Colt 2000
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| All American 2000 | |
|---|---|
 Polymer framed version of the Colt All American 2000 pistol |
|
| Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
| Place of origin |  United States |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Reed Knight, Eugene Stoner |
| Designed | 1992 |
| Manufacturer | Colt |
| Produced | 1992-1994 |
| Number built | ~20,000 |
| Variants | Polymer Frame, Aluminum Frame |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 822 g (29 oz) |
| Length | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
|
|
|
| Cartridge | 9x19mm Parabellum |
| Feed system | 15-round Detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Fixed, 3-dot |
The Colt 2000 or All American 2000 is a polymer or aluminum-alloy framed, locked-breech, rotary bolt, semiautomatic 9 mm handgun with a magazine capacity of 15 rounds. Designed by C. Reed Knight and Eugene Stoner, as Colt's entry into the marketplace of the high-capacity polymer framed handguns of the early 1990s; it was believed by Colt that this pistol would recapture their stake in the police market as Police Departments across the United States switched from double-action revolvers to semiautomatic pistols.[1] It was hoped that sales of this pistol might save the troubled company from bankruptcy on the heels of recovering from the UAW labor strike.[2][3][4]
The Colt 2000's internal workings were based on older firearms designs from the early twentieth century.[5] The rotating barrel, for example, was based on that of the Steyr 1912 and the roller-locking mechanism was based on a design used by the French Manufacture d'Armes et des Cycles de Saint-Etienne since 1914.[5] These features allow the barrel and slide to work as a unit moving to the rear until the barrel lug rotates into the cam-block and stops. The barrel lugs then align to allow the slide to continue its travel to the rear and extraction and ejection of the spent round occurs. The pistol breaks down into seven major parts for disassembly.[6]
Despite the innovations and bearing the Colt name, the pistol was plagued with reports of inaccuracy and unreliability, and suffered from the poor publicity of having to be recalled in 1993.[7] The massive product launch failed and production of the All American 2000 ended in 1994.[8]Colt's President Ron Whitaker gave the reasons for ceasing production as slow sales volume and that the gun was made from parts produced by an outside vendor and assembled in the company's West Hartford facility.[8]
An aluminum framed version of the pistol with wooden grips was made in addition to the polymer framed version and both are sought after by collectors of Colt Firearms because of the low numbers produced during their short production run.[6] Unlike most other polymer-framed handguns, the All-American 2000 had removable grip panels.[9]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Farrell, Scott. "Where the action is: the double-action-only pistol round-up", Shooting Industry, 1992-09-01. Retrieved on 2007-02-25.
- ^ "The legend lives on - Colt files for bankruptcy", Shooting Industry, 1992-05-01. Retrieved on 2007-02-26.
- ^ Taffin, John. "The spring handgun review!", Shooting Industry, 1993-06-01. Retrieved on 2007-02-26. ""the 9mm of choice now offered by Colt's is the All American 2000.""
- ^ "Wholesalers show reveals market direction - Industry News", Shooting Industry, 1993-02-01. Retrieved on 2007-02-26. ""Colt's manufacturing gave a first look at their new compact version of the All American 2000, a gun which, if priced competitively, may have a significant impact on the handgun market.""
- ^ a b Thompson, Leroy (1993). Great Combat Handguns. London: Arms & Armour, 97-100. ISBN 1-85409-168-9.
- ^ a b Hartink, A.E. (2002). The Complete Encyclopedia of Pistols and Revolvers. Edison, New Jersey: Chartwell Books, Inc, 87-88. ISBN 9780785815198.
- ^ Hopkins, Cameron. "Kimber Ultra Ten II", American Handgunner, 2001-05-01. Retrieved on 2007-02-26. ""Some have been design breakthroughs,...while others have been utterly uninspiring, like the defunct Colt All-American 2000.""
- ^ a b "Colt's renames Cadet pistol - Colt's Manufacturing Company Inc.'s Colt .22 Single Action pistol", Shooting Industry, 1994-04-01. Retrieved on 2007-02-25. ""The gun was selling at the rate of 10-12,000 units per year, and for a manufacturer of our size, with 900 employees, it was not enough""
- ^ O'Brien, Bill. "High-Tech Handguns...Futuristic Firepower!", Guns & Ammo Magazine, 1994-01-01, pp. 32-39.
