Czech firearms company in negotiations to buy Colt, an American legend

[trapper9260]

Here is what I found

Czech firearms company in negotiations to buy Colt, an American legend and Connecticut fixture for nearly 175 years - Tribune Content Agency

Gun manufacturer Colt, an American legend and Connecticut fixture for nearly 175 years, could come under European ownership in a deal being negotiated with a Czech firearms company. Ceská zbrojovka Group SE, or CZG, which is negotiating to purchase Colt Holding Co., said it has reached agreement...

tribunecontentagency.com

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[358156 hp]

Blasphemy!

 

[RBHarter]

Well at least it will live on . Probably better QC .

 

[CZ93X62]

CZ builds decent firearms. Some of that attitude and quality wouldn't hurt Colt one bit.

 

[JustJim]

My first thought was to hope Colt's management team didn't drag CZ down.

 

[462]

My first thought was to hope Colt's management team didn't drag CZ down.

First impression:

Then: I'm 1/4 Czech. We can be stubborn and set in our ways. Takes an awful lot to change my mind.

 

[Brad]

They will build a fine handgun. Better than having any US firms buy them.

 

[smokeywolf]

The two best scenarios would be CZ taking them over or Miroku. Good reason to believe either would or will maintain the high standards most expect from a Colt firearm.

 

[fiver]

I'd already rather have a CZ 1911 than a Colt so I'm expecting quality to go up.
anyway this went through like 3 days ago.

 

[RBHarter]

Saw a letter last night that said stuff was hung up on lawyers getting things signed and it would be 1/30 before it closed .

 

[waco]

CZ makes a fine rifle as well.

 

[Ian]

First impression:

Then: I'm 1/4 Czech. We can be stubborn and set in our ways. Takes an awful lot to change my mind.

My wife is 1/2 Hungarian and I can testify to the nature of Bohemians. Colt was failing to deliver even Taurus quality the last few years before---as Allen so aptly put it---Colt managed to "snatch failure from the arms of success", so I can only see it as a good thing if CZ buys the rights. Look at what FN did with Winchester, compared to what Winchester's holding companies did with Winchester.

 

[JustJim]

Wait a sec. Colt's revolvers are, well, not currently built to the standard we might wish to see. When CZ-USA acquired Dan Wesson, production of revolvers basically stopped. Maybe we could get lucky and wind up with Colt making Dan Wesson revolvers?

Eh, more likely, Colt won't be making revolvers any more either. . . but it was fun to dream, if only for a moment.

 

[fiver]

it's always two more weeks when the Lawyers get going..... LOL
we might get lucky and they'll use those colt machines to make more Dan Wesson revolvers, or the internals of the DW's to make some good colt's again.

 

[Ian]

I thought Uberti made Colt's revolvers while Colt sold logo'd keychains and ball caps made in China?

 

[Jäger]

My Bear Wrench was made under CZ; I love it, and that includes the level of craftsmanship in the pistol

My only experience with CZ, but this CBOB is of very high quality.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

The Czech's are very skilled when it come to all things mechanical.

Now, if they can get that Colt factory out of a high tax, union state; they might have a winning a game plan.

 

[Charles Graff]

CZ has been making well made, well engineered firearms for at least 100 years. They are also a well managed company. Colt now have a generation of poor management and so so products. Winchester and Browning firearms are now made in Japan and are good products. Pretty sure CZ wants to purchase Colt to enhance their sales to European military and law enforcement, but they won't forget the civilian market. All in all good news.

 

[fiver]

I think they are just making a good hedge against having more imports being banned.
plus they really need to make some better shotguns that have their name on them, and a lot fewer 500 dollar under/over shotguns with real spotty reputations that are made in turkey.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I think CZ recognizes that one of their largest markets is the U.S.A. and they saw an opportunity to buy a floundering American gunmaker for a good price.
As for their intentions, we can only speculate. Some possibilities include: They may be seeking to perform final assembly in the U.S. to avoid tariffs, they may be seeking ownership of the Colt name, they may be seeking to run Colt as a subsidiary, or some other scheme - it's impossible to say.
What is an absolute, is the fact that businesses must make money to survive; so CZ is not spending millions of dollars on emotions.

We can look at the consolidation of other manufacturing enterprises and get a sense of some past successful acquisitions. Beretta owns Franchi, Benelli, SAKO, Tikka and other companies. Herstal group [FN] owns U.S. Repeating arms (Winchester name) and Browning. Ruger just purchased a piece of the failed Remington family (Marlin).

While the future is never certain, I don't foresee Colt surviving as an independent company in any configuration. Colt will either be purchased by a more profitable company or Colt will simply cease to exist. In any event, I see it as positive change. Colt has been through more bankruptcies than I can count and Colt has been pitifully managed for too long.