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Thread: Has Colt become stagnant?

  1. #11
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    the problem isn't always so much "lazy", as it is practical.

    Grant is 100% about why change if your selling 100% of your manufactured product.

    It seems so obvious, to stay on top, you must innovate. But that isn't so simple as it sounds. Even IF you came up with something innovative that seemed like a good idea to produce and sell, spinning up to sell this "new thing" is a HUGH risk. If you are currently selling all your current product, taking away time, resources and attention to sell something that isn't yet known, accepted and selling...well that is a risk. A risk that might not be worth it. it's the bird in one hand worth two in the bush problem.

    The other issue, the bar for true revolutionary in the world of small arms, is VERY HIGH. most advances over the last almost 100 years have been small evolutionary step, not revolutionary. Rifles and Handguns peaked quite a while ago.

  2. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Skintop911 View Post
    People are quick to talk and slow to buy. They will line up en masse to tell a manufacturer what boat their missing, but won't carry the water to make it happen much less pay for it. They also tend to fail to consider how small a niche most ideas would serve if brought to reality. It might be something you want, but how many of you are there that will seek it out, then pay for it?

    (Exp: In the case of ARs, most owners simply don't give much thought to a LW or M4 profile barrel, and don't have a clue about the gas system.)

    Remember, it's not about the guns. It's about business. If your production is at max, sales are good, and all the minutiae of manufacturing are ticking along, what's wrong?

    Here's another thought: What makes you think manufacturers don't have lengthy lists of alternative products, protos, and concepts they are working with, that may be ready to roll at any moment? You just might be surprised...
    Truer words have never been spoken.

  3. #13
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    Isn't the goal of any business to adapt, change, etc...aka innovate?

  4. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Warp View Post
    As a Glock guy I can safely say that I wish Glock sat on their ass and didn't do a single thing different than they were a decade ago. They changed some things in the later Gen3s and changed things more for the Gen4 models, and look what happened.

    Don't screw with a good thing.
    Thank you for saving me a whole lotta typing. Well said.

  5. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Spikele View Post
    Isn't the goal of any business to adapt, change, etc...aka innovate?
    Apparently if your making money....sadly no.
    What bothers me is they will put time and money into stupid ideas like the SCW but not in innovation in a proven platform, thus making it even better.
    Last edited by sinlessorrow; 01-20-13 at 22:13.
    Quote Originally Posted by C4IGrant View Post
    Colt builds War Horses, not show ponies.
    Quote Originally Posted by Iraqgunz View Post
    This is 2012. The world is going to end this December and people are still trying to debate the merits of piece of shit, cost cutting crap AR's. Really?

  6. #16
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    Are they stagnant, or consistent?

    Do their carbines run? Yeah.

    Do their carbines blow up, wear out, malfunction, etc because they're not "middies" No.

    Are their small parts, receivers and barrels some of the best in the business? Yes. There's a reason they're recommended by many and demand a premium.

    Do they have high quality standards and maintain them consistently? Yes.

    Do they support their products after the sale? Yes. They may not be as accommodating as the smaller boutique brands, but they do have a decent warranty/service dept. and they're big enough to meet the demands of large organizations.


    Don't get me wrong, I appreciate all the innovation made in past few years when it comes to free-float handguards (even though I don't have one), triggers, furniture, slings, optics, lights, magazines, etc.

    But, there's also something to be said about a platform that's good enough for people to be able to put so much effort into what's basically minutia.

  7. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Warp View Post
    As a Glock guy I can safely say that I wish Glock sat on their ass and didn't do a single thing different than they were a decade ago. They changed some things in the later Gen3s and changed things more for the Gen4 models, and look what happened.

    Don't screw with a good thing.
    That hit the nail on the head.

    Most of the firearms corporations have been trying to find a way to build things cheaper. That would kill Colt AR's.

  8. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jake'sDad View Post
    That hit the nail on the head.

    Most of the firearms corporations have been trying to find a way to build things cheaper. That would kill Colt AR's.
    Colt Prices are near impossible to beat, the most recent Army bid according to GOA was $724 per rifle(which should include RAS, 1 mag, sling, BFA, ect).

    Its tough to beat that kind of price tag for a rifle, even the civilian prices are $1100 before the craze started.

    I would still like to see some evolution though, similar to what we saw in the new copper extractor springs.
    Quote Originally Posted by C4IGrant View Post
    Colt builds War Horses, not show ponies.
    Quote Originally Posted by Iraqgunz View Post
    This is 2012. The world is going to end this December and people are still trying to debate the merits of piece of shit, cost cutting crap AR's. Really?

  9. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by Skintop911 View Post
    People are quick to talk and slow to buy. They will line up en masse to tell a manufacturer what boat their missing, but won't carry the water to make it happen much less pay for it. They also tend to fail to consider how small a niche most ideas would serve if brought to reality. It might be something you want, but how many of you are there that will seek it out, then pay for it?

    (Exp: In the case of ARs, most owners simply don't give much thought to a LW or M4 profile barrel, and don't have a clue about the gas system.)

    Remember, it's not about the guns. It's about business. If your production is at max, sales are good, and all the minutiae of manufacturing are ticking along, what's wrong?

    Here's another thought: What makes you think manufacturers don't have lengthy lists of alternative products, protos, and concepts they are working with, that may be ready to roll at any moment? You just might be surprised...
    Exactly...

    Also consider Colt has become an export company. For the last several years, almost 60% percent of its production capacity has been foreign military & police. Only about 10% is US commercial sales which includes LE leaving about 30% to US military contracts.

  10. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Spikele View Post
    Isn't the goal of any business to adapt, change, etc...aka innovate?

    No, the goal is to make money.
    Stick


    Board policy mandates I state that I shoot for BCM. I have also done work for 200 or so manufacturers within the firearm community. I am prior service, a full time LEO, firearm instructor, armorer, TL, martial arts instructor, and all around good guy.

    I also shoot and write for various publications. Let me know if you know cool secrets or have toys worthy of an article...


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