For those of you considering a Defender Purchase

[FlameRed]

Just got a note from Talo and they are coming out with a special run of Defenders called the "Colt Night Defender". No pictures.

The information they supplied me was:

Lightweight, powerful .45 with special features:

Tritium night front sight
Two-tone look, carbon slide, carbon slide stop, carbon safety
Night Defender factory roll mark
Special serial number range beginning NFD-001
Uniquely checkered hardwood grips with Serpentine Colt logo
Custom Shop Box

Part # O7000NDF

Delivery starts next week. Shipments direct from Colt. We are doing 400 in this batch but hope to do more in 2 month if these sell well

No MSRP supplied.

I have no vested interest. Thought that someone who was considering a purchase might appreciate another alternative.

[19114me]

https://www.lipseys.com/itemfinder.aspx?mfg=Colt&family=1911+Style+Pistol+Series&model=Night+Defender

$939 msrp

[paul45]

That actually sounds kinda cool. Nice to see TALO moving away from Chinese dragons.

[larry starling]

Interesting to say the least! Why does a outside company come out with new Colt items? Why hasn't Colt done this for themselfs along time ago?

Will be interested in seeing some pics.

[Hunter]

Why does a outside company come out with new Colt items? Why hasn't Colt done this for then selfs along time ago?

Will be interested in seeing some pics.

Colt announced the release of a few new pistols and rifles at the SHOT show.

[larry starling]

Colt announced the release of a few new pistols and rifles at the SHOT show.
Agreed! But why does a outside company have to announce new versions?
Such as the followings:

Royal Combat Commander
Royal National Match .45
Colt Emiliano Zapata–
Stainless .38 Super
Colt Day of the Dead
Colt Sterling .45
The Colt .45 Sovereign 1 of 300
Colt El Grito .38 Super
Colt American Eagle
Colt Emiliano Zapata Colt Diamond Grade Colt Peacemaker
Colt Supreme Commander
Colt Don Benito Juarez
1991Z Colt Limited Edition Tiger
Colt Single Action Army – Prospector Edition
Colt Presidential Edition .45
Colt Premier Edition Classic II .45
Colt Limited Edition .45
Colt Silver Dragon
Just a few examples mind you!

[gfavaron]

Colt works in mysterious ways it's wonders to perform . . . . . .

[BeatNavy96]

Steel frame? That's not really a Defender, then, is it?

[paul45]

Guess Colt found another old box full of Officer frames......

[Hawkmoon]

Steel frame? That's not really a Defender, then, is it?
Where did it say steel frame? It said Carbon Slide -- which would be logical if doing a 2-tone. I don't see any mention of the frame.

{EDIT}Ah, the Lipsey's link. So we have Talo saying a carbon slide, with no mention of the frame. We have Lipsey's saying steel frame, with no mention of the slide.

I guess it will be what it will be.

[Hunter]

Agreed! But why does a outside company have to announce new versions?

Seems Talo is really interested in Colt pistols. I wonder why?
For Talo to take it upon themselves to design a new Colt and order them I cannot see the logic of holding that against Colt but then again I have been having trouble with logic lately.

[daveohno]

I just hope it doesn't have all sorts of engraving all over it. It sounds like a nice variant of the normal Defender.

[larry starling]

Seems Talo is really interested in Colt pistols. I wonder why?
For Talo to take it upon themselves to design a new Colt and order them I cannot see the logic of holding that against Colt but then again I have been having trouble with logic lately.
My gripe with it is that Colt should be offering these models them selfs and not having to rely on TALO or any other distributor to add new ideas to the product line.

Once again I bring up the fact that people want the items they catalog in different calibers. 9mm Govt models, super 38 NRM commanders....etc!

[Frank]

I wonder if this isn't an example of "business moves in mysterious ways." I suspect that this sort of marketing is all part of a strategy to allocate and manage entrepreneurial risk.

So a distributor like Talo or Lew Horton or Davidson's guarantees a gun maker, like Colt, a minimum order of a gun with unique specifications. So Colt has a guaranteed sale of some number of guns thus mitigating the risk of bringing out something new. And the distributor, to protect itself, probably gets an exclusive and an agreement from the maker to not make more than some stated number of the particular model.

Of course, we'd never know the details of the deal, but it's probably something like that. And it's not unique to Colt. Smith & Wesson has done it (especially with Lew Horton). So has Browning and Ruger, among others. Check out the "exclusives" at Davidson's.

...Colt should be offering these models them selfs and not having to rely on TALO or any other distributor to add new ideas to the product line....
These sort of distributor deals are probably what makes it financially feasible for Colt (and other makers) to market these new ideas.

DVC

[larry starling]

These sort of distributor deals are probably what makes it financially feasible for Colt (and other makers) to market these new ideas.

DVC
Colt has had the reputation in the past of making all sort of limited edition/ commemoratives for who ever would throw some cash at them. Lew Horton, RSR and others in the past. And over the last few years TALO.

While some of them are tastefully done. As it would appear the Limited Defender will be. Most have been IMHO horribly over embellished with excessive engraving and somewhat questionable themes!

[Rich-D]

Interesting to say the least! Why does a outside company come out with new Colt items? Why hasn't Colt done this for themselfs along time ago?

Will be interested in seeing some pics.

Talo is a speciality company, that pursue's new idea's on decorations and model enhancements on limited editions. When they contact Colt for an order of 500 guns, is Colt suppose to refuse. Especially since they do so time and time again. The fact that Talo choses Colt should be seen in a positive light, not a negative light

BTW: Colt has been issuing new models!


Best of Luck!
Rich

[paul45]

Seems Talo is really interested in Colt pistols. I wonder why?


I would think the same reason TALO gussies up 10 other makers guns as well.....

Money!!

[larry starling]

Talo is a speciality company, that pursue's new idea's on decorations and model enhancements on limited editions. When they contact Colt for an order of 500 guns, is Colt suppose to refuse. Especially since they do so time and time again. The fact that Talo choses Colt should be seen in a positive light, not a negative light

BTW: Colt has been issuing new models!


Best of Luck!
Rich
I'm sorry Rich! But where in my post's did I say Colt shouldn't sale pistols? My argument is that Colt should be marketing these pistols themselfs! I never said they souldn't sale pistols. I understand that 11 gunmakers make models for Talo. Thats fine! I guess my issue is I wish Colt would offer these models and not other vendors. No big deal I guess just my hangup!

[Rich-D]

I'm sorry Rich! But where in my post's did I say Colt shouldn't sale pistols? My argument is that Colt should be marketing these pistols themselfs! I never said they souldn't sale pistols. I understand that 11 gunmakers make models for Talo. Thats fine! I guess my issue is I wish Colt would offer these models and not other vendors. No big deal I guess just my hangup!

Larry, I did not say, or even imply that you said "Colt shouldn't not sell pistols." My statement centered on Talo Sales, which was the subject. Talo is a decorative outfit, which buys guns in bulk from gun companies. My point being, why would Colt refuse to sell to Talo and replace the Talo sales with their own speciality decorative dept, as you suggest.

Personally, I would rather not have Colt sell the decorative models. Most of them look like guns carried by the owners of house's that the Vice Squad raids. And the market resale value on Decorated Specialities is usually less than the model that they enhanced with decorations.

Best of Luck!
Rich

[paul45]

Personally, I would rather not have Colt sell the decorative models. Most of them look like guns carried by the owners of house's that the Vice Squad raids. And the market resale value on Decorated Specialities is usually less than the model that they enhanced with decorations.

I agree.......and would have to say if I were in charge I wouldn't sell Talo any Colts so there would be more "regular" Colt products available in doggone gunshops!

However, I do admit to liking the last 2 royal blue examples kinda......just way too expensive for my taste though

[larry starling]

Larry, I did not say, or even imply that you said "Colt shouldn't not sell pistols." My statement centered on Talo Sales, which was the subject. Talo is a decorative outfit, which buys guns in bulk from gun companies. My point being, why would Colt refuse to sell to Talo and replace the Talo sales with their own specialty decorative dept, as you suggest.

Personally, I would rather not have Colt sell the decorative models. Most of them look like guns carried by the owners of house's that the Vice Squad raids. And the market resale value on Decorated Specialties is usually less than the model that they enhanced with decorations.

Best of Luck!
Rich
While I do agree with you that most of the Specials do look Tacky! I guess I miss understood your post of"When they contact Colt for an order of 500 guns, is Colt suppose to refuse. "
. When I suggested Colt sale commemoratives I was not referring to the decorative examples. What I was referring to would be the Royal Blue National Match, Commander and the two tone Defender! I feel like these would have been great choices for Colt's Custom shop to have offered.

And I agree 100% with Paul. Would Colt be better served by concentrating on producing pistols for the distributors to sell to the shops. verses selling bulk to TALO?

[Frank]

...Would Colt be better served by concentrating on producing pistols for the distributors to sell to the shops. verses selling bulk to TALO?
We really don't know. We don't know the financial details of these distributor deals, nor do we know the details of the economic realities involved. A guaranteed $X from a distributor for Y number of a unique gun can sure help cash flow and go some ways toward assuring that fixed overhead costs are going to be covered. Purity is nice, but so is a healthy balance sheet.

DVC

[Rich-D]

Larrry, Your points are well taken!

Frank, I'll add that Colt also benefits from the advertising of Colt by Talo. And at the least, the same number of Colts, if not more, are available to the purchasing pubic.

Best of Luck!
Rich

[daveohno]

If Talo had that Royal Commander in 9mm, I'd have bought one. I hope they offer a few more pistols like that without all the engraving nonsense. Just a well made pistol, made with minor refinements and a very nice finish.