whatever happened to Ultra-Light Arms??

B

boogercounty

New member
..I ran across an article in a 1999 issue of a magazine telling about Ultra-Light Arms being bought by Colt,Inc.

Has anyone heard of the "Colt Light Rifle" referred to in the article?? The Ultra-Light Rifle was built by Melvin Forbes, from the ground up, and weight savings was the main reason for his efforts. He built rifles that tipped the scales at 6 pounds or so, loaded, with scope!!

Anyhow, Colt was supposed to have bought him out, and marketed the rifles under the Colt name. The original ULA rifles were offered in lefty versions, and in my favorite caliber, .284 Winchester, but they were up in the $2000 range. According to the article, Colt was going to produce them for a suggested retail of $604.00.

The Colt website makes no mention of the rifle, and says that their catalog is not presently available.

Anyone know of the whereabouts of the Ultra-Light Rifle or Colt "Light Rifle"?
 
Don't know why but the Colt deal fizzled. Never saw the Colt rifle come out and I was watching for it.
They are back in business under the web site listed above.
 
The Colt deal did happen. They made some Colt Light Rifles, in 30-06, 7mm mag, and a couple of other calibers. I personally have seen the two above, so I know they made them. It was supposed to be a factory rifle of Melvin Forbes of Ultra-Light Arms design. From what I gather, Forbes unhappy with the way the rifle was made, and the way Colt did business, got out of the deal, and started making his rifles again, under the New Ultra-Light Arms, as stated above. The colt light rifle, can be had for under $500 bucks most places, and dealers want rid of them. I know they had trigger problems, (gun went off, at will is what I heard) and guns were recalled. I was really interested when they came out, but after seeing the finished product, was a little let down. There are much better rifles for the money. Just my 2 cts.
 
Colt produced a few hundred rifles, but they were junk. You'll find them occasionally being sold at gun shows (quite cheaply).

After building a rifle that they were incapable of building for a while, Colt decided to get out of the business of producing the ULA gun.

Melvin Forbes was eventually able to get it back and is now still producing his gorgeous ULA rifle. It's called the New Ultra Light Arms Company.

Melvin and his wife Patty are fabulous, salt of the earth folks.

Steve
 


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