Mad at Colt

American Handgunner, Jan-Feb, 2005 by Shawn McCarver

In a move sure to anger consumers, Colt has sent a letter to its distributors stating it will only sell high capacity magazines to law enforcement and the government despite the sunset of the law on September 13, 2004. In the same statement, dated September 14, 2004, Colt states it will continue to sell Match Target Rifles in present configuration to the public and that law enforcement semiauto rifles will only be sold to law enforcement and the government. The purported reason is that "manufacturing capacity" dictates that Colt serve its LE and government customers first. While that is a laudable goal, it's hard for me to understand how "manufacturing capacity" prevents spinning a flash-hider on a rifle barrel and leaving the lugs on the barrel. In addition, it's hard to understand how it helps production capacity to supply the 9-round magazine instead of a 20- or 30-round magazine with each rifle.

This unfortunate decision could spell the final death knell for Colt with American consumers, who are sick of gun companies that make such decisions. Sam Colt, one of the most prominent entrepreneurs of the 1800s, is likely rolling over in his grave. The seemingly endless series of hacks who have run the company in the last few decades have succeeded in taking Colt from its preeminent position prior to World War II to the status of "almost ran" in recent years. What Colt needs is a true life, honest-to-God capitalist at the helm instead of a retired Marine general with no apparent business sense.

Shawn McCarver

via e-mail

This from Russ Thurman, editor, Shooting Industry magazine, a sister-publication of Handgunner:

Whoa, Shawn. Put the rusty K-Bar down and step away from the black helicopter. No big conspiracy here. Yes, it's true Colt has decided to sell its high-capacity magazines and post-Assault Weapons Ban firearms to law enforcement and government agencies. So, what's the big deal? From the information in your letter, you know a lot about Colt, including the fact the company barely survived going out of business several times in the '90s. While Gen. Keys is not your "Hey, waz happening" type of company president, he has stabilized Colt, mostly by not catering to a highly-bloated civilian market, but rather by greatly increasing the company's law enforcement and government contracts. Sounds like sound business tactics.

If you really want a high-capacity Magazine for your present Colt, or a fully-tricked out law enforcement version of a Colt rifle, you can buy one today. It's perfectly legal to purchase these from Colt law enforcement dealers. We are told rifles from all manufacturers that have the "For Law Enforcement Only" markings, as required by the Assault Weapons Ban, are now collector's items for civilian buyers.

Now, Shawn, are you really angry at Colt because of this decision, or do you just have an axe to grind? We find it very default to fault a company that decides to concentrate its, efforts on providing the best firearms to our law enforcement and our military, rather than capitalizing on an opportunity, in the civilian marketplace. Russ Thurman, www.shootingindustry.com.