As for the AR craze winding down, not so much. Even when the gun is superceded, demand will remain high. 25 milllion prior service men and women will keep sales up, just the same as the Garand - but we won't likely ever get to purchase a select GI model from the DCM sales floor for $400. Not going to happen.
Retro and collector versions are already well established, I suspect there have been more trigger charging uppers sold by Nodak than originally made. And the variations over the last 45 years are numerous, leaving the field open to collectors who want one of each to represent that specific configuration. We've see the racks of Mausers and 03's over the years, there are shots of the Garands etc, now it's the M16's turn.
That likelihood isn't going to go away by dismissing it as a passing fad. The Vietnam reenactors are already getting good attendance. Consider a rack with a trigger charging early M16 in brown furniture, an early issue M16 Anothing in grey anodizing with hand painted green furniture, another all black, then with the FA, changes in charging handles, sights, the A2, port firing weapons, CAR's, XM's, service variations from the Navy, Air Force, and Marines, add in a Canadian and other foreign makers, Bushmaster, LWRC, LMT, Remington, FN, oh my.
All issue. That's a whole bunch of roll marks - don't forget Armalite, GM, and others early on.
If people are collecting M1 Carbines how much more so are they already collecting AR's? Some have been for over 20 years.
7.5 pistol, 10.5 pistol, 14.5 SBR, 16" AR15, 20" M16, SDM-R, Marine Corp M27 IAR, HK's (not to demean them by just one listing of their numerous examples,) ad infinitum.
Haven't even touched the AR10 and their current list of fielded weapons.
Did some shoot themselves in the foot? Maybe, maybe not. Going into the consumer retail business means exposing yourself to meet the expectations of the public, who frequently do read between the lines in the marketing efforts and actually demand that the hype deliver. Milspec contracts are in their way easier to deal with - a few points of contact, well spelled out terms, and specific measurable performance criteria. Contract sales are a lot less about overexpectant consumers and reality based demands. You can negotiate or correct an interpretation with a single source purchaser a lot easier than the collective and widely varied broken expectations of a consumer public who can't even write down exactly what they really wanted. Bluntly, most don't have a clue as to what range and target they plan to use the thing on. What they really want is a substantial increase in self esteem and admiration for even owning it.
Playing footsie with their ego isn't easy. Exactly why most would never even consider a job in retail waiting on the public . . .
Nope, the AR is here to stay, and for a very long time. Saying it's a passing fad would be like an '03 owner grumbling about the kids and their newfangled self loading Garands. Yeah, we might need them 'cause the Germans are doing it too, but real men crank bolt handles in combat, right?
These days, it's the Kurds, and they are faced with AK's and M16's in the hands of ISIS. Nope, I wouldn't volunteer to do that. It's 2014 and the traditional gun market is fading away. Take a moment to notice among the larger makers - who doesn't offer an AR type rifle?
Retro and collector versions are already well established, I suspect there have been more trigger charging uppers sold by Nodak than originally made. And the variations over the last 45 years are numerous, leaving the field open to collectors who want one of each to represent that specific configuration. We've see the racks of Mausers and 03's over the years, there are shots of the Garands etc, now it's the M16's turn.
That likelihood isn't going to go away by dismissing it as a passing fad. The Vietnam reenactors are already getting good attendance. Consider a rack with a trigger charging early M16 in brown furniture, an early issue M16 Anothing in grey anodizing with hand painted green furniture, another all black, then with the FA, changes in charging handles, sights, the A2, port firing weapons, CAR's, XM's, service variations from the Navy, Air Force, and Marines, add in a Canadian and other foreign makers, Bushmaster, LWRC, LMT, Remington, FN, oh my.
All issue. That's a whole bunch of roll marks - don't forget Armalite, GM, and others early on.
If people are collecting M1 Carbines how much more so are they already collecting AR's? Some have been for over 20 years.
7.5 pistol, 10.5 pistol, 14.5 SBR, 16" AR15, 20" M16, SDM-R, Marine Corp M27 IAR, HK's (not to demean them by just one listing of their numerous examples,) ad infinitum.
Haven't even touched the AR10 and their current list of fielded weapons.
Did some shoot themselves in the foot? Maybe, maybe not. Going into the consumer retail business means exposing yourself to meet the expectations of the public, who frequently do read between the lines in the marketing efforts and actually demand that the hype deliver. Milspec contracts are in their way easier to deal with - a few points of contact, well spelled out terms, and specific measurable performance criteria. Contract sales are a lot less about overexpectant consumers and reality based demands. You can negotiate or correct an interpretation with a single source purchaser a lot easier than the collective and widely varied broken expectations of a consumer public who can't even write down exactly what they really wanted. Bluntly, most don't have a clue as to what range and target they plan to use the thing on. What they really want is a substantial increase in self esteem and admiration for even owning it.
Playing footsie with their ego isn't easy. Exactly why most would never even consider a job in retail waiting on the public . . .
Nope, the AR is here to stay, and for a very long time. Saying it's a passing fad would be like an '03 owner grumbling about the kids and their newfangled self loading Garands. Yeah, we might need them 'cause the Germans are doing it too, but real men crank bolt handles in combat, right?
These days, it's the Kurds, and they are faced with AK's and M16's in the hands of ISIS. Nope, I wouldn't volunteer to do that. It's 2014 and the traditional gun market is fading away. Take a moment to notice among the larger makers - who doesn't offer an AR type rifle?
