Colt is Still Making History: Last year Colt’s Manufacturing Company – one of the oldest and most prestigious firearms companies in the United States – was purchased by the Czech holding company Česká zbrojovka Group (CZG). When the deal – valued at around $220 million and 1.1 million in shares of the Czech firm’s stock – was closed last May, it was announced that the merger would bring significant operational, commercial, and R&D synergies for the combined business.
It was also seen that the deal could result in a serious comeback for Colt, and put the combined CZG and Colt in the same league as Smith & Wesson, the leader in the American firearms industry. CZG’s goal was to double its revenue to $1 billion or more, and to do so would require taking on Colt’s rivals in the American firearms market.
The efforts to recapture and even dominate the market could begin later this month at the annual Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show), scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, January 18-21. Highlighting the fact that 186 years since Samuel Colt’s first firearms patent in 1836, Colt is “Still Making History,” the company will present its product line of rifles, pistols and revolvers.
“Colt has been an industry-leading firearms manufacturer for over 185 years! We have a proud history of time-tested rifles, pistols and revolvers,” said Justin Baldini, Colt’s director of product management. “Colt is enthusiastic about the year ahead as we continue a strong sixth year of growth with many new products in the works. We invite visitors to come by the booth and see what’s new at Colt in 2022.”
Despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the spread of the Omicron variant, SHOT Show 2022 promises to go on and will be bigger and better than ever after being forced to go digital-only last year.
Colt announced that the company looks forward to connecting with old friends and building new partnerships at the nation’s largest professional event for sports shooting, hunting, and outdoor industry. It has encouraged dealers, distributors, industry members, and media to stop by the booth to learn and handle Colt’s array of new and classic firearms. Colt’s knowledgeable staff will be on-site to answer questions, showcase its tried-and-true products, and discuss what’s new in the year ahead.
Among the newest offerings planned to be on display is the Colt Python 3-inch model, chambered for the powerful .357 magnum. It is the latest addition to the reintroduced line of Colt Python revolvers, and closely resembles the original models that were produced from 1955 to 2000. The 3-inch model offers a semi-bright stainless steel finished barrel and frame that is contrasted with rugged walnut grips that feature deep checkering and an inlaid golden Colt logo that is reminiscent of the classic. Its ribbed top strap and full-length underlug are also unchanged from the original.
The Python and other Colt classic firearms will be on display at the upcoming SHOT Show.
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites. He regularly writes about military small arms, and is the author of several books on military headgear including A Gallery of Military Headdress, which is available on Amazon.com. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes Magazine.
