Accuracy International goes bust - here's why!

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Preacherman

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As members will know, last week the British firm of Accuracy International was placed in receivership due to a defective batch of rifles which were rejected by the British Army. It's not known whether the company will be able to continue production.

Here's a picture of an AI rifle that failed - it says it all! :what:
 
:scrutiny: Huh, doesn't surprise me. I've always been suspect about many of these high-end manufacturers who claim their wares are the best to be had at any price (usually an exorbitant one at that). As I mentioned in another post here, I found out the hard way that some of these firms are just soooo... full of themselves. Frankly, the louder a firm screams about how good their stuff is, the less likely I am to believe them.

Case in point, I had one of the oldest and most respected 1911 custom builders in the mid-west turn a around a custom-built multiple $K 1911 that looked like a 9 year old built it. Funny thing was they always put their cute little custom in signia just aft the rear cocking serrations on one side of the slide - at least in the magazine articles that they pay to have drafted by some whiz-bang poser. Anyway, interestingly enough, they did not mark mine in the same fashion. Jeez... I wonder why.

Now, it has always been my understanding the AI made some of the absolute best stuff out there, so perhaps this is a fluke. As we all know any of us can blow up ANY gun given the right circumstances. Anyway... this is certainly interesting news and their bankruptcy protection suggests they have deep seated problems beyond this contract that went sideways. I wonder just how many of these AI rifles peeled their barrels like that?
 
That's the worst ''peelback'' I have seen .... each groove has obviously ''let go'' Strange tho - if and assuming a lot of pre-production testing, I wonder why no faults found. This sort of failure is suggestive to me of an obstruction near the muzzle .. even muzzle brake entry point ... and so residual pressure has blown whole barrel - not a confined chamber episode.

I would be more than interested to know the full unexpurgated story on this.
 
Now THAT is what I call an earth shattering KABOOM!

Did the shooter survive?
 
NM - I wondered exactly that but on reflection came to conclusion that the shooter was probably totally unharmed (except in laundry division :p ) ........ the pressure release was over quite a distance and no shrapnel ..... so I'd imagine all was to sides.
 
On another forum the thought that the barrel flutes were cut too deep-making the barrel,in effect,too thin-was bandied about.IIRC wasn't this KB supposed to be from the first round fired?Whence the pile of brass then? :confused:
 
First round fired? By whom? If as I'd hope the gun (design) had had 100's of test rounds thru then - does this mean first ''customer round''?? Which again makes me think, why?? Obstruction? Oil in barrel?

Again - I'd like the whole 9 yards on this sorry story.
 
How is one KB! making an entire company go under?

They seem to have lost a government contract over this. I would guess they needed this money badly and without it that is all she wrote.
 
Huh, doesn't surprise me. I've always been suspect about many of these high-end manufacturers who claim their wares are the best to be had at any price (usually an exorbitant one at that).

Anyone remember the SAKO Kabooms? It was a bad batch of SS-

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=108622
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=115449
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156955

I wonder why the reaction to the alleged AI kaboom is so different? Something ugly in human nature, perhaps.

Last week the British firm of Accuracy International was placed in receivership due to a defective batch of rifles which were rejected by the British Army. It's not known whether the company will be able to continue production.
That the alleged kaboom caused the receivership has not been stated authoritatively by any source that I've seen so far. In any case, the company was having cash flow problems for some time so it's believable that such an event might push it over the brink.


-z
 
This doesn't make sense. First off I'm sure AI would have tested a gun thoroughly before giving it over to a contract proof/test. Secondly no offense, Preach but do we have any surces for this? How do we know this is why they went under? Thirdly, one peeled barrel (from what appears to be an obstruction) does not a company out of business make. This doesn't add up yet.
 
If a company is on the edge, a few blow ups (more than just one as I have heard) can do it. And, the fact is that most companies fail not because of a bad product but because of cash-flow. In small business, it is the main cause of failure, far above all others. AI doesn't make a whole lot of products. High price, low production rate means that when an order gets canned, it can very easily drive a company out, assuming the rifles are all suspect and cannot then be turned out onto the civilian market. If there are no cash reserves, then when the bills come in, without payment for the rifles, the bills do not get paid.

Ash
 
Ah heck, just bang everything back together and apply some JB Weld.
-Are you crazy? You know what JB Weld costs??? Gimme a roll or two of duct tape, I'll have this puppy back on the line in no time.
~
 
Well, they could recoup by selling the remainder to the French Army. They wont know the difference and the world will be safer! :neener:
 
Accuracy International Limited and Accuracy Group Limited – in administrative receivership

Feb 23 2005
Michael Gercke and Derek Howell of PricewaterhouseCoopers were appointed joint administrative receivers of Accuracy International Limited and Accuracy Group Limited (“Accuracyâ€) on 18 February 2005.

Accuracy International, formed in 1978, design and build tactical rifles for sale predominantly to military and law enforcement agencies throughout the world. The company, which in its most recent accounts for 2003, reported an annual turnover of approximately £5m, trades from bespoke leasehold premises in Portsmouth, where it employed 28 people.

Accuracy’s products are world renowned and its weapons are in use by more than 40 Governments worldwide.

The company’s expansion into the North American market was not as successful as had been hoped and as result the operating profits generated by the company were insufficient to service its debt obligations.

Sadly, 24 staff involved with assembly and administration have had to be made redundant with immediate effect. A skeleton staff, including the design capability, is being retained to work with the receivers to preserve the intellectual property of the business and assist with the sale of the business.

Mike Gercke, joint administrative receiver and partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers commented:

“It is clear that trading could not continue in the short term and regrettably these redundancies have had to be made. Accuracy is a recognised brand in its market and we are receiving significant interest in the business including the manufacturing and design rights for the company’s weapons and conversion system. Accuracy has a strong order and prospect book and we hope to be able to secure a sale which will ensure the survival of the company’s business and products.â€
.
 
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