 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Arms industry |
| Founded | 1855 (as Colt's Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company) |
| Founder | Samuel Colt |
| Headquarters | Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
Key people | Dennis Veilleux, CEO |
| Products | Firearms, weapons |
| Owner | Colt CZ Group |
| Website | www |
Colt's Manufacturing Company, LLC (CMC, formerly Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company) is an American firearms manufacturer, founded in 1855 by Samuel Colt that has become a subsidiary of Czech holding company Colt CZ Group. It is the successor corporation to Colt's earlier firearms-making efforts, which started in 1836. Colt is known for the engineering, production, and marketing of firearms, especially during the century from 1850 through World War I, when it dominated its industry and was a seminal influence on manufacturing technology. Colt's earliest designs played a major role in the popularization of the revolver and the shift away from single-shot pistols. Although Samuel Colt did not invent the revolver, his designs resulted in the first very successful model.
The most famous Colt products include the Colt Walker, made in 1847 in the facilities of Eli Whitney Jr., the Colt Single Action Army, the Colt Python, and the Colt M1911 pistol, which is the longest-standing military and law enforcement service handgun in the world and is still used. Though they did not develop it, for a long time Colt was also primarily responsible for all AR-15 and M16 rifle production, as well as many derivatives of those firearms. The most successful and famous of these are numerous M16 carbines, including the Colt Commando family, and the M4 carbine.
In 2002, Colt Defense was split off from Colt's Manufacturing Company. Colt's Manufacturing Company served the civilian market, while Colt Defense served the law enforcement, military, and private security markets worldwide. The two companies remained in the same West Hartford, Connecticut location cross-licensing certain merchandise before reuniting in 2013.[1] Following the loss of its M4 contract in 2013, the reunited Colt was briefly in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, starting in 2015 and emerging in January 2016. The company was bought by Česká zbrojovka Group in 2021.[2][3] In April 2022, Česká zbrojovka Group announced it had changed its name to Colt CZ Group.[4]
- ^ GOSSELIN, KENNETH R. (July 23, 2013). "Colt Entities Together Again: Company Reunites Military, Civilian Gun Manufacturing - Hartford Courant". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
- ^ "Czech gunmaker CZG buys Colt in cash and stock deal". Reuters. February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ "Česká zbrojovka Group SE Announces Closing of the Acquisition of Colt" (Press release). Česká zbrojovka Group. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
- ^ "CZG - Česká zbrojovka Group Has Changed Its Name to Colt CZ Group SE" (Press release). Colt CZ Group. April 12, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2022.