I have really not kept up on this so this may be a dumb question.

If there are 2 Colt companies (Colt Defense and Colt MFG), and GD owns Colt Defense, then they would be 2 separate entities that share a similar name. . .correct ?

They would be under separate management and have to answer to a separate board of directors . . .?

In some sense, would the Colt MFG MT6400 actually compete with the Colt Defense LE6920 ?
Would Colt MFG be privey to, or modifications of the M4 or M16 TDP ?
Who gets the trademarked pony logo ?

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: I have really not kept up on this so this may be a dumb question. If there are 2 Colt companies (Colt Defense and Colt MFG), and GD owns Colt Defense, then they would be 2 separate entities that share a similar name. . .correct ? They would be under separate management and have to answer to a separate board of directors . . .? In some sense, would the Colt MFG MT6400 actually compete with the Colt Defense LE6920 ? Would Colt MFG be privey to, or modifications of the M4 or M16 TDP ? Who gets the trademarked pony logo ? Dace has it.  I would also imagine a continued partnership with GD & Colt MFG at least for a few years. I would also just guess (again its pure speculation) that General Dynamics got the TDP based on what GD does.  They more then likely bought Colt purely for their defense contracts and nothing else.  Although the Colt name and trademarked pony carry an intangible value, GD might not care about that, again because of what they do (defense contracts).

Quoted: As I said before, Colt's has been sold many times, not a big deal.  A split with separate ownership is much more interesting. I don't know what the deals is with Colt's MFG and Colt's Defense in regards to their semiauto line.  I would find it hard to belive Colt's set up two machining centers, assembly stations, etc for the semiauto stuff and military stuff.  And to make it more confusing two of my three MT6400C's are roll marked Colt's Defence.

I would agree, the companies new ownership up to this point doesn't really mean much.  But if MFG and Defense are serving two different masters, two different boards of directors, two different sets of stockholders, and both demanding more profitability - it is really going to confuse things on the non-mil side of the AR world.  If the interests of the one are not consistant with the other, there will be two Colt AR's on the market.

Relating to the AR world . . .
Imagine if you ran Colt Defense; you would pursue .mil contracts (foreign and domestic) and pursue LE sales (foreign and domestic).  You would pursue these markets to maximize profitability of Colt Defense.

Now imagine if instead you ran Colt MFG; you are probably contractually obligated not to bid on .mil contracts (foreign and domestic), and you are probably contractually obligated not to pursue the LE market (foreign and domestic).  But if you ran Colt MFG, wouldn't you market a semi auto Colt MFG M4 for the civilian market?   Wouldn't you also market a semi auto Colt MFG M16A2 20" for the civilian market, etc.. etc... etc....?
So you will have two different Colts in the civilian market.  The Colt Defense LE models and Colt MFG civvie model.  Which really means you will also have two different Colts in the LE market also.  Which means you will have two different Colt companies competing for the same business.  So you may end up with "Colt" and a "Colt copy".    Which one is the "real" Colt ?
How many pages will the "Colt MFG vs Colt Def" threads go.  (my pony can beat up your pony)

my head hurts  . . .

I wonder if we could be looking at the end of Colt MFG ?

If they do not make a AR/MT series, can the company survive on 1911's and SAA sales alone ?

I don't know the answer, but I hope we don't loose the heritage of those American sidearms.

Quoted: The TDP will no longer be the sole property of Colt.

What do you mean ?

Quoted: Seems to me that the M4 TDP is relevant, if buying Colt's Defence that would be their biggest asset.  Unless you are a gambling man, and think one of their prototypes has potential. In regards to the Match Target, and LE line, I am convinced that those are made on the same production line as is the military stuff.   Four reasons I say this, first off it is cheaper.  Second the guy that posted his little essay on his tour of Colt's MFG said there was a gate separating the two companies, and his description of the Colt's MFG side was limited to pistols.  Third, Mark a current Colt's employee said that Match Target production has been pushed off till the third quarter to make room for military demand.  Forth a former Colt's employee posts here, and he said so. So, the owner of Colt's Defence owns the M4/A1, Match Target, and the LE production lines.

How viable would Colt MFG be then ?
It would have to be able to stand on its own two feet without any help from Colt Defense.
(I am referencing the shared allocation of overhead expenditures under the current arrangement)
Going back to the essay (as referenced above), it did not seem the 1911 and SAA were overflowing on the production lines.