Lew Horton Distributing Co. Inc, a wholesale distributor of firearms based in Westborough Massachusetts has just announced that they will be winding down operations. Lew Horton plans on tentatively ceasing operations entirely by December 31st of this year.

History

Lew Horton Distributing Co., Inc. has been specializing in servicing independent retailers in the northeast and has been in business for over 40 years. Founded in 1948 when Horton Sr. opened a retail sporting goods store in Framingham, Massachusetts. In 1960, Horton Jr. joined the company and learned the qualities that constituted a good wholesale partner.In 1977, this knowledge became the foundation for Lew Horton Distributing Company, Inc. which was started in Southboro, MA and eventually moved into their current location in Westborough where it seems the operation will come to a close.

Lew Horton Press Release

Lew Horton announced their intention to close by the end of a year in this press release:

September 25, 2019Lew Horton Distributing will be winding down operations with a target closing date of December 31, 2019. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our dealers for the last 42 years of business.The next few months will be business as usual for us. You will still be contacted by your salesman and receive email specials on a daily basis. If we do not have your email address on file, please get it to your salesman as there will be specials sent out daily.Once again it has been a pleasure servicing your retail operation!Thank You,Lew Horton Distributing Co. Inc.

In 2015, Lew Horton partnered up with Ruger firearms as one of their distributors, offering specials to retail operations throughout the country. Many of their Exclusives will catch a fair price in the private sale market. At this time, there is no other information as to the reason for the closure of the company other than the press release in addition to the companies Facebook Page being shut down.The closure of Horton just goes to show that even established firearms distributors and companies are not free from the whims of the market. But with other distributors closing earlier this year, it seems this could be a new trend. If further information becomes available we will report. I’d be interested to know if they will liquidate all current inventory or if it is being sent back to manufacturers.