Connecticut Shotgun Mfg Co (on life support?)

[bigmoose]

I've always been a fan of classic double barrel shotguns...both SxS and O/Us. It was cool to see an American co. dive into the modern manufacture of these types of guns. Resurrecting existing designs (Fox, Winchester) and creating some new ones (RBL, Inverness etc) was certainly an ambitious venture. Scanning their offerings online has been entertaining and fascinating. I am always amazed at the spending power of the American public when it comes to guns. Oh, the prices of some of their wares! Not to say that those high end guns are not worth the price, just that there must be a decent number of folks out there spending that kind of money, and in competition with the British, Italian, and other bespoke makers.

Anyways, I have recently been flooded with emails from CSMC with ads of some very beautiful high end guns on sale....and most all suggest "make offer". Their listings on a well known internet site no longer offer 3 day returns (except for major misrepresentation). Really?

A friend who lives in Connecticut and runs in certain gun/hunting circles said last year to me "hey, I don't think they (CSMC) are doing too well."

All this leads me to believe they are emptying their inventory prior to some unpleasant business procedures. That is my opinion only. What do you guys think?

I mean no negative feelings or otherwise for this company and I hope I am wrong, but I will say I would not purchase an expensive gun (I can't afford one anyways) with the reliance of a strong warranty if I thought the company was soon going out of business.

 

[Ameshawki]

Niche market, expensive item, money is tight. Not a good combination. They make beautiful stuff but sometimes that's not enough.

 

[mrcvs]

No return policy now does suggest a limited future, perhaps? The claim is that the quality of their photographs makes a return policy unnecessary.

Everything they offer for sale is priced at least twice what it’s worth. When they say make an offer, it’s doubtful they would knock half off or more. Although that’s what it would take to sell most of their offerings.

 

[Markpixs]

I spend a lot of time on shotgun forums and the guns when correct are great. Customer service is the problem (sound familiar). I have no first-hand experience, way above my pay grade, but I'd love to have a field 16 gauge SxS from them. Making do with a Browning BS/S

 

[Photog]

Just looked at their offerings. You can get a Holland and Holland SxS shotgun for less than one of their own manufacture M21 Winchesters. I will bet which will gain in value and which will not...A pet peeve of mine, I actually have quite a few, is to accurately describe what is for sale. They offer a stainless steel Colt diamondback....interesting since Colt never made them. The second one was a Pre-64 Winchester M70 in the very unusual caliber of .22-250-3000. Still looking for reloading data for that one....Yes I am maybe a little too critical, but if you are going to charge in the low to mid 5 figures for a firearm, you should at least be able to describe it accurately..

 

[505Gibbs]

Some of their high end English guns was a curiosity to me for years - where did they think their market was in the US? I'm talking 6 figure with the first NOT being a one!!
If they die; a great piece of the shooting past i.e. model 21's will die with them.

 

[Glenn R. McMannly]

When one can get a brand new CZ Bobwhite that does the extremely well for $500 that’s what most are going to do in this economy.

Very few new shooters are interested in bespoke SxS’s costing many, many thousands. Not surprised they’re not doing too well. It’s just the way things go.

 

[bigmoose]

I spend a lot of time on shotgun forums and the guns when correct are great. Customer service is the problem (sound familiar). I have no first-hand experience, way above my pay grade, but I'd love to have a field 16 gauge SxS from them. Making do with a Browning BS/S

I could easily “make do” with a Browning BSS. Great styling, handling, and built to last a couple generations, at least. Enjoy!!

 

[weatherby]

I could easily “make do” with a Browning BSS. Great styling, handling, and built to last a couple generations, at least. Enjoy!!

All these posts and no pictures of a double.

A few New Yorkers for you.

 

[sceva]

Just looked at their offerings.The second one was a Pre-64 Winchester M70 in the very unusual caliber of .22-250-3000. Still looking for reloading data for that one....Yes I am maybe a little too critical, but if you are going to charge in the low to mid 5 figures for a firearm, you should at least be able to describe it accurately..

The 250 in a 22-250 is the old .250-3000 cartridge. Back when Gebby and others necked it down it went under many names. .22 Varminter, .22 Gebby or Gebby Varminter, .22-250, and .22-250-3000.

That is an old custom model 70 with a wildcat chamber, .22-250-3000 and will probably have differences from the SAAMI Standardized .22-250

 

[luvsmiths]

Well, theres always this:
Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company in New Britain, CT 06053 - 860-225...

and the address listed:
100 Burritt Street - 100 Burritt Street | Industrial Building

and this listed at same address:
Standard Mfg. - American Firearms Company - Home of The DP-12

 

[glenwolde]

There are a lot of companies that are carrying significant debt and having problems. As time marches on with higher rates, either their floating rate debt gets rerated to a higher payment and/or they find it impossible to refinance their debt at any kind of workable rate. The artificially low rates covered up a lot of sins at businesses that weren't economically viable without them. This would be especially true for manufacturing businesses that tend to require a lot of capital.

I don't know their capital structure but that might be the case.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I know the company. I was always amazed at the prices for their shotguns. A repro M21 or Fox would be a real prize but you could buy a real deal for the same or less money if you were persistent and understood the market. A repro will never gain the value over time.

I see a few companies using loses and tax right offs to offset large profits in another company owned by the same people.

Or maybe it's just a pet business that can't make any money. The old joke about the farmer who won the lottery comes to mind. When asked about what he was going to do with all that lottery money, he said this. I guess I'll just keep farming until it's all gone.

I know someone with lots of money. He's in business with his son. They lose money every year but it isn't necessarily a bad thing for his bottom line, if you know what I mean.

 

[mrcvs]

All these posts and no pictures of a double.

A few New Yorkers for you.

What Grade and Model is that Ithaca? I assume it’s a New Ithaca Double, Grade 3? Or perhaps a Flues? Can you post a few more photographs of it?

 

[weatherby]

It is a Flues
Nothing really special as it's has work done but it had nice wood.

And well....I am a sucker for that.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Looked at their website. I'm all over that bespoke .22LR double rifle-if I win the powerball
Problem with those beautiful bespoke guns is that I can't afford one AND the gun bearer. It would have to be one or the other.

 

[Breakaway500]

They have a 686-5 for under $1k.

Ive been to their store many moons ago. Nice stuff. I had a friend with one of their top end shotguns but he could not hit the water from the end of a pier with it. Just like all the other shotguns he owned..

 

[BE Mike]

Inflation has impacted everyone. There are a lot of nice firearms for sale on some gun forums that don't move unless sold at giveaway prices. People are not spending their hard-earned money on niceties. I'm sure that gun companies are feeling the pinch. Know what's baloney? A pound of bologna pushing $10.00/ pound. And that's just the tip of the iceberg!

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Until ammunition becomes plentiful and reasonable, shotgun sports in general are depressed! without the event to shoot at, who needs a new gun?

At the State Trap event, dealers that had shells affordably to go with the guns they sold did reasonably well!

I have a friend that has a Connecticut Firearms 20 gauge Round body. It has returned to the factory 3 or 4 times for timing/ejecting/cocking issues, I think their reputation is catching up to them! And in the long hull, that is a good thing!

Ivan

 

[mrcvs]

It is a Flues
Nothing really special as it's has work done but it had nice wood.

And well....I am a sucker for that.

What Grade is that one?

Ithaca’s are definitely undervalued these days. Perhaps not quite as refined as a Parker, Fox, or L C Smith, but a high grade Ithaca, especially in 12 ga, sells for bargain basement prices these days.