Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. Announces Intent to Sell Thompson/Center Brand
Some unexpected news broke this morning via the Outdoor Wire, Smith & Wesson has announced they will be divesting the Thompson/Center Arms Brand. Sadly, Smith & Wesson haven’t owned Thompson/Center for 20 years, having bought the company in 2006 and many feel S&W never gave the brand a chance, citing limited releases and support for their once best selling muzzleloading rifles and the customers who shoot them.
“Thompson/Center is a beloved hunting brand with a longstanding heritage, and we are committed to ensuring a smooth transition. Thompson/Center Arms’ loyal consumers should rest assured that they will continue to receive the world-class firearms, accessories, and customer service support that the brand has been known for since its founding in 1965. We remain fully committed to the hunting and long-range shooting market, and with this divestiture we will be able to now focus on these categories under our iconic Smith & Wesson brand. Additionally, this will allow us to immediately redirect manufacturing capacity to increase overall production volumes, allowing us to gain additional market share while simultaneously increasing profitability.”
The past several years have been stagnant for Thompson/Center Muzzleloaders, perhaps this was an indication of these plans. From the way Mark P Smith, President and CEO of Smith and Wesson Brands, Inc talks they are really just dumping the muzzleloading out of T/C Arms and keeping the modern market, focusing on hunting and long range shooting.
Thompson Center Arms has been credited for helping the resurgence of muzzleloading interest through the 1970s, their sidelock muzzleloaders are LOVED by their shooters and are still sought after today. Most notably, the Thompson/Center Hawken, which gave birth to mountain man fantasies all over the United States.
It’s a sad day to see such an iconic brand being discarded by Smith and Wesson. With interest in muzzleloaders still climbing, they are losing out on a real opportunity.
Hopefully someone else will see the opportunity at hand and invest in Thompson/Center Arms, giving muzzleloading enthusiasts more choice in their next muzzleloader.
Read more at the Outdoor Wire