The future of Colt

[JudgeColt]

I am back from the SHOT Show and in front of my home computer, where I can more easily post. I have quit lugging a lap top with me when I travel and have adopted an iPad as my sole “road” access device, but typing on an iPad is not easy for me so I did not post while at the SHOT Show. I will now make up for lost time.

I had the pleasure of meeting Brent Turchi of Colt at the SHOT Show on Thursday, January 19, 2012. (Brent is known here as Bjt72.) Brent’s titles are Product Service Supervisor and Custom Shop Supervisor. We talked for about half an hour. (Rather, Brent talked and I mostly listened.) I do not know how much of what Brent told me is for general publication, but I will give some general observations based on my conversations with Brent. One thing of which I am sure, with people like Brent in management positions, Colt will continue not only to survive, but will progress.

My conversation with Brent began by referencing the Colt Forum while identifying myself. Brent said that at first, Colt did not want him posting on the various relevant gun sites, but now encourages him to do so. Apparently, higher management now inquires of Brent, “what are the people on the forums saying?” Brent told me that, while he does not post everyday, he does read every day. (I suspect Brent feels he is sometimes the easy target for the slings and arrows directed at Colt by forum members. My ears were burning a bit at that thought.) That said, if I misstate anything that Brent told me, I ask him to please correct me. Perhaps in his "spare" time, Brent could draft a "position paper" addressing the issues we discussed and post it here.

First, I learned that Colt is a TINY company, much smaller than I realized. It shocked me to learn that there are only about 150 (maybe it is 175) Colt employees! My wife’s 25-bed rural critical care access hospital has more employees than that! The labor contract of those Colt employees will expire in 2014 (IF I recall that date correctly). With that few employees, I am amazed at the growth in production Colt has been able to achieve. As Brent pointed out when I was lamenting in a recent post that Colt could only produce about 30,000 guns a year, Colt is now over 50,000 guns a year. That means in a matter of about two years, Colt has increased its production by over 60%! That is MAJOR progress. More importantly, that means profit. Profit means money to do things. Things we all want. It also means that future labor contract negotiations will undoubtedly focus on that profit, and how much of it the workers will demand. Which may mean fewer profits, which may mean less ability to buy new equipment, which may mean production will not be able to continue to increase at the current rate, which will mean fewer future profits, which will ….. You get the idea.

Brent explained some of the progress that has been made in increasing production. The various processes have been examined and “bottlenecks” have been eliminated when possible. Some have been very simple to implement, and others not so simple. The process is ongoing. As new machinery is purchased with new profits, new processes will be implemented, which will further increase production, which will produce more profits, which will…. You get the idea.

I asked Brent about the propensity of Colt to announce new products, only to never get them produced, or to produce them so slowly and after such delay that the “buzz” is gone by the time the product is finally available. Brent acknowledged that has been a problem and will no longer be the case. Brent said there it has been a tendency to go in too many directions at once, and to lose focus on the core products. For example, while it would be great to have a stainless Model P, if the demand for regular Model P revolvers is unmet, why dilute the production capability with another variation for a more limited market? In the case of the Model P, as well as the Model O, the emphasis will now be on producing the “core” models, and move the low-demand variations into the Custom Shop. That should make the “core” models more available, which will increase profits, which will… You get the idea.

Even though I recognize that revolvers are not where the market is these days, I asked about the revolver issue because it is a hot topic here on the Forum. Sure, many here would like a 6-inch .357 King Cobra-type revolver, but the market for such a gun is relatively tiny. The market is with brilliant new pistol designs like the Smith & Wesson M&P, the FNH FNX and FNS and the Ruger SR9/40. (The amazing 1911 clone market continues to thrive as a counter to the new designs, and Kimber alone offers, by rough count, at least 75 different models.) Brent said revolvers will be coming when there is money and capacity to do it. In my personal opinion, the only revolver market worth Colt entering would be the small concealed carry market, where the 2-inch .38 Special snub continues to be very popular. I would therefore think the SF-VI would be the logical revolver model to being back first (I would call it “Detective Special” and "Cobra"), but I suspect that something along the line of the King Cobra will be first, even though the market for such a gun is relatively small, and is already dominated by Smith & Wesson and Ruger.

I asked about some of the little things that have always puzzled me about Colt. I asked why ambidextrous safeties are not standard on all Colt pistols, not just on some models out of the Custom Shop. Apparently, Colt does not believe the demand is there. I speculate that perhaps Colt’s customer base is so traditional that anything not on the original design is not favored. However, in direct contrast, all of the major new pistol designs from the major manufacturers are fully ambidextrous, such as the Smith & Wesson M&P, the FNH FNX, etc.. The new Kimber 9mm clone of the Mustang, the Solo, has ambidextrous safeties as standard, and Colt will not even offer it on the Mustang. That kind of philosophy by Colt remains a puzzle to me.

I asked why the “tab” design is used for the Model O ambidextrous safeties that are installed on certain models, when the design that uses the sear pin to hold on the right side lever does not require modification of the right stock panel and also does not rub on the frame so as to wear the finish when the safety is engaged and disengaged, like the tab design does. (The sear pin design was sold by Colt in the 1980s as a factory accessory, and I put them on all of my “working” Model O pistols.) It would seem that Colt abandoned a superior design for an inferior design, but I gather that it was a royalty issue or some such. Brent said there will be a new ambidextrous safety design coming that does not use the tab mount, or the sear pin mount. I will be curious to see how that is designed.

I asked Brent why, with so few employees, Colt would even mess with refinishing old Colts. Brent’s answer was interesting: Because it always has. That service is just part of what Colt is. There is a tiny bit of profit, which, of course, is good. Brent verified that markings are not “re-rolled” since Colt no longer has the role dies. When necessary, markings are engraved. The “Verified Proof” is not re-stamped.

There were many more issues that Brent and I discussed, but the foregoing seem to me to be most important to understanding where Colt is at the present, and where it is going in the future. With fine employees like Brent, Colt is in good hands. It will be hard for Colt enthusiasts to wait as Colt follows a “slow and steady” pace, but that is what it has to be. I look forward to the trip. I just hope my ticket does not expire before Colt gets back to where we all want it to be.

[Colt-SL]

Judge, thank you for this!! I really appreciate your taking time to go into such depth, with eloquence and foresight. I hope we all get this same prospective; again, thanks!

[gvf]

Thanks for all the info. Interesting.

How does Colt seperate: consumer production and military production. I assume more than 150 employees are turning out Colt's military products?

[Kid Sopris]

Thank You Judgecolt. This mirrors previous conversations that I have had with Brent, Joyce Rubino, Joe Canalli, Kathy Hoyt, Mark Roberts, Carlton Chen, Joe Dieso and Mike Reissig over the years. Each Time these folks would carefully listen and explain, without giving away their secrets, where Colt is at and where they, (COLT) intend on going; without making the mistakes of previous management officials.

Though The thought of Selling Colt was mentioned by some in the Gun World, I know that a Major corporation with a poor reputation for acquiring Firearm companies made a posturing move toward Colt but was told to Go Away, with extreme prejudice. Since Colt is a privately held company, they have some protection from the Corporate greed that exist in the Public Traded companies.

Patience is a virtue that I have a poor history with, like many of us here I want it now; BUT I want it the best it can be as well, so something has to give.

I am a devoted follower, customer and preacher of Colt Firearms. If for nothing else than the historical aspects, than for their ability to survive when others have sold out; not to mention their continuance to giving in the Charitable world.

[Armyphotog]

Enjoyed reading about the Colt Company. I, too, didn't realize it was so small. I'm not so sure I want some of the models brought back. What would that do to the collectibles, like DS, and the $ I've already invested. Got to hurt our collection values, seems like to me. Also, I'm not so sure these "mass produced" pistols would ever reach the same quality level as the old masters' produced.

[montegomx70]

thank you judge for the interesting info on colt firearms.

[broknaxl]

Thanks Judge for a most interesting and well written explaination of whats happening with Colt. I would like to meet Brent some day. He seems, like you stated, a real asset to the Company. Sometimes it just may be better to move a little slower when your growing, then to surge ahead rapidly. How many businesses have you heard of that started expanding rapidly only to fall into bankruptcy due to getting in over their heads in debt. Sometimes slow and cautious is the better way. Thanks again!!

ps; I am still waiting to find a new Mustang that isn't priced over the MSRP!!

[Primer88]

Thank you Judge, very well done.

[OIF2]

Thanks, Judge! Good stuff.
Bob

[twaits]

Very nice Judge. I talked with Brent Briefly at the show as well. It was nice to put a face with the name. Heck of a nice guy.
I did not realize Colt had such a small amount of employees. That is really eye opening. I think at one time we had close to the same amount working at Bushmaster before it was moved out of state.
I think Colt is headed in the right direction.