[retracted]
UPDATE: THE INFORMATION IN THE POST IS INCORRECT AND HAS BEEN RETRACTED.
My sources tell me that about 20 members of Bushmaster’s senior staff have been quietly laid off. This follows the laying off of production staff that has happened twice in the last four months.
I believe that the layoffs have not been to do with the economy but with the integration of Remington and Bushmaster. One example of Remington seemingly being the favorite son of the Freedom group would the be ACR debacle. Bushmaster’s pet project, the ACR, was handed to Remington Military Products Division to make it ready for marketing to the military at the expense and delay of Bushmaster civilian sales. I suspect we will see more consolidation of Freedom Group companies over the next year. Jim Shepherd wrote about the recent Marlin factory closure …
At this writing, it seems Marlin, Harrington and Richardson, New England Firearms and L.C. Smith- all Marlin brands -are destined for absorption into Remington’s existing manufacturing facilities in Ilion, New York. Such a move would maximize use of that facilities and consolidate manufacturing operations. Consolidation is another efficiency necessary to compete with imported products.
Although it’s purely speculation on my part, a consolidation move makes perfect sense if you’re demonstrating lean operating abilities as part of some sort of market capitalization move. Bankers and investors are quite fond of consolidated operations, especially if the company happens to represent numerous iconic brands.
I founded TFB in 2007 and over 10 years worked tirelessly, with the help of my team, to build it up into the largest gun blog online. I retired as Editor in Chief in 2017. During my decade at TFB I was fortunate to work with the most amazing talented writers and genuinely good people!
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The funny thing about Remington "competing with the imports" is that...they are the imports. The pardner pump (aka the Hawk made by Norinco and imported and re-branded by H&R) is the only other gun worth considering if you are in the market for an 870.
Also IIRC the Spartan series was the Bikail before Remington re-branded it.
Might this be a good business decision...not sure. It gives Remington the ability to set price (but the reality is if it is grossly over the market price, someone else will import it and undercut you. H&R has had to be very competitive with the Pardner Pump pricing because people are bringing in the Norinco Hawks) but they may be becoming their own worst enemy.
I really don't like the lets make loads of cash mentality that seems to be the focus of many of the major firearms companies today. They seem to have chosen not to compete with the foreign products and take a can't beat them join them attitude.
Maybe it is just false nostalgia but I've heard told of a time when there was a pride in making a good product in America by Americans at a price Americans can afford. I still hear all the buy American mumbo-jumbo...but I don't see it filtering in to "American" companies putting out good products at a fair price. The new Remington just doesn't seem to care about the product or the customer
The ACR is a perfect example. The production cost should be fairly reasonable as it is a polymer and aluminum gun. Even with the touted magical "proprietary coatings" this gun should come in way under a U.S. subsidiary of a foreign designer/manufacturer (SCAR) because of Remington's market presence, ease of manufacturing and abundance of manufacturing capacity. Instead Remington (really Cerberus) chose to inflate the cost to the public in the hopes of selling the rifle to the govt (at a discounted rate for what I'm sure will essentially be where the MSRP should have been). Unfortunately Remington forgot to weigh the public relations disaster with the civilian market due to the price, and the likelihood of failing to get a govt. contract as the SCAR has essentially already been adopted against the possible benefits.
They just seem to have a failing strategy all around. The dollar signs in your eyes model of business is making them blind.
I have retracted my statement in the blog post. Please see
http://www.thefirearmblog.c...