Guest isiaha Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 I'll be stocking up on some TC ammo for my muzzleloader before things change if they do. Tuesday » December 19 » 2006 Smith & Wesson takes shot at hunting market, buys Thompson/Center Arms Adam Gorlick Canadian Press Tuesday, December 19, 2006 SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) - Long associated with the likes of Dirty Harry and real-life police officers, Smith & Wesson is now taking aim at a new market: hunters. In a US$100 million deal announced Monday, the Springfield gun-maker said it is buying Thompson/Center Arms, a privately held Rochester, N.H.-based company that specializes in muzzleloaders and rimfire rifles. The move lets Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. target the $1.1 billion long-gun market, which is about 80 per cent larger than the country's handgun market, chief executive Mike Golden said in an interview. Golden said Smith & Wesson firearms already account for about 47 per cent of national revolver sales and moving the company into the production of long guns was natural. The purchase increases Smith & Wesson's net sale expectations for the 2008 fiscal year by $70 million, to about $320 million. The company's shares rose nine cents to close at $10.36 on the Nasdaq Stock Market, where they have traded in a range of $3.50 to $14.85 over the last 52 weeks. Hollywood helped make Smith & Wesson famous by putting its .44 Magnum in the hands of Inspector Harry Callahan in a series of "Dirty Harry" movies. But Golden said he doesn't expect a tough marketing transition now that the company is trying to sell guns to hunters. Golden said surveys conducted by the company show that many people think Smith & Wesson makes rifles, even though they just began manufacturing them in March. "People already think we're in the market," Golden said. "Our products have such a wide appeal, and we believe we can have a similar success with long guns that we've had with handguns." Under the deal, which is expected to close early next month, Smith & Wesson will purchase Thompson/Center's New Hampshire facility and will continue producing rifles under its own name. Gregg Ritz, Thompson/Center's president and CEO who will become president of Smith & Wesson's hunting line, said the purchase will help the rifle maker expand its product line. He said Thompson/Center's line "fits nicely into the Smith & Wesson portfolio of pistols, revolvers, shotguns and future hunting rifles." "There is absolutely no overlap in our product lines," he said. Smith & Wesson used to make parts for Remington rifles during its 154-year history but has been out of the long gun business for about 30 years, Golden said. The company introduced a line of tactical rifles in March but marketed them to law enforcement agencies and competitive target shooters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Re: Is this the end of Thompson/Center Arms Why would you assume this will be a bad thing or the end of TC? Everyone seems to like to dump on S&W feeling that they caved to the anti-gunners but they did what they had to do to survive. I am sure TC will appreciate the business.....but I am sure not much will change. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shane13 Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Re: Is this the end of Thompson/Center Arms i dont like t/c but i love s&w Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest isiaha Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Re: Is this the end of Thompson/Center Arms [ QUOTE ] Why would you assume this will be a bad thing or the end of TC? Everyone seems to like to dump on S&W feeling that they caved to the anti-gunners but they did what they had to do to survive. I am sure TC will appreciate the business.....but I am sure not much will change. New [/ QUOTE ] Not sure if it's a good or bad thing But I also like TC firearms. I'm not dumping on S&W I own several S&W firearms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Re: Is this the end of Thompson/Center Arms There was a post on this in the ml room. I think I will just have to wait and see what happens. With both companies producing quality products, I would hope that they would continue to do so even after the merger or buyout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Re: Is this the end of Thompson/Center Arms It'll be interesting. S&W doesn't spend nearly as much on advertising as T/C. So it's gonna be real tough for S&W to swallow they are going to have to continue to cough up that kind of money to keep T/C going. IMO, that's the only reason T/C has the market share they do. The marketing strategies of the two companies are completely different. S&W tried to market rifles before. Anyone remember the 1500? This was simply a HOWA action, which is a darn good rifle but S&W never marketed it to it's potential. Maybe they've learned from the mistakes of that endeavour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newarcher Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Re: Is this the end of Thompson/Center Arms Gregg Ritz will remain in the S&W company as the President and CEO of the S&W hunting division and still affect the TC guns. I don't think much will change except Gregg Ritz's wallet! It says he is the President and CEO so I assume he is also the owner. New Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Re: Is this the end of Thompson/Center Arms [ QUOTE ] i dont like t/c but i love s&w [/ QUOTE ] Wow...lots of insight there.... I don't see this as a bad thing..they are both quality companies, and have been around for a very long time... Smith and Wessona re probabably only buying the company and TC will still make the TC guns just as they are. This is more of a money/ investment thing in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DU_man_84 Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Re: Is this the end of Thompson/Center Arms yep i dont see it being bad either, cause they are both well known companies, and hopefully they will come together and make better things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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