Smith&Wesson sales drop by $100M. Compaired to 2016

[cmort666]

All that matters to me any longer in terms of brand new S&W products are the traditional revolvers... but for reasons you all now, I've been buying new Rugers instead of new Smith & Wessons. I take no joy in that reality even as I continue to hope that S&W someday does see the light and fixed all the issues that motivate me to look elsewhere.

If I were to buy a new D/A revolver today, it would be either a 4-5" Ruger Redhawk in .45 Colt(or ACP) or a Dan Wesson.

 

[Fishslayer]

Read the last part of the article, sales are still above historical standards. Cherry pick if you like.

On another website I frequent (It's Californian... and it's about guns. ) there are plenty of guys buying the new S&W revolvers & they are quite happy with them.

 

[amazingflapjack]

I haven't noticed the prices going down on collector guns-especially revolvers that don't have any extra holes. Oh, and I don't think the decrease in sales is all about who got elected-at least where S&W is concerned. JMHO.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I have only one S&W revolver with the IL: a Governor that I bought from a Forum member.

I love S&W, but -- and maybe I'm showing my age here -- not one of the current crop of their revolvers looks good to me. And it's not just the lock; the older Smiths seem to me to be better made, and of higher quality. Their finishes are certainly better, and I like their overall appearance much better.

 

[twodog max]

I am waiting and hoping for new revolver prices to come down some. Shopping and hoping for a 6 inch 629.The IL bothers me not at all as I think the hysteria is just that. None of mine have ever offered any problem. I buy guns to use and use hard not for admiration only or collectability. But that is just me.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Six months from now they may be giving you a free AR to get you to buy a case of ammo.

Now that would be the promotion of the century.

A gun dealer I know says he isn't in the gun storage business.

 

[gman51]

The slacking sales isn't just S&W as other makers are feeling the drooping sales also. Ammo makers are even laying off or closing their doors.
Obama and Hillary got the boot did have a big impact on buying/hoarding guns and ammo. The economy has had a big impact as well.
Supply and demand should bring down ammo prices and we could see less expensive new guns being offered. I think the higher priced guns will take a big hit on sales. As money gets tighter people could buy a quality $350 gun and let that $500-$1000 gun sit in the display case. A saving of hundreds of dollars can buy a lot of ammo.

 

[the ringo kid]

When they start making what I want? is when I start buying their product--and ive absolutely nothing against the company. I love wild west style guns soooooooooo.....................

 

[Tom S.]

Those waiting for S&W to drop revolver prices will have a long wait, IMHO. Here's the logic behind my thinking:

S&W emphasis for sales of handguns has been focused on semi autos. The last figures I remember seeing stated that revolvers made up something in the neighborhood of 21% of company sales. While that percentage isn't insignificant, it certainly enforces belief that company resources would center on producing semi autos during the time leading up to last year's election. Hence the rebates offered on what became overstocked semi autos produced by all companies, including S&W. Another important point to remember is revolvers, despite recent technological advances in manufacturing and machining, require far more work to make than the typical 'plastic' semi auto. More work directly equals higher prices. In order to remain profitable, S&W needs to maintain their profit margin on their products, whether semi auto or revolver.

So the point is, we saw prices on semi autos fall, only because of overstocking by the company who was betting on an election outcome that would be unfavorable to such weapons. Since that scenario didn't happen, sales to reduce inventory commenced. I do not believe there was such an oversupply of revolvers, which explains the lack of incentives on them. The only way I foresee any reduction in revolvers would be if another company started producing a product comparable to the S&W revolver line, at a lower cost. As we know, Taurus has done this for years, but their quality and service have always been second rate when compared to S&W's. This could change though if S&W continues their recent quality slide. I'm sure we all hope this quality trend is reversed and S&W resumes making revolvers that stand out as best in class at reasonable prices. As for those of you crying about locks and MIM (despite the rules), they are here to stay. Quit whining and buy something else.

 

[ladder13]

Remington tanking

Remington Arms lays off approximately 60 workers - WKTV News

 

[vytoland]

sales are down...no big deal...the market goes up...the market goes down....been this way for decades.....

 

[rwsmith]

Maybe not as bad...

Maybe not as bad as it sounds. The market has been extra strong for a few years and dropping back SOME is natural. I also would hope that it created another generation of gun enthusiasts.

 

[ladder13]

Ruger blames drop in sales on politics. But...but...

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/03/sturm-ruger-stock-falls-as-people-not-buying-guns-under-trump.html

Oh, in case you wonder, I have zero IL guns, no polymer Smith auto's either.

Do have some MIM and their triggers are superior to any others. And also a Kahr 380 whose trigger is excellent.

What I do have, is much respect for my fellow S&W forum members who choose to buy any Smith gun they want, new or old without being ridiculed for doing so, either overtly or snidely. Started long before this thread.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I certainly hold no ill will toward S&W but I hope they realize that they cannot continue on the same path. They need to start listening to buyers.

Across their entire line of guns, there isn't mush that impresses me for the prices they are asking.

 

[LVSteve]

Remington tanking

Remington Arms lays off approximately 60 workers - WKTV News

I would read that article if that website didn't set off the security ninjas on my machine.WAAAY too much Flash and Java going on for my tastes.

 

[ladder13]

I would read that article if that website didn't set off the security ninjas on my machine.WAAAY too much Flash and Java going on for my tastes.

Well I'm on my new IPad and haven't quite learned all the in's and out's of copying.
Ruger has basically said the upsurge in their previous year sales 2016, were probably due to political uncertainty.

 

[JayFramer]

Smith needs to bring out a top break in .38 S&W Special. It would sale like wildfire.

 

[Tom S.]

I would read that article if that website didn't set off the security ninjas on my machine.WAAAY too much Flash and Java going on for my tastes.

I had no warnings, but here's the article, as short as it was:

ILION - Another round of layoffs at Remington Arms in Ilion. Workers are being told starting today. Union officials say they've been told that market forces are behind the roughly 60 layoffs; not elimination or moving of a line.

The layoffs are effective upon the employee being informed, and they are seniority-based.

The iconic gun maker celebrated its 200th anniversary last year with the release of eight special-edition firearms. They laid off approximately 122 workers in March.

 

[charlie sherrill]

Top break

Smith needs to bring out a top break in .38 S&W Special. It would sale like wildfire.

I've got four old S&W top breaks in .38 S&W. All of them are accurate and shoot very well. One has a sawed off hammer and barrel and was carried by my grandfather as a backup when he was a cop back in the 30's. It is surprisingly accurate at short ranges. I'd buy a new on in nickel.

 

[JayFramer]

I've got four old S&W top breaks in .38 S&W. All of them are accurate and shoot very well. One has a sawed off hammer and barrel and was carried by my grandfather as a backup when he was a cop back in the 30's. It is surprisingly accurate at short ranges. I'd buy a new on in nickel.

Yes, I would think an updated one would be very cool.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Ruger blames drop in sales on politics. But...but...

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/03/sturm-ruger-stock-falls-as-people-not-buying-guns-under-trump.html

Oh, in case you wonder, I have zero IL guns, no polymer Smith auto's either.

Do have some MIM and their triggers are superior to any others. And also a Kahr 380 whose trigger is excellent.

What I do have, is much respect for my fellow S&W forum members who choose to buy any Smith gun they want, new or old without being ridiculed for doing so, either overtly or snidely. Started long before this thread.

I have an IL 625-8. No plans to sell it because it's a range gun so not really worried too much about the lock. I just shoot the carp out of it. Actually I shoot it more than my non IL guns. I will readily admit that it isn't as nice as a pre 80's gun but I didn't buy it to look at.

 

[cardguy]

I lucked out and now have an accurate M&P 9mm after they replaced the junk barrel. I'm hesitant to buy an Apex trigger/sear because I think they may have replaced the sear along with the barrel. I thinkI've read that they do that sometimes. No complaints with this gun and my Shield 9mm has been perfect.

 

[Fishslayer]

I did my part. I bought my first new S&W last month.

Well... apparently S&W is doing really well with M&P 15-22 sales. Bought & paid for one at special price (backordered) on 8/12 & as of today they haven't gotten a single one in.

This a big outfit, not some mom & pop at the end of the supply line.

 

[chief38]

All I am saying is that there are PLENTY of Company's in business right now that sell extremely expensive items. Just look at Doug Turnbull Restorations, Randall Knives, Stan Wilson Knives, Chris Reeve Knives, Ed Brown, Tesla Cars, Gucci, Brioni, Rolex, etc...... The people who buy these items (and others like these) obviously deem them "worth the high price" for the best. My point is that during bad economy's the two Company's that always seem to do well are the very high end and very low end ones. There will always be some with unlimited funds and some that are always struggling. Quality NEVER goes out of style and there always seems to be a portion of the Country that deeply appreciates the best quality products in their class. Look how long the wait is for many of these products even if you can easily afford the price!

If Company's step up their quality drastically - people notice. If they like it they buy it - even if the price is higher than most competitors. Remember, back 40+ years ago Smith & Wesson & Colt were NEVER the cheapest guy's on the block but they had their quality, reputation, reliability and almost every Police Dept. in the Country who would vouch for that. I'm sure they could have purchased Taurus, Charter Arms, Rossi, and other lower end lines for a whole lot less but we all know why that never happened.

 

[5Wire]

My thoughts on this.

The onset of increasing sales easily associated with temporary condition was not hard to figure out. Firearm and ammunition manufacturers faced the challenge of increasing production without becoming asset heavy because that increase was not going to last. Eventually, added shifts would be reduced and planned downscaling would commence.

It didn't last. Now we're surfing on excess inventory getting sold off more and more often at bargain prices.