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Fortunately, although Colt and other firearms manufacturers briefly went into what Roberts refers to as “something of a hunker down” mode, the damage was not permanent. Life, indeed, has gone on because of simple need and customer demand from both civilians and the military. The international requirement for quality firearms has, if anything, increased, but at Colt the vision had to be renewed. And that could not happen overnight.

Looking at the firearms marketplace, Colt management understands that the world is now a highly competitive and highly integrated place, and that the 21st century already is filled with great gun makers from many nations. Competitive contract bids for new or old designs may be received from almost any corner of the earth.

“A lot of guns are being made now that are very comparable to Colt’s,” Roberts reflects, accepting the fact that all of Colt’s original patents – on guns like the redoubtable 1911, for instance – expired long ago. “So it has been up to us to redefine our vision, our product lines and our quality standards, to insist that, at every level, they become the best in this business.”