Rampant Colt headed to Florida

[RustyJr]

Buddy of mine just informed me that Colt Firearms is moving from Conneticut to Florida.
http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2011/12 ... o-florida/

RustyJr

[JerryB]

Sounds like good news. I bought my first Colt in Florida in 1959. My SAA 5 1/2 inch .45, still a good carry piece.

[Buck Elliott]

It has been widely-known for some time that the state of Connecticut would love to rid itself of firearms manufacturers, which it sees as just a half-step up from actual criminal enterprise.. Too bad that the incubator of America's industrial revolution, the Connecticut River Valley, has taken such a wide sweeping turn to the left, shunning the very industry that brought fame and fortune to the region...

[olyinaz]

Well said Buck.

Oly

[RIHMFIRE]

I think some of colts parts may be mfr in florida already...
its a good move....
Winchester lever guns may have survived here in the US
if thay made the move to Columbia SC much earlier....

[jlchucker]

It has been widely-known for some time that the state of Connecticut would love to rid itself of firearms manufacturers, which it sees as just a half-step up from actual criminal enterprise.. Too bad that the incubator of America's industrial revolution, the Connecticut River Valley, has taken such a wide sweeping turn to the left, shunning the very industry that brought fame and fortune to the region...

Absolutely true, Buck. As someone who grew up in the Connecticut River Valley, close to where the Robbins and Lawrence plant was during the industrialization of America, I can say that the problem is not entirely with unions. The problem started in the 1960's, when the politics of the region began to morph into the politics of liberal socialism. I can clearly recall sitting in a management meeting where one of the cabinet members of our governor stood there and told everyone that we were being outmoded, and that eventually Vermont would be a place where there would only be cottage industries, like Switzerland. She was speaking to us as though it was her goal. We were, at the time, the 3d largest machine tool producer in the US, and the company had a direct evolutionary lineage to Robbins and Lawrence. We were at the cutting edge of the CNC world. Now, there's only a bunch of crumbling buildings in the town where this woman predicted all of this. There's very little industry left in our part of New England now. Today, it's draining out of Southern New England as well. At least Colt will be alive after relocating to Florida.

[Rusty]

We have a Governor here who is a businessman not a politician. He has angered a lot of union types and Gov't workers. But he is looking at our problems from a business standpoint.
Not to get too far off track, but some time ago I told my wife about something I was thinking about while driving one night. What if Harley Davidson would move to Florida? They could have a totally modern plant in a right to work state where the company would have less tax exposure. Someone could build a resort hotel near the plant and a whole town would spring up, Harleyville. You could sell vacation packages where people could fly in stay a week and pick up their new bike straight from the factory. The packages could be sold only through local dealers along with the order for the bike.
Heck, as far as that's concerned Colt could offer some kind of a program like that as well. Order your gun, come down here and shoot it or get lessons. Have any issues taken care of, the gun shipped home to your dealer to be waiting for you when you get home.

[gak]

The forgoing notwithstanding, still a shame. "...BOCA RATON, FLA." on an SAA's barrel address doesn't have quite the same ring or I should say But...if it'll keep 'em going...

[Rusty]

Better than "Made in China"

[earlmck]

I'm not a purist -- I could buy a Colt stamped "Boca Raton" and never even notice as long as it's got the quality. As I was reading the posts I was thinking "been 50 years since I bought a new Colt". Then I did the math and realize it's only been 45 years since I picked up a brand new Python in San Diego and promptly hauled it over to Yuma to show off to my friend Jack Peccolo who was in the Border Patrol there and had taught me to shoot a pistol.

So I am overdue -- I'll be ready to become a "repeat customer" when they start making good ones in Florida. I don't drive Harleys so won't need to stay in Harleyville. But a couple of nights in Coltsville might be OK. I think you are on to something there, Rusty.

[Streetstar]

Hope it doesn't turn out as badly as Marlin's move

[Griff]

I'm not a purist -- I could buy a Colt stamped "Boca Raton" and never even notice as long as it's got the quality. As I was reading the posts I was thinking "been 50 years since I bought a new Colt". Then I did the math and realize it's only been 45 years since I picked up a brand new Python in San Diego and promptly hauled it over to Yuma to show off to my friend Jack Peccolo who was in the Border Patrol there and had taught me to shoot a pistol.
So I am overdue -- I'll be ready to become a "repeat customer" when they start making good ones in Florida. I don't drive Harleys so won't need to stay in Harleyville. But a couple of nights in Coltsville might be OK. I think you are on to something there, Rusty.

Been since 1994, but... it was a new gun originally manufactured in 1978.

From their website, Dec 1, 2011:

Colt’s Manufacturing Company is pleased to announce that the company will continue its progressive momentum by opening a new facility in Kissimmee, Florida. The new 16,000 square foot facility will allow Colt’s Manufacturing Company to expand into new markets and business lines in parallel with the company’s existing 100,000 square foot facility in Connecticut. Specific information on facility renovations and employee requirements will be determined over the course of the next several months.

[Ysabel Kid]

CT will bite the hand that feeds it, then complain about the loss of jobs after driving Colt from the state!

[2571]

[quote]I'm not a purist -- I could buy a Colt stamped "Boca Raton" and never even notice as long as it's got the quality. [quote]

Bought a Colt SAA 2 years ago for $1700. Shot it & took it a part for cleaning. Would not re-assemble. Called Colt & they treated me like an idiot. Suggested I ship it back and promised to return it within 90 days.

Took it instead to Magnaport who fixed it in about 15 minutes, correcting the amateur grinding job had done on the cylinder.

[Charles]

I wish them well in that move. Folks need to go where the business environment is best for them. To bad they didn't settle on Texas though!