Colt

What Colt does

Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC, founded in 1836 by Samuel Colt, is a U.S.-based firearms manufacturer headquartered at 545 New Park Avenue, West Hartford, Connecticut, operating as a subsidiary of publicly traded Czech parent Colt CZ Group SE (Prague Stock Exchange). The company designs, manufactures, and sells pistols, revolvers, and rifles for three primary customer segments: the U.S. military and allied foreign governments (via direct defense procurement), federal/state/local law enforcement agencies, and civilian consumers. Its core product platforms include the 1911 pistol family (offered in Classic, Competition, Gold Cup, Defender, Commander, Combat Elite, Delta Elite, and Optics-Ready variants), the AR-15/M4/M5 carbine family (including the Enhanced Patrol Rifle II for law enforcement), the legendary revolver portfolio (Python, King Cobra, Cobra, Anaconda, Viper, Grizzly, Kodiak, Single Action Army), and the recently acquired Mk 47 40mm Advanced Lightweight Grenade Launcher system. Underlying capabilities center on precision machining, metalworking, and finishing of small arms, supplemented by the Colt Custom Shop (Master Gunsmiths/Engravers, est. 1976) for bespoke builds and the Colt Archive Services for historical authentication of collectible firearms.

Colt does not sell firearms directly to consumers. All commercial revenue flows through an authorized Stocking Dealer network, with parts and accessories distributed through Brownells and MidWayUSA. Defense revenue is captured through direct enterprise sales — exemplified by a $40.8 million U.S. Army contract for M4/M4A1 carbines under Foreign Military Sales to Bosnia, Iraq, Macedonia, and Tunisia (completion by March 2031). The company has held U.S. military standard-issue contracts since winning its first M16 rifle contract in 1963 (104,000 units) and supplying the M45 Close Quarter Battle Pistol to the U.S. Marine Corps. Pricing on the commercial side is unit-based; the EPR II patrol rifle lists at $1,449–$1,749, while government and custom-shop pricing is not publicly disclosed.

The business model is a hybrid of high-volume hardware sales, custom professional services (Custom Shop, Archive Letters), and multi-year defense procurement. Subsidiary operations include Colt Canada (acquired 2005) and Valley Steel Stamp/New England Expert Technologies Corp. (acquired 2021) for vertical integration of stamping and metal components. Marketing emphasizes brand heritage (the "gun that won the West," 190-year history) and is amplified through the Second Amendment Foundation Gold partnership announced April 2026. Revenue and detailed financial figures are not publicly disclosed at the subsidiary level, but the company operates with 501–1,000 employees and is positioned among the key players in the global rifles market alongside Smith & Wesson, SIG SAUER, Sturm Ruger, FN America, and Barrett Firearms.

Name

Colt

Legal name

Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC

Website

https://colt.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1836

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC, founded in 1836, designs and manufactures pistols, revolvers, and rifles for the U.S. military, allied foreign governments, law enforcement, and civilian consumers via authorized stocking dealers and direct defense contracts, operating as a subsidiary of publicly traded Colt CZ Group SE.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Firearms Manufacturing

NAICS

Small Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Accessories Manufacturing (332994)

SIC

Ordnance & Accessories, (No Vehicles/Guided Missiles) (3480)

akta.pro primary industry

Ammunition Manufacturing (Small-, Medium- & Large-Caliber) (IMABAHAG)

Keywords

• Precision firearms manufacturing
• Military rifles carbines
• Handguns revolvers
• Law enforcement weapons
• Custom firearms shop

Headquarters

HQ city

West Hartford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Commercial Firearms Sales: Colt manufactures pistols, revolvers, and rifles sold through authorized Stocking Dealers. Products include 1911 series, Python, Cobra, King Cobra, Anaconda, M5 Carbine, MSR family, and related accessories. The company does not sell directly to consumers, instead channeling all retail through its dealer network.
2. Custom Gun Shop Services: Colt Custom Shop provides bespoke firearms built to individual customer specifications, with Master Gunsmiths and Master Engravers. Orders placed through dealers and directly with factory.
3. Archive Letters and Authentication: Colt Archive Services provides historical authentication letters for firearms, confirming original specifications and delivery details. A valued service for collectors enhancing the investment and collectible value of Colt firearms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Colt designs, develops, and manufactures pistols, revolvers, and rifles for military, law enforcement, and civilian markets. Products are sold through authorized stocking dealers (not directly to consumers) and via direct government contracts for military carbines. The company also operates a Custom Shop for bespoke firearms and Archive Services for historical authentication.

Product overview

Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC is a firearms manufacturer producing pistols, revolvers, and rifles for military, law enforcement, and civilian markets. The pistol lineup centers on the iconic 1911 platform offered in multiple sub-brands including 1911 Classic, Competition, Gold Cup, Defender, Commander, Combat Elite, Delta Elite, and CCU/Combat Unit series, plus Optics-Ready variants and M4/M5 AR-platform pistols. The revolver portfolio features the legendary Snake Gun series (Python, King Cobra, Cobra) plus larger frame models (Anaconda, Grizzly, Kodiak) and the historic Single Action Army. The rifle lineup includes the Enhanced Patrol Rifle II (EPR II) and MSR (Modern Sporting Rifle) family. Colt also offers a Custom Shop for bespoke builds, Military & Law Enforcement products, and Colt Archive Letters for historical authentication. The company is a member of Colt CZ Group SE and operates from West Hartford, Connecticut.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Česká zbrojovka: Czech firearms brand operated by parent company Colt CZ Group SE alongside the historic Colt brand
• Colt Custom Shop
• Colt Optics

Products and services

• Colt 1911 Pistol Series The Colt 1911 platform offered across multiple sub-lines including Classic, Competition, Gold Cup, Defender, Commander, Combat Elite, Delta Elite, and CCU/Combat Unit variants, chambered in .45 ACP and 10mm Auto. Used for military, law enforcement, competition, and personal defense.
• Colt Optics-Ready Pistols 1911 pistols pre-configured for direct-mount optical sights, enabling modern optic compatibility on the classic 1911 platform for civilian, law enforcement, and competition use.
• Colt M4 & M5 Pistols

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Second Amendment Foundation (SAF)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 April 2026Colt's Manufacturing Company LLC joined the Second Amendment Foundation as a Gold-level corporate partner. The partnership supports SAF's legal initiatives to uphold Second Amendment rights. Colt's President and CEO Jillair Kubish stated that safeguarding constitutional rights aligns with the company's heritage and mission of serving military, law enforcement, and civilian communities. SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut indicated the partnership would help fund ongoing courtroom battles to protect Americans' Second Amendment freedoms.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Glock: Austrian-origin firearms manufacturer producing polymer-frame pistols for military, law enforcement, and civilian markets. Competes with Colt in the U.S. military sidearm market (MHS/M17 contracts) and in law enforcement duty pistol procurement.
• Springfield Armory: U.S. firearms manufacturer producing 1911-platform pistols, XD/M polymer pistols, and M1A/M14 rifles. Directly comparable to Colt in 1911 product lines and competes for the same civilian, law enforcement, and collector segments.
• FN America: U.S. subsidiary of FN Herstal manufacturing pistols, rifles, and machine guns for military and law enforcement. Direct competitor to Colt in U.S. and allied military rifle/carbine contracts, particularly in the M4/M16 platform category.
• SIG SAUER: U.S.-based firearms manufacturer serving military, law enforcement, and civilian markets with pistols, rifles, and optics. Directly comparable to Colt's M4/M5 and 1911 product lines and competes in the same U.S. military and law enforcement procurement programs.
• Sturm, Ruger & Co. U.S. firearms manufacturer producing pistols, revolvers, and rifles for civilian, law enforcement, and military markets. Competes with Colt across AR-platform rifles, 1911-style pistols, and revolvers, and is co-listed with Colt as a key player in the global rifles market.
• Smith & Wesson Brands: Major U.S. firearms manufacturer producing pistols, revolvers, and rifles for military, law enforcement, and civilian markets. Direct competitor to Colt across multiple product categories including M&P pistols and AR-platform rifles, and is co-listed with Colt as a key player in the global rifles market analysis.
• Heckler & Koch: German firearms manufacturer producing pistols, rifles, and submachine guns for military and law enforcement worldwide. Direct competitor to Colt in U.S. and allied military rifle programs (e.g., HK416 vs. M4) and in law enforcement procurement.
• Barrett Firearms Manufacturing: U.S. firearms manufacturer specializing in long-range and large-caliber rifles for military and law enforcement markets. Co-listed with Colt as a key player in the global rifles market and competes in specialized military precision rifle contracts.
• Beretta: Italian firearms manufacturer with deep U.S. military and law enforcement presence (e.g., M9/M92 family sidearms). Direct competitor to Colt in military sidearm, shotgun, and tactical rifle categories across U.S. and allied procurement.

Emerging players

• Daniel Defense: U.S.-based manufacturer focused primarily on AR-platform rifles and accessories for civilian, law enforcement, and military markets. Overlaps with Colt's MSR/M4 family in the commercial and law enforcement rifle segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/thecoltfirearms
• Facebookfacebook.com/ColtFirearms
• Instagraminstagram.com/coltfirearms
• Xx.com/coltlkl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Colt