Business continues to be brisk

Shooting Industry, August, 2007 by Russ Thurman

Manufacturers, distributors and dealers report that business continues to be brisk, defying the usual summer slump. Confirming the uptick in sales is data from the FBI's NICS system. From January through May, the number of background checks was up 17.53 percent over the same period in 2006, with records being set every month since 1999, the first full year of NICS.

The June NICS numbers continue the trend, with the system conducting 792,943 background checks during the month, 176,846 more than in June 2006--an impressive 28.7 percent increase. With June factored in, the number of background checks is up 19.1 percent for the first six months of 2007, over the same period in 2006.

For an in-depth look at the U.S. firearm business, including updated ATF data, see our July issue online at www.shootingindustry.com. If you compare July's printed version of this unique report with the one we have online, you'll note some of the total production numbers and individual companies' data are different. That's because as the July issue was being printed, the ATF released an updated report. Don't you just love it when that happens! So, to provide you with the latest information available, we updated the story and charts online.

The updated ATF data indicates a slight change in the overall firearm production for 2005; however, there were additional companies included in the report and adjustments to some companies' production numbers.

The top five U.S. firearm manufacturers for 2005 did not change, with Remington remaining in the number one position for the fifth year in a row.

Smith & Wesson, as noted in my initial report, posted the most robust growth for 2005 over 2004, with a 31.71 percent increase. The updated ATF report indicates the company did even better, with a total handgun production of 330,670, which translates to an attention-getting 40.4 percent increase.

One notable change in the updated report is the inclusion of Sigarms, with a production of 91,171 pistols, making it the number three U.S. handgun manufacturer for 2005. Also, Springfield's numbers were adjusted significantly from 140,561 firearms to 17,088, correcting, apparently, for imported firearms that were inadvertently reported as U.S. production.

We're always overwhelmed with the response we receive from this annual report, perhaps best summarized in this email from Ken Candee of Bill's Sporting Goods in Lomira, Wis.: "Although every issue you publish has value, this is the one I look forward to the most. Even if the information is from a year ago, it is still fascinating. To summarize: loved the article, it has tons of value and helps a poor country-boy retailer get things in perspective. You are a wonderful fellow and I'm sure you're good to your dog."

Thanks, Ken. And, I'll let my dog know you were thinking of him.

TOP 10 U.S. MANUFACTURERS 2005

Manufacturer          Pistols  Revolvers  Rifles   Shotguns  Total

Remington Arms                            302,271  309,112   611,383
Sturm, Ruger & Co.    125,057   58,951    218,180   11,467   413,655
Smith & Wesson        158,601  172,069                       330,670
O.F. Mossberg & Sons                       27,005  199,852   226,857
Marlin Firearms                           205,479            205,479
H & R 1871                                 66,524   86,958   153,482
Savage Arms                               118,353    1,513   119,866
U.S. Repeating Arms                        88,743   30,517   119,260
Argus Publications                         94,452             94,452
Sigarms                91,171                                 91,171