur or Pattons) dinner party...Just as out of touch and all politics. Chesty Puller would have bent them in the parade ground himself!
Something tells me rot along similar lines killed Winchester and Remington.
Yeah the problem with a lot of American companies today, only care about short term profits instead of their product or people.
Tadicuslegion78 Yep. Mr. Feinberg.
@@nc4tn you're shitting me. Another Cohen (kimber)?
Winchester was killed by cheapening their product to be competitive with the model 700
This is the video type I love from you Chris. Thanks so much. 10 min in and completely hooked.
the best colt video on their down fall, thank you for the inside
Nice. It's sad, Colt made some great firearms, and Im happy to own a Colt Officers 1911, and AR. I grew up in CT, and remember driving by the factory all the time with my dad. Super interesting take, and great channel! Glad to be a new subscriber!
I bought a LE6920. That’s it. Still have it today. Great rifle.
Imagine that, cronyism hurt an organization. Wish I had a $100 for every time I've seen that in my life....
I'd make 10 times more than you. I worked for AT&T before and during the break up. AT&T became a nothing owned by Southwestern Bell because it had the piss poorest management that promoted each other because they were all from the same programs, went to colleges together. 200,000 people lost their jobs due to their incompetence.
@@robertcuminale1212 Sounds like a nightmare scenario. I've worked for state, county and Federal bureaucracies and it ain't much better. Morons that went hunting or fishing with the right dudes, graduated the same academy, were from the same hometown or the same college got preference. I've seen a ton of very qualified folks crapped on because they weren't from that right 'club'.
@@texas-raider he was going along with your "I wish I had $100.." cronyism comment by illustrating the corruption in the communications industry....reading comprehension Texas....
@@blue4629 Ah, my mistake. I'll edit that. And my apologies for not catching on and for my smart-aleck response, I didn't see what you guys meant at first. Sorry 'but that..
Sounds like Colt's internal governance can be described as an inertial dampening system.
More like Retarded Blowback, to use a firearm-related term!
Let me preface this comment by saying I love the 1911, and I know it will always have a place in the heart of gun lovers who can appreciate a well made, well finished handgun crafted by traditional gunsmiths.
Now that we got that out of the way : NOT MAKING ANY EFFORTS TO INNOVATE OR JUST AT THE VERY LEAST TRY TO KEEP UP WITH MODERN TRENDS IN HANDGUN DESIGN IS SUICIDE. If the military and LEO want polymer framed striker fired high capacity handguns, I don't care that you make a great 1911, you start making such a handgun for them. Once you have secured your company's future, then and only can you start making custom 1911s and SAAs on the side for the passionate fans. How they didn't even grasp such a simple concept is baffling.
or a Colt Lawman 357 at a reasonable price again?.
Colt striker fired / hammerless modern high capacity pistol with a good trigger and reliable function for a reasonable price and boom problem solved.
Terry Grossmann they can't laugh to much. Because here across the pond, we can actually own firearms.
I use to love the 1911A1, I have fond memories of it, but my new love is the FNX .45 Tactical. Fifteen rounds, same weight as the 8+1 1911A1.
@@timothysimpson9073 What are you talking about? Austrians can buy just about any gun they please. They're like the Czechs and Swiss in regards to less strict gun laws.
Very Informative, thank you, for taking the time out, it is sad, but hopefully they will bounce back..
What an extraordinary story and a sad one too. This guy is a brilliant business analyst as well as a firearms expert, he should run Colt.
Great video. This is the reason why I subscribed and then subscribed again when the channel went back up. Your insider knowledge puts you leagues above other channels.
Great video! Wonderful insights into this company and the one product of theirs I’m proud to own. A post AWB Colt LE Carbine I picked up in 2009 or 2010. The lower has all of those great “Restricted Military/Government/Law Enforcement/Export.....” markings which I love. Of course, NY state immediately ruined the rifle by grinding down the bayonet lug, pinning the barrel permanently with a muzzle brake and pinning the collapsible stock too. Either way, still happy with the rifle since it was my first AR-15 and from a historic company. This video provides tremendous insights into things I was sensing, hearing or reading about Colt products but was unaware of. I’ve wanted to add a basic Colt 1911 Government model to my arsenal of military working guns and now realize that gun won’t come from this company. Springfield Armory perhaps. I only hope I can restore this Colt LE carbine to its original condition with a HBAR threaded with flash suppressor and bayonet lug, etc once I leave NY state. I was hoping to use original Colt parts but sadly, I now realize they may no longer be around. Maybe not. Thank you again sir for the excellent and informative video.
Management is a support function, not the starring role. Executives driving the company because they have an office and a title is a terrible idea. At every company, the underlings know how to do their job. I can't imagine a Walmart cashier asking permission to bag a customer's groceries or a car salesman asking the manager if he can talk to a prospective customer. It's what they are supposed to do.
I use to live 20 mins from the Colt Factory. Pain in the ass to get a job in any department, I've tried so many times. My aunt and uncle works there and go through lay offs consistently. Stag was 30 min drive for me but their pay was horrible. There was also PTR before they moved, Mossberg but pay wasn't competitive. There was also smaller AR/M16 manufacturing companies in the surrounding areas which I briefly worked for (OKay Magazines in New Britain) until I got into alright paying company for postal service machinery manufacturer.
Great insight! Man, it’s hard to feel bad for Colt...they did it to themselves. Again, great video!
The new Colt revolver looks interesting and has gotten good reviews so far.
Colt seems to be common of American Manufacturing as a whole.
The future is only as far those on top need to retire or leave to a better job.
Engineering as a profession is very low in pay these days when you look across the board at other professions. So we have not attracted Engineers or people to stay in Engineering.
Colt was hit both by loss of the M4 contract and and a decline in demand for civilian arrms. Great video.
hell they don't have anything to sell on the civilian market, there are more gun shops in my area than ever before so the market is there...NO COLTS in any one of them, once in a great while for a couple days reside a one or two owner COLT..
If we get the NFA and Hughes Amendment repealed then maybe that will help Colt out. I'd love to get my hands on a Colt M4A1 and one of their 4-way M4s.
Corinthian unfortunately, this will never happen.
@@TeCHnORiOT How long do you believe we will even be 'allowed' to keep what we already own? This country's going to be drowning in it's own blood VERY soon!
@@SmallArmsSolutions Two years later and we now have a bill to abolish the ATF and NFA. Sure it won't pass HOWEVER this speaks volumes. COVID actually did a lot for gun rights by creating more gun owners. Yes, it created price hikes but there are more US gun owners then ever before, at least in the last few decades.
It is truly sad to see the demise of Colt. At this point, all of the stars have to align to see Colt rise above the rubble and, believe me, I want to see them rise again.
That type of thing happens a lot with military contractors. The top brass is military people who don't know the industry and the workers know their craft but don't know the military. If you're lucky you have a higher up with enough military clout that respects the employees and realizes how valuable they are.
I remember when the LE6920s were hard to get in the early years of the post-ban era because technically they were not for the commercial market. I remember there were only a few places to get them and the price was pretty much 1299.
When they went to the standard FCG pins I bought my first one but within a few years they were selling in the 800 dollar range.
Cool video, but one thing to note. I was stationed at Schofield Barracks from 12/1999 until 7/2005 ( I extended). We already had the M4 in inventory when I arrived at Schofield that December. I believe they may have just gotten them earlier that year. Regardless, the US Army was already fielding the M4 to leg Infantry well before OEF kicked off.
Man!! Thanks for the explanation as Colts demise has always been a mystery to me.
I keep reading the comments about colt not supporting the civilian market.
If I am not mistaken colts always have been after the government contracts. The Paterson aimed at leo and military and what ever the tx rangers were at the beginning. Then the Walker colt built there company on the idea of contracts and they just sold to citizens to.
I've never cared for revolvers till I got a Colt
They make fantastic ones
So did s&w I love the older guns
I bought a Colt LE6920 . It didn't have the roll markings on the barrel . I called Colt and asked why . The guy at Colt said that's because its an after market barrel , who ever owned it before me must have put it on . I said I bought it brand new from a gun store . He said , well I guess it just slipped through ? WTH ! I put a Colt Diemaco 15.7 cold hammer forged heavy barrel on it plus Colt Diemaco ambi safety , Raptor charging handle , V7 titanium take down pins , BCM 6 position buffer tube , H2 buffer , Heavy carbine buffer spring , ALG Defense ACT trigger , Norgon ambi mag release , Magpul ACS butt stock , Magpul MOE grip , Magpul M-Lok hand guard , Magpul RVG vertical grip , Magpul ASAP QD ambi sling attachment point , Magpul MS3 QD single point sling , Colt Canada Troy Battle Sight , G,G&G quick disconnect scope mount and a Vortex Diamondback Tactical 1-16x44 . If only the barrel had come with roll markings on it I wouldn't have had to buy all that other stuff ..... Ya my wife didn't go for that either ! But I have one hell of a nice rifle now : )
Incredible video Chris. Very insightful and illuminating to hear the story as told by someone on the inside. I would give anything to be there and help Colt build their name again. I bleed colt blue just like many.
as a gun guy and a business guy, thank you for this detail video, you put out great information, Their sales and CEO had absolutely no business talent when they think they can just rely on military contract.
The banks leveraging Colt or the investors need to hire you as a consultant to clean house.
Colt giving up on handguns would be like Mercedes giving up on cars. The company was really betting on the War on Terror lasting forever.
They never planned for tomorrow, just today and yesterday. Their curse that has yet to be exsorsized
Great video thank you. Reminds me of the woes at Games Workshop until the change of CEO a couple of years back.
Colt sold us no shelf lowers to remind us we are all subjects, so we switched to DD and BCM.
I switched to Windham, Aero, and P.S.A.
@whiteyfisk9769 a little more trusted now than they where 5 years ago. They're doing great things
@whiteyfisk9769 I don't mean any offense but just to say nobody that owns bcm, sionics, colt, Daniel defense. They're not switching to psa
@@BroScience710 Real
I Used to do warranty repairs on Colt products at one of their warranty stations in NYC. All I can do is agree with everything he is saying.