[birdman]

It occurred to me that the consumer boycott may have been the best thing that ever happened to Smith & Wesson. Without the boycott the business would still be in the hands of the British and would have been so deeply entrenched in the Clinton "program" that it would have never progressed to where it is today. What's the opinion of THR group?

[curt]

Good question. I would tend to say yes. They were sold for firesale prices. I hope so.

[Rob Pincus]

I doubt it. S&W would've been sold by the British parent company anyway... they obviously had no interest in a firearms manufacturer.

'Sides, most of the die-hard boycotters are still boycotting, aren't they? And S&W had a great 2002 by all reports.

[kalibear45]

S&W is doing pretty good as far as I know. Their sales are definitely up a notch.

But didn't you hear the latest scoop: Paula Abdul (judge in American Idol) might be dating Colton Melby (1/4 owner of Smith & Wesson).

Like, oh my gosh! :rolleyes:

:neener:

[Pat S]

The boycott didn't save SW but the cheap buyout by an American company for pennies on the dollar probably did.

Many have forgotten about the boycott because it is not being honored by the new owners or enforced by the current Administration. Some may not care because SW was aquired by an American company, or they chose to buy their product because it is a fine quality gun.

I'm one of the die-hard boycotters of which you speak. I'll admit I like SW guns. But I won't buy one until they publically state two things: 1. That they have no intention of ever honoring the HUD aggreement or anything like it that the previous owners signed. 2. That they will stand up in the future and fight with the other manufacturers who didn't sign on to the HUD appeasement.

Repeated emails on these issues to SW have returned letters where they sidestep the issue and evade answering the specific questions. I've heard that they had to accept the agreement that was signed by the previous owners as part of the acquisition. Whether in the future, with a change to a Democratic president, with control of one or both houses of Congress, SW will capitulate back to the agreement will be interesting to see.

Stay Safe, Pat S

[Ryder]

would still be in the hands of the British

What makes you think they're still not?

Any truth to the rumor I heard that they passed up two substantially higher bids when they "sold" the company?

Corporations know how to play legal games on paper to get what they want and what they want is your money. They are not above being deceitful in that pursuit.

The boycott is still alive and well here. I didn't "join" the boycott. It was a unilateral decision.

[Standing Wolf]

'Sides, most of the die-hard boycotters are still boycotting, aren't they?

I'm standing with Pat S: if Smith & Wesson wants my dollars, it can @#$%^&! act like it.

[Rob Pincus]

That's my point... most of the serious boycotters are still boycotting, so I do not think they had much of an effect.

(BTW- I also don't believe that the original agreement was signed as part of a conspiracy to ruin the gun industry ;) )

[makdaddy03]

Im still boycotting!!:cuss: SELLOUTS!!

[PrudentGT]

I don't even like the S&W importer markings on my P-99. It seems somehow blasphemous. And I do have a hankerin' for a Ti wheelgun, but I think Taurus will get my money on that one... :)

[Monte Harrison]

I've heard that they had to accept the agreement that was signed by the previous owners as part of the acquisition.Even if the company would publicly state this it would be a start, rather than just counting on short memories. But it has to be one or the other, either publicly burning the document, or a statement denouncing the agreement, but saying they are legally bound by it regardless. Ignoring it and us is not going to bring us back as customers.

[Selfdfenz]

If Smith was doing all that great they wouldn't be selling so much of their line through a certain Company in Abilene ,Texas that is known for handling discounted, discontinued/end of production and over-run products.

That Company is Abilene is a fine organization BTW and offers excellent service. Just a top notch outfit everytime I've done business with them.

Sad to say, dealing Smith casts a shadow on their honor IMHO.
S-

[Robert inOregon]

CDNN is selling less than 20 S&W SKU's and S&W has hundreds of SKU's in their line. Of the 20 firearms that CDNN is selling, more than half are discontinued product or in other words "dogs with flees". CDNN is not a very good bellwether as to the successes or failures of S&W.

[birdman]

Just wondering why this topic was moved from Handguns: General Discussion to plain old General Discussion. Does Smith & Wesson make anything of significance other than handguns?
BTW I don't believe that today's ownership were the ones to enter into this agreement so why would they be the ones to apologize to anyone. Seems like ignoring the whole matter is appropriate to me. I do believe we would have seen the demise of S&W along with the deterioration of our basic rights if the "gun buying" public had not taken a stand.

[Pat S]

"BTW I don't believe that today's ownership were the ones to enter into this agreement so why would they be the ones to apologize to anyone. Seems like ignoring the whole matter is appropriate to me."


Birdman:

I don't expect an apology from the new owners, only a statement that they will not honor the aggrement in the future and will stand up and fight with the other manufacturers. The people who buy their products now are either uninformed as to what the aggreement is, or are apathetic. That is their choice. I've made mine.

Many feel that if SW had gone bankrupt that the industry as a whole would have been worse off. I disagree! I think the vacuum left by SW would have been picked up by other manufacturers and a very important lesson taught to those in the industry: If you appease the anti 2nd Amendment side you pay the price.
Hopefully, this lesson was learned by many including the new owners of SW.

Stay Safe, Pat S

[hanko]

I agree with Pat S. Maybe some of you have forgotten what Smith agreed to do. You might check www.hud.gov/library/bookshelf18/pressrel/gunagree.html
Pat, where in ID are you??

-hanko

[Pat S]

Lewiston