[kentucky_smith]

http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2008/04/remington_closi.html

Got a feeling that importing single shot Baikals is cheaper than continuing production of the NEF's.

[PTK]

HOLY *BLEEP*

I sure hope you're wrong. If they're closing, I need to buy another lifetime worth of shotguns and rifles, not to mention a truckload of barrels.

The imported shotguns are more expensive than the NEF and H&R models.


This integration will be seamless and will not affect our customers or our product offerings.

Link (http://www.hr1871.com/News/pressreleases.aspx#plan) to news release on www.hr1871.com

[Ash]

I'm not really surprised, considering that Cerberus owns the whole kit and kabootle. Something had to be trimmed, and NEF I would think would be the weakest-link among Marlin and Remington.

Ash

[PTK]

On the upside it appears that they'll at least still be manufacturing them, simply not in a dedicated factory.

[chas08]

Terrible News!!! I hope Remington don't muck it up. At least, I now own two H&R's:(

[plumberroy]

H&R brand makes more money than the marlin brand
Roy

[Ash]

IT does, but it remains the "yugo" brand name. It is the el-cheapo line in the mix with absolutely no prestige what-so-ever. PERFECT to slap its name on Chinese-made stuff. No need to make it here. Marlin and Remington, on the other hand, are more up-scale - and even Remington is as much Importer as Manufacturer these days, it seems.

Ash

[ArmedBear]

Maybe Massachusetts is a lousy place for a gun company... I'm sure they make it an expensive pain in the ass to do business.

That said, bye-bye H&R/NEF.

I hope they leave Marlin intact. I'm not interested in buying much made by Remington; maybe I should buy some more Marlins before Big Green Booger ups the price and drops the quality (which is all Remington seems to know how to do any more).

[PTK]

Again, from the press releases they'll still be made in this country, just not in the Gardner factory. Making them overseas and importing them, even from China, is likely to be more expensive than producing them now.

[gunman42782]

Very sad news. My very first gun was a H and R .410, many, many moons ago. And I have had a few others along the way, including a Handi-Rifle or two. They are affordable, and completely functional guns.

[ArmedBear]

Again, from the press releases they'll still be made in this country, just not in the Gardner factory. Making them overseas and importing them, even from China, is likely to be more expensive than producing them now.

Yeah, but if they're making them in the Remington factory, I'm not too interested...

I'm not sure that Cerberus recognizes that many experienced shooters (especially shotgunners) see Remington as a has-been company, and new products are off their consideration lists. I think that Cerberus would do well to do some sort of a "Remington's back!" promotion, and do a lot to prove that it's true.

Now some may come back and say that their new Remington is great, and maybe it is. But this is an opportunity for the new owners; they ought not to squander it.

Most Marlin owners, like me, responded negatively when Remington bought Marlin, since Marlin's quality has remained excellent even while other companies have declined. Does Remington recognize that their reputation needs shoring up. or do they read their own ad copy too much?

[MAKster]

I'm sure there is enough idle manufacturing capacity at the Remington and Marlin factories that they can absorb NEF production. This is one of the main advantages of Cerberus combining all these gun companies. One factory can produce multiple brands.

[22LongRifle]

I need to get my reciever and forearm sent in and get those barrels I have been putting off!

With that said, I WILL NOT buy a china made H&R/NEF! They can take their cheapo Norico 870 knockoffs and....well you know.

I think I might not be buying ANYTHING that Remington has its hand in if they drop the NEF line.

22lr

[icebones]

yet another example of a company going under because people are too greedy and are reduceing costs by cutting corners and slapping their good name on inferior foreign made junk...

remember how bad winchester screwed up the model 70 in 1964?

then they closed down their plants? farewell ol winchester '94 huh?

[Gary A]

yet another example of a company going under because people are too greedy and are reduceing costs by cutting corners and slapping their good name on inferior foreign made junk...

Except we don't know yet that this is the future of H&R/NEF. My understanding is that Cerebus' tactics are usually to take over companies that may be struggling but that they think have potential. They don't seem to be the type of "corporate raiders" that buy a company simply to liquidate the assets. Apparently, their business plan is to try to take acquisitions toward profitability or increased profitability, not simply "cash out". They will consolidate and streamline product lines and manufacturing which is what they are claiming here. That is in line with their track record, unless I'm badly mistaken. Since H&R/NEF was reportedly a profitable bright spot in the Marlin company, it wouldn't seem likely that Cerebus would simply cease producing that line. You may be correct, but there is so much doom and gloom in the world in general and among shooters in particular, that if we cry that the sky is falling every time something happens, sometimes we will be right. And each time we're right, we "prove" our doom and gloom. A broken watch is correct twice a day. Let's not prove Barack Obama "correct" that we are just "bitter". Let's wait and see. No one can blame a company for dropping a product that doesn't sell. That is not the case here. The products do sell. Certainly Walmart stores dropping guns in many or most cases is no help to budget firearm sales but if the demand is there, someone will sell them. And, if the demand is there, they should sell even if they are modestly more expensive than the import. Right now they are about even.