TOP 25 U.S. MANUFACTURERS MANUFACTURER Ruger Remington Arms Co. Smith & Wesson Corp. SIG SAUER Inc. O.F. Mossberg/Maverick Arms Savage Arms Inc. Henry RAC Holding Corp. GLOCK Inc. WM C Anderson Inc. Colt’s Mfg. Beemiller Inc. (Hi-Point) Kel-Tec CNC Industries Inc. Kimber Mfg. Beretta USA Corp. Springfield Inc. Heritage Mfg. Inc. Taurus International Mfg. SCCY Industries Saeilo Inc. Arms Technology Inc. North American Arms Inc. PARA USA Keystone Sporting Arms FN America Diamondback Firearms PISTOLS 722,029 65,771 914,700 433,905 REVOLVERS 281,430 268,722 RIFLES 706,192 929,823 159,087 43,141 72,952 305,826 300,312 176,231 59,603 51,300 18,925 5,591 4,625 48,514 SHOTGUNS 4,446 413,535 189 371,367 72,346 2014 TOTAL 1,714,097 1,409,129 1,342,698 477,046 444,319 378,172 300,312 232,324 176,231 153,415 141,400 136,891 129,889 114,062 112,703 85,464 84,249 69,049 66,387 65,828 58,139 57,539 57,168 56,395 52,793 232,324 91,595 90,100 78,741 124,298 88,980 64,189 84,249 69,049 59,346 64,131 625 57,539 781 44,147 42,901 2,217 39,225 20,457 85,464 7,041 1,697 57,514 56,387 12,248 9,892 spike in demand was strongly correlated to the tragic terrorist activities in Paris and San Bernardino. Demand for firearms for self-defense and concealed carry increased dramatically, and that demand continued through the first quarter of 2016,” said Mike Fifer, Ruger CEO, during Ruger’s annual shareholders meeting in May. New products, including the Ruger American Pistol, Precision Rifle, AR-556 MSR and LC9s pistol, represented $50.3 million (29%) of firearm sales in the first quarter of 2016. According to Fifer, Q1 2016 earnings delivered Ruger’s “second highest revenue we’ve ever enjoyed and the third highest earnings.” In March, Smith & Wesson reported its 2016 third quarter sales, which ended Jan. 31, increased 61.5 percent over the same quarter in 2015. Net sales totaled $210.8 million; firearms division net sales were $194.7 million, a 56.4 percent increase. Accessories division sales were $16.1 million, compared to $6.1 million for the comparable quarter last year (a period in which S&W acquired Battenfeld Technologies, and therefore reported only six weeks of accessories division sales). “The combined strength of our firearms and accessories businesses delivered an exceptional performance, driven by healthy consumer demand across our growing portfolio of firearm and outdoor lifestyle offerings. During the third quarter, the adjusted NICS data reported a significant increase in growth versus the prior year, especially in handguns. In addition, our product sellthrough at distribution was much stronger than we had anticipated,” said James Debney, S&W Holding Corp. president and CEO. S&W officials report the strong pull-through of the company’s products “exceeded expectations,” which resulted in less-thanplanned Q4 internal inventories. To increase production rates in Q4, S&W plans to leverage its “flexible manufacturing model” and increase outsourcing efforts — which will help keep up with demand of products such as the M&P15 SPORT II and M&P SHIELD. The company estimates its fourth quarter of fiscal year 2016 revenue will be between $210 million and $215 million. www.shootingindustry.com “Demand for firearms for self-defense and concealed carry increased dramatically.” MIKE FIFER, RUGER CEO U.S. Firearm Production In 2014, U.S. firearm production reflected the year’s significant drop in sales and the struggle within the industry to define the “new normal.” The number of firearms built in 2014 dropped to slightly below 2012 levels. This was in dramatic contrast to 2013, when, for the first time, U.S. manufacturers produced more than 10 million firearms in a single year (10,349,650). According to the ATF’s “2014 Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Export Report” — the latest data available — U.S. manufacturers made 8,692,461 firearms in 2014, a drop of 16 percent from 2014. During 2014, U.S. firearm production declined in all categories, except revolvers. Hardest hit was shotguns, which dropped 22 percent from 2013. The 4,377,501 handguns built in 2014 was a drop of 15 percent from 2013 when production increased 24 percent. Pistols production in 2014 decreased 18 percent (4,441,726 to 3,633,454) from 2013. Revolver production in 2014 increased 3 percent (725,282 to 744,047) from 2013. Rifle production in 2014 also decreased 15 percent (3,979,570 to 3,379,549), this after a 26 percent increase in 2013 and a 37 percent jump in 2012. In shotguns, the 22 percent decline in 2014 production (1,203,072 to 935,411) was in dramatic contrast to a 27 percent increase in the category in 2013. The 2013 jump was the largest increase in shotgun production since 1994. JULY 2016 33
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