saw a show last nite on public tv about Sam Colt and the beginning of Colt's Manufacturing and the history of Hartford CT....It was very impressive that Colt's Manufacturing was the premier manufacturing company in the US and possibly the world placing Hartford Ct as the center for the manufacturing hub..
How the mighty have fallen.
Rev. Chase
I attribute to Union demands, Greed, hostile State Legislation...
ad in declining quality 70's 80's & mid 90's, suspect business practices & management.
I think CZ has brought Colt back from the gloom & Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Major 2 pretty much nailed it. The conglomerate owners used the military contracts as a cash cow, never reinvesting. The new(ish) factory in West Hartford CT seems to have a fuller parking lot since CZ took over. I hope that is a good sign.
I guess we now have to figure out how to pronounce "Czolt".
Rev. Chase
Well, we swallowed Jap-chester & and were fed tea & crumpets and wore tweed with S&W's for while too.
Marlins became Rem-Marlins and now Rug-Marlins, Dan Wesson is under the CZ banner too.
Heck, Chrysler belongs to Fiat, Toyotas in Nascar, Cambells Soup is made in China.
As long as they don't put lawyer language on the SAA barrels, I'm okay with it. I haven't paid much attention to CZ's buying Colt after first hearing about it and folks wondering what was going to happen, but if they are still being made in the USA I am glad to hear it.
I know Miroku makes good guns, but the Italian '73's look a whole lot more like the original Winchesters.
bottom line is that Colt has survived despite being surrounded by hostiles like Custer...Living 20 min from the factory i've always wondered about the love-hate relationship between Colt and the legislature ie State loans etc.... maybe just maybe they know that Colt is Hartford or was so they leave them alone! just my opinion
ps in Portland Ct, the house that Elizabeth Hart Jarvis, Colt's wife lived in was recently exposed and will be restored along the Ct River.