H&R/NEF future doubtful?

[cluttonfred]

Marlin has owned the current Harrington & Richardson for some time, now Remington has bought Marlin, and one of the first things Remington has done is announce the closure of the Gardner, MA facility.

http://www.hr1871.com/News/pressreleases.aspx#plan

I wonder if this means that it's time to get that H&R or NEF rifle of shotgun you've been eyeing, because they may not be around much longer?

 

[PTK]

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

 

[dracphelan]

All they are doing is moving the machinery and jobs to the Marlin plant in Kentucky (might be another state).

 

[cluttonfred]

That's really too bad, as H&R was historically a Massachusetts company and there is a great history there. With Remington already bringing in Russian single-shots (and others) I can't imagine that they will keep making duplicate lines for long.

 

[greyling22]

Hope they keep the extra barrel program open, and I wonder if we will get more caliber options now?

 

[Clipper]

I talked to their customer service department Friday. The story I got is that at present, there is no new caliber development going on, until after the move. The production is being shifted from Gardner to two other plants, one in Kentucky, as already mentioned, and I think the other was in Ohio (but don't quote me on that second location being correct).

 

[19-3Ben]

Nothing being shipped to the Marlin plant in North Haven CT? It's the closest to MA so it would seem to me to make sense!
But I guess perhaps the CT plant is already filled to capacity so there is no room for the extra equipment?
Then again, I guess this is why I am not in business.

 

[greyling22]

huh. I"m kinda hoping I can get a 6.8 spc chambering eventually.

 

[mek42]

Hasn't the 38-45 (38-40?) Target model been discontinued? Or have I just been FUDded?

 

[stan in sc]

The 38-55 Target model is discontinued for 2008.

 

[skinewmexico]

I can't believe any gun manufacturer would be based in MA. Or CT. Amazing they don't move to gun friendly, low tax, low labor states. But maybe they are.

 

[alemonkey]

They say it won't affect the H&R line, but I wouldn't believe them for a second. Remington is run by a big faceless company. They care about the bottom line, period. If they can't sell enough Handi Rifles to meet their budget goals, you can kiss them goodbye.

 

[goon]

But didn't NEF generally make a profit?
If it makes you money and makes your customers happy, why not keep doing it?
Especially if the goal is to generate revenue...

 

[alemonkey]

From what I've heard, H&R/NEF was a solid, profitable company. I guess my point is, things can change pretty quickly in the corporate world. If they decide the Remington Spartan line is more profitable, I could see them dumping the H&R line in a heartbeat.

I'm not saying it's going to happen, just that I wouldn't be surprised. I need to buy that 45-70 barrel soon just in case.

 

[Ash]

Well, the good news is that there are a giant number of them out there already. The secondary market would be just fine for those who really like the Handi. Our sons' generations would be more pressed than us.

Ash

 

[iamkris]

I wonder if this means that it's time to get that H&R or NEF rifle of shotgun you've been eyeing, because they may not be around much longer?

Why do people think that a company (Remington) would buy another company (H&R/NEF) only to get rid of its products and shut it down?

That makes absolutely no sense at all.

Close down lower productivity plants? YES
Get rid of duplicate functions like finance, business ops? YUP
Consolidate duplicate product lines (of which there are very few/none here)? Absolutely

 

[Ash]

Because it happens all the time.

Ash