The Marine Corps awarded a $22.5 million contract to Colt Defense for its M1911A1 Rail Guns
I won’t say I’m a gun expert. I’ve probably shot 10,000 rounds in my life. I’ve qualled in the Navy many times and even nailed Expert Pistol, per the military definition.
But I know I am nothing more than a hobbyist. I’ve met expert gun guys I respect a lot, read the blog of savvy gun geniuses, and routinely get lost in brilliant gun blog-conversations written by women who have forgotten far more than I will ever know about boomsticks.
But I do know math, and this Colt 1911 Rail Gun does not sound like a great deal:
The service awarded a $22.5 million contract to Colt Defense for its M1911A1 Rail Guns. The deal was finalized Wednesday night, according to Barb Hamby, a spokeswoman for Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, Va. Precise details are expected to be released Thursday evening, but there is widespread speculation the order will total some 4,000 firearms.
The pistols will be manufactured at Colt’s plant in West Hartford, Conn., and delivered to the Marine Corps by 2017, Hamby said.
$22.5 Million for 4000 guns. That is more than $5600 per gun. That seems like an awful lot of money. At that price I would want them yesterday, not by 2017. But what do I know?
Standing by to issue a retraction and a promise to buy one, no two, of these well-priced pieces of American Iron. . .
That’s rather ironic Navy One…I have Colt 22 caliber lady’s pistol…it looks like it was made for a little person, certainly not 6′ me. My mother left it to me. Or should I say when we went through my mother’s bedroom, we found it. I remember neither one of us could hit the broadside of a barn, but this little number was manufactured between 1940 and 1945..I’m not too clear on the exact year right now..I’ll have to look at it again..it’s been so long since it’s been not only cleaned but fired, I wouldn’t place any bets on its workability..or if it did work that it would blow up in my face…that’s far more likely in my view…anyway, it is a rather neat little weapon….k
Actually the gun cost $50, the rest goes into the pockets of…many.
Kris: Neat, I love old guns.
CP: You could be on to something.
My understanding of the deal is that the price includes two complete replacement guns for each unit sold, so it’s more like 12000 guns not 4000.
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The $22.5mm contract is if they exercise options for further production tranches for up to 12,000 pistols.
The Marines have figured that as each tranche reaches the end of its service life, it’s easier and cheaper to buy new pistols as direct replacements rather than rebuilding older pistols.
That also includes parts and support, so while still expensive, it’s not completely outside the ballpark in terms of costs.
Woah… when I read ‘rail gun’ I had visions of a 1911 with anti-tank capabilities : )
Yep on what xbrad said – total cost of the entire program – and also included extra magazines and spare parts. Of course coffeypot is sorta correct as well – you know that somebody got something personal out of the deal…………..
Good comments and gouge here, guys. . . Thanks!
I know too much about Defense Acquisition to get my surprised face out for this one. So, I only have one thing to say… “I want one!”