Pony, Mustang, and Gov't. .380 copies- who will be the first?

A

acp in AL

Inactive
There is a definite need to fill the demand of these wonderful pistols that Colts' left us high and dry on. Who will be the first to do it? Taurus comes to mind as they have evolved as the master of imitation. But what about Kimber? They are growing by leaps and bounds or how about Springfield????
 
Living in Florida, I'm always looking for a smaller/lighter carry gun. I've looked at the Mustang/Pony numerous times, but I wasn't really impressed. If they had put another $50 of quality into it (and raised the price the same) everyone I know would have bought one. I really hope that Colt sells the design to a quality gun manufacturer. The design has great potential...
 
No one will.
First, Colt would have to license them and since that is pro-carry - forget it.

Look at the other companies.
SW has it's own crappy 380 and the great
Centennial pocket guns. don't need it.
Ruger is anti-small carry guns.
Sig - P232
Taurus PT-111 for small carry
HK - toast
Walther - got their own
Kahr - already small guns in line
Glock - not very likely. As an aside, it would
nice to see the 380 line here. Argument is
for people with weakened hands.

They are gone.
 
It was pretty crappy of Colt to buckel under. I've had my .380 Mustang Pocketlite for two years. I've never had a malfunction. I keep it loaded with Federal Hydra-Shoks and Glaser Blue's in alternate positions in the magazine. And, at 12.5 ounces it is the pistol I carry when the weather gets hot. Here in Kentucky the summers are hot and sticky. Most of the time I can carry my Glock 27. It doesn't rust when I sweat on it and it's not that much bigger than the Mustang. However, it does weigh 6 or 7 more ounces. But, for those 6-7 more ounces, I get a lot more fire power.

Will


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Mendacity is the system we live in.
 
Mr Meyer, thanks for your $.02, but Colt only licenses the name not a similar design. Just ask Larry Seecamp who was robbed by N.A.A. and Autauga Arms. A slight design change and name change can do wonders.
 
Llama makes a copy of the Colt Gov model .380.... but its junk.
Click to expand...

Have to disagree...I just bought one NIB a couple months ago and it now has 200 rounds through it with zero stoppages for any reason. Accuracy 2-3" at 10 yards, can usually hit a clay pigeon @ 50 yards with at least one round per magazine.

Tim W.
 
Star used to make mini-1911 type .380 pistols too. My wife has one that she won't part with, for any amount. Looks almost like someone left a Gold Cup out in the rain and it shrunk! Controls are like the Colt(sans grip safety) but the take down is a little different, nice little gun. I wouldn't mind Kimber or Springfield making something similar but I think the market probably would prefer a compact 9mm, too bad.

Don in Ohio
 
I don't forsee anyone picking up the idea that already isn't producing something similar. I think in general people that are looking for something in that size either want a nine, or go to a smaller pistol in .32. However, I have been wrong many times before, so who knows.....
Z
 
I don't forsee anything new coming down the pike for a while. We already have some existing pistols from Kahr, Keltec, and NAA that already fit the bill in that category of 9mm or .380 mini pistols. We also have the new crop of .32 autos that have come out. In addition, if you can get one, the Seecamps are now available in .380 auto.

I personally think a Makarov shrunk down to about 2/3 of the current size with a polymer or alloy frame in .380 would be really interesting. It would take some work to do, but it would be one hell of a pistol!

Good SHooting
RED
 
Buckle Under?

Kentucky Rifle, what do you mean it was pretty crappy of Colt to buckle under? Do you mean that it was a shame Colt has made a considerable number of bad business decisions and as a result have become financially unstable and in trying to correct the issue they discontinued gun lines that were not as profitable? Or, are you suggesting Colt buckled under to some political entities?

I do believe the reason why they are not producing the little guns is a business issue, not political. For example, Colt stopped shipping Colt XSs for a while because their suppliers stopped supplying Colt when Colt got got behind on their payments. That is why the Colt XS came out with the new model of the XSE that had on it those parts that Colt already had on hand or came from suppliers Colt had not stiffed.

You know, I would not only want the little Colts to go back into production, but I would like to see some model variations in features like they do with their 1911s.
 
Double Naught Spy

I have heard that the Mustang/Pony/Govt. Line was a cash cow for Colt. When I said "buckle under", I could only imagine the reason that Colt ceased production was due to some political threat or pressure. (Small gun = bad gun). It was't difficult to believe this after the pressure that was put on S&W.
I've also heard that Colt might be staring up the Mustang/Pony lines now that there is a new administration in Washington.

KR
 
I don't know all of the reasons that Colt stopped making the Pony's but one of them had to be the fact that Kahr sued them and prevailed for infringement on Kahr patents.

With Kahrs reputation for small and excellent, I would love to see them make a Pony size 380 with a poly lower and a light upper. They could definitely get under 12 oz and the appeal would be huge.

Colt also made a Pocket Nine, it is dimensionally nearly identical to the Kahr MK series but it only weights 15oz. Like a Pony in 9mm on a small dose of steroids.

So many guns, so little time (and money!)
 
Isn't the Llama compact .380 a straight blowback design, rather than a locked breech pistol like the Colt .380s?

One problem that Colt had with the Mustang was that most folks don't feel comfortable carrying a cocked and locked pistol in their pocket. For that reason, plus the expense of manufacturing a pistol with Browning-style locking lugs on the top of the barrel and a metal frame rather than a chamber that locks into the ejection port and a plastic frame, I don't expect to see any Mustang clones anytime soon.
 
Colt is making them again

Should be out by end of year with one of the PocketLite models. At least that is what the Colt guy is saying on the 1911forum.

Colt idin't "buckle under" anything. Seems to me none of you guys even know what went on last year at Colt. They had to cut back on production because they had just about run out of money after purchasing all new equipment. Now they are starting production on most of the line again, Python, Anaconda, Pocketlite, Magnum Carry, as well as a M1911A1 Govt. Model.
 
BB

So, you're saying that the elimination of some profitable models of handguns was a total business decision and that the most anti-gun administration in history had nothing to do with Colt suspending production of some of the firearms that made them famous? Well, I guess that could be true. Also, I do hope the rumors are true that the Mustang is coming back. The one thing I know for sure is if a new Mustang Pocketlite appears in my dealers case, I'll buy another one. The Mustang I have is a fine handgun.

Kentucky Rifle
 
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Llama makes a copy of the Colt Gov model .380.... but its junk.

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I will have to disagree with that one too. I have had one since last year and have shot several hundred rounds through it already, just shot a bunch this weekend. It has been damn reliable with just about everything I've shot through it. It absolutely loves the Blazer hollowpoints. Actually I think Llama might have had the little .380's out before Colt did, not sure on that though. Anyway, it's not a bad gun by any means, and definitely not worth the bad rap its been getting by a lot of people on TFL.

With that said, I would really like to see Kimber come out with a miniture Ultra Carry in .380, just think it would be cute.
 
"I personally think a Makarov shrunk down to about 2/3 of the current size with a polymer or alloy frame in .380 would be really interesting. It would take some work to do, but it would be one hell of a pistol!"

Bersa and FEG come close to this (the newer 2-tone FEG APK, not the older all-steel one). Not quite 2/3 the size of a Mak, but definitely smaller. Both are alloy and light, and a bit more carryable than a Mak.

Thats' probably as close as you can come to a replacement Mustang these days.

I've got the older all-steel FEG APK MKII and it is a nice, accurate, easy-to-carry pistol.
 
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