There have recently been some rumours that Colt is abandoning the civilian AR-15 market. The truth isn’t quite so simple. With national news outlets picking up the story, Colt have today released a statement emphasising their commitment to the Second Amendment and reassuring that they ‘highly value’ their civilian customers.

COLT CONTINUES: Pauses Civilian AR-15 Market For Military Contracts

The statement also explains the company has a number of high-volume military contracts and that their entire rifle production capacity is needed to fulfil these orders. This is something which Colt have done in the past when completing large scale military contracts. The statement follows the news that the company has been awarded a $41,924,594 firm-fixed-price contract to provide M4s to more than a dozen countries through US Department of Defense foreign military sales. While the number of rifles to be produced is not specified the completion date is set for 18 September 2024, and depending on per rifle cost may run to between 50-70,000 rifles, not to mention earlier M4 contracts recently awarded to Colt.

A screen cap from Colt’s site showing some of their AR-15s no longer available (Colt)

Here’s Colt’s Statement on their decision in full:

There have been numerous articles recently published about Colt’s participation in the commercial rifle market. Some of these articles have incorrectly stated or implied that Colt is not committed to the consumer market.  We want to assure you that Colt is committed to the Second Amendment, highly values its customers and continues to manufacture the world’s finest quality firearms for the consumer market.

The fact of the matter is that over the last few years, the market for modern sporting rifles has experienced significant excess manufacturing capacity. Given this level of manufacturing capacity, we believe there is adequate supply for modern sporting rifles for the foreseeable future.

On the other hand, our warfighters and law enforcement personnel continue to demand Colt rifles and we are fortunate enough to have been awarded significant military and law enforcement contracts. Currently, these high-volume contracts are absorbing all of Colt’s manufacturing capacity for rifles. Colt’s commitment to the consumer markets, however, is unwavering.  We continue to expand our network of dealers across the country and to supply them with expanding lines of the finest quality 1911s and revolvers.

At the end of the day, we believe it is good sense to follow consumer demand and to adjust as market dynamics change. Colt has been a stout supporter of the Second Amendment for over 180 years, remains so, and will continue to provide its customers with the finest quality firearms in the world.

Colt’s decision to temporarily leave the civilian AR-15 market coincides with the award of a sizeable foreign military sales contract to provide an unspecified number of M4 and M4A1 carbines to countries including Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Federated States of Micronesia, Hungary, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macedonia, Marshall Islands, Palau, St. Vincent and Grenadines, and Tunisia.

Colt-made M4 Carbine (US Army)

Here’s the DoD’s contact announcement in full:

Colt’s Manufacturing Co. LLC, West Hartford, Connecticut, was awarded a $41,924,594 firm-fixed-price Foreign Military Sales (Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Federated States of Micronesia, Hungary, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macedonia, Marshall Islands, Palau, St. Vincent and Grenadines, and Tunisia) contract for production for the M4 and M4A1 carbines. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 18, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, New Jersey, is the contracting activity (W15QKN-19-D-0116)

Colt have confirmed that they are not, however, moving away from the pistol and revolver market, noting they are committed to expanding their dealer network and their lines of “finest quality 1911s and revolvers” such at the recently announced Colt King Cobra Target.