Firearm Production

Shooting Industry, July, 2001 by Russ Thurman

Firearm Manufacturing Edged Up In 1999 As The Industry Struggled To Regain Momentum Lost In The Crash Of '95.

The industry increased its firearm production in 1999 over the previous year, despite the continuous onslaught of anti-gun legislation and lawsuits. While the 9 percent increase might have been viewed as trivial in the past, it was welcomed by an industry struggling to recover from the devastation of 1995.

The 1999 production figures, the latest available, were boosted most significantly by a 17 percent increase in rifle manufacturing. Sturm, Ruger's 28 percent increase in rifle production and a 33 percent boost in pistols enabled the company to continue to outdistance the rest of the industry as the number one firearm manufacturer. Ruger also, for the second consective year, was the nation's top handgun maker, a position it seized from Smith & Wesson in 1998.

Smith & Wesson failed to regain the top handgun spot, despite posting a slight increase in production. The company ended 1999 in the number six position in total production. The worst year in modern history for Smith & Wesson will undoubtedly be 2000, the year the company entered into "The Agreement" with the Clinton administration.

Absent from the 1999 report is Lorcin Engineering. The largest of the "Ring of Fire" manufacturers, Lorcin made 79,250 handguns in 1998. In 1994, the company produced 151,208 handguns.

In 2001, there will be more changes in the industry. Look for more consolidations of firearm companies, similar to Marlin's acquisition of H&R 1871 last year. Smith & Wesson, while American owned again, still faces challenging times. So also do a number of other companies who are heavily in debt. Many of these companies face certain acquisition within the next two years, most by non-firearm companies within the industry.

Total 1999 Production

Total firearms production in 1999 increased 9 percent over 1998, the second advance since 1995. In 1998, the industry had a slight, but welcome, 2 percent increase in overall .production. In 1999, manufacturers made 4,007,910 guns, up 340,736 from 1998. Production in 1999 was up in all firearm categories, a first since 1993.

Top Gun Makers

The top three firearm manufacturers in 1999, and the number of guns they produced, were:

* Sturm, Ruger: 759,751,

* Remington: 617,130 and

* Mossberg: 329,844.

In 1999, Ruger made 312,731 handguns (+11%), 428,329 rifles (+28%) and 18,691 shotguns (+7%). Overall, Ruger's 1999 production was up 20 percent from 1998.

Remington produced 252,776 rifles (-8%) and 364,354 shotguns (+8%) in 1999, an overall increase of less than i percent from 1998.

Mossberg's 15 rifles and 329,829 shotguns in 1999 were a 2 percent increase in production over 1998.

The top three handgun manufacturers for 1999, and the percentage of change from 1998, were:

* Ruger: 312,731 (+11%),

* Smith & Wesson: 279,435 (+2%) and

* Beretta: 117,684 (+6%).

The top three rifle producers in 1999 were:

* Ruger: 428,329 (+28%),

* Marlin: 301,874 (-1%) and

* Remington: 252,776 (+8%).

The top three shotgun companies in 1999 were:

* Remington: 364,354 (+8%),

* Mossberg: 329,829 (+2%) and

* H&R 1871: 187,562 (-8%).

Handguns

In 1999, handgun production increased to 1,331,230, compared to 1,284,755 in 1998, an increase of 4 percent. This was the first upturn in handgun production since 1993 when manufacturing hit 2,655,478. From 1993 to 1999, handgun production dropped 50 percent.

Pistol Production

Pistol production increased a modest 4 percent in 1999 with 995,446 guns manufactured. This continues to be the hardest hit category within the industry. Pistol production had plummeted 52 percent from a high of 2,093,186 in 1993.

Increases in pistol production for 1999 were posted in .22s (+24%) and .40/.45/50s (+20%). Decreases occurred in .25s (52%), .32s (-16%), .380s (-17%) and 9mms (-5%).

Sturm, Ruger's pistol production increased a healthy 33 percent in 1999, this after posting an 8 percent decrease in 1998. Ruger dramatically increased its production of .22s (+136%), and posted advances in .40/.45/.50s (+11%). The company decreased its numbers in 9mms (-20%).

Smith & Wesson's pistol production in 1999 fell 5 percent, this after a 40 percent decrease in 1998. The company posted decreases in .22s (-17%) and .40/.45/.50s (-5%). It had increases in .380s (+29%) and 9mms (+2%).

Beretta followed its impressive 47 percent increase in production for 1998 with an additional 6 percent boost in 1999. Beretta posted increases in .22s (+32%), 9mms (+12%) and .401.45/.50s (+75%). Production was down in .25s (-34%) and .32s (-27%).

Revolver Production

Revolvers also saw a 4 percent increase in 1999, the first since 1994. Total revolver production for 1999 was 335,784, a dramatic drop from the 1994 figure of 586,450. Increases for 1999 were posted in .22s (+18%), .32s (+125%), .357s (+17%) and .45/.50s (3%). Decreases occurred in .38s (-12%) and .44s (-13%).

Smith & Wesson had a 9 percent increase in revolver production in 1999 after posting a 12 percent decrease in 1998. The company had increases in .357s (+82%) and .45/.50s (43%). It posted decreases in .22s (-34%), .38s (-13%) and .44s (-12%). Smith & Wesson also made 4,059 .32s in 1999.