would you buy a rifle made by a closed down company?

[captain awesome]

In light of the recent news of Harrington & Richardson closing its doors, it has got me thinking. There have been a couple rifles of theirs that I have wanted for a while but never pulled the trigger on. As a matter of fact I was looking at one that was a particularly good price the day before I heard the news.

So with the company closing down, obviously they wont be servicing their rifles any more and warranties are null and void I would imagine. I have had trouble in the past with guns that were old manufacturer but from a company still in business. Getting service, parts and such was a problem. I can only imagine it would be worse if the company was gone completely.

So my first knee jerk reaction was to get serious about it and purchase them while I still can, but I hesitated because of what I mentioned in the past paragraph. I cant even find one of them for a reasonable price so that ship has sailed anyway, but the other two are still available from various retailers. both are cartridges I could just buy a barrel and put on my Encore anyway, but the cost would be more going in that direction, enough for me to question which would be the better route. Kind of dumb it's like that IMO, but it is what it is.

neither of them are going to see a tremendous amount of use, just the range once in a while and hunting here or there mixing in with the use of several other rifles I own, so they probably wont get worn out in my life time. They are both SB2 Handi rifles. and both of them are purchases that I WAS going to make sooner or later.

So what would you do in my position?

 

[Thermactor]

Lots of folks still buying Colts and that company is in danger.
Gun companies never really die, although they do find a way to discharge their liabilities and reopen shop when a foreign company takes over their intellectual property.

 

[WestKentucky]

The guns are well built and last. Don't worry about proven quality. Buy, use, enjoy. I am looking at the same thing thinking now may be the time to jump on a couple that I have considered, but like you I am weighing options with my contender. Used barrels for the TC are about the same as a new gun from h&r/nef. Just out of the sake of saving space in the safe I will probably wait and get a barrel for the TC, but certain models still really speak to me...45-70 especially.

 

[MIL-DOT]

This isn't like you're acting on a whim just because they're cheap, you were already intending on buying these rifles, and that's largely because you already believed them to be fuctional,quality gear, so nothing there has really changed. And the likelyhood that they'll ever need factory servicing, and especially of the type that a regular gunsmith can't handle, is highly unlikely.
I've always heard and read good stuff about H&R, and if you're getting a deal, to boot, seems like a no brainer to me.

 

[19-3Ben]

I'm the guy looking at buying a Saab at the moment because prices are great for what you get, due to their closure so perhaps I'm not in a position to answer...

All kidding aside, there's not a lot of reason not to go ahead and buy it.

 

[rule303]

The H&R is a pretty basic design without much to go wrong. They have been made for decades, so there are plenty of spare parts should the need arise. I would assume Remington will continue to honor the warranty on any new rifles still being sold.
I don't see it as being any different than buying a discontinued model from any manufacturer.

 

[chris in va]

*psst*...there are these folks called 'gunsmiths' if something needs repair.

 

[Ibmikey]

My 300 AAC Blackout Handi Rifle is one of my favorites, there is very little to go wrong with them so I expect it to be taking Texas hogs long after I am gone..

 

[jmorris]

I own many from business that no longer exist, even more that are obsolete and new parts are no longer made.

As far as firearms go a single shot would be the most simple to repair, if the need arises.

If they do close and the product line can make a profit, someone will buy it.

 

[Odd Job]

I might do it if I already have a gun from that manufacturer.
You might say I have already done it: bought a Thompson Center R55 Benchmark when they were still being made, back in 2007.
After they stopped making them (the S&W take over) I bought another one second hand.

I agree with the OP that parts are a worry. I've been making a special effort to get spare springs, firing pins and extractors, and also the receiver screws.

So yes, probably with the security of a spare gun to gets parts from or use as a template to make more, it is doable. However it is much cheaper to get a new gun (if you can find one with equal capabilities).

 

[captain awesome]

*psst*...there are these folks called 'gunsmiths' if something needs repair.

don't give me the shifty eyes.

A; there is a lot of stuff I can fix on my own especially if I have ......wait for it....... here's the drum roll.......PARTS!!!!

B; I have an excellent gunsmith and even some trusted back ups that I can use for things I can't handle but they might need some.....PARTS!!!!!

C; And guess what....gunsmiths aren't free! and these rifles are CHEAP! so do you see how paying a gunsmith potentially a coupe hundred bucks for a serious repair could really not make a whole lot of sense?

anyway, I think that sounded mean and it wasn't meant to be....

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Depends upon the "closing".

Closed because they were foisting crap on the market in an attempt to survive on nostalgia or a low price range...?

Nope.

Closed because they were making good products and just couldn't afford a re-tool for greater economy or renewed product line...?

Sure.


Case in point: If Marlin went out at the bottom of the quality barrel in the worst of the Remlin days I say no way! However, the tenuous nature of Colt these days fazes me not a whit in contemplating a new Colt.

Todd.

 

[captain awesome]

Well I decided to go ahead with it based on ya'lls advice. I really doubt I will have issues with the rifles and I think it will be kind of neat that I will have something I want that soon will be unavailable. so, I bought 2 of the three of them. hope I can find the buffalo classic for a decent price some day. I am not holding my breath though.

 

[Swampman]

I collect milsurps.
What's a "warranty"?

 

[WestKentucky]

Just throwing this out there, and no offense intended, but if your gunsmith requires A a broken gun, and B a new part to replace what's broken he needs to learn how to be a gunsmith rather than a gun tech. A gunsmith can make parts, a tech can swap parts. I trust one, I am the other.

And yes the buffalo classic is so high up my list I can smell the gun oil but other things will come first.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Sure.

My favorite .22 Target rifle is made by a company still in business, but parts have been obsolete for 50 years.

 

[rcmodel]

would you buy a rifle made by a closed down company?

Of course I would.

Just counted tonight, and I have around 25 old Winchesters, Colts, S&W's, Astra's and others that parts & service are not available for from the companies when I bought them.

Some of the company's are still in business, but no longer support products made before WWII.
And others are long gone never to resurface again.

Parts is parts.
If I need them and can't get them, I, or somebody else can make them.

Don't let it stop you from buying a good gun you want.

rc

 

[captain awesome]

I agree, and none taken west Kentucky. yes they can make SOME parts but there are some things which are not quite that simple. any way, as was said, these are fairly simple designs so I am no longer terribly worried about it.

 

[CraigC]

I never even consider it. Lots of great guns on the used market that are well out of production. Warranties are overrated.

 

[Jlr2267]

Buy 2 then you have spare parts

 

[jim in Anchorage]

I may have bought one of the last New Haven Winchesters made, a .223 WSSM. Two weeks after I bought it the plant closed. I knew that was coming when I bought the gun but never figured it would be a problem. Well turns out the chamber is oversized and in normal circumstances I would have fired the gun right back to Winchester but I was stuck with it.

 

[PO2Hammer]

You wouldn't be risking much money, and they're great rifles, so why not?

 

[DPris]

The H&R brand is not entirely shut down.
Last November a company rep told me they'd continue with the imported guns under the H&R branding & that parts would continue to be available for the discontinued models for some time.

Confirming this morning, they'll be carrying on with the Pardner Pump and Excell Auto under the brand.

If you have, or plan to buy, a discontinued Handi-Rifle or breaktop shotgun, might be a good idea to buy some key parts now to keep for the eventual day when those won't be available.
Denis

 

[longknife12]

When I find pre 64 Win parts, I buy springs/ barrels etc, I have bought for spares. I probably will never use them but it should keeps those things talking
for many years!
Dan

 

[HankB]

It depends on how "proprietary" the design is. Most AR-platform rifles use standard parts - although the piston-driven versions do vary. For the most part, you'll be in good shape if you have a decent AR even if the company closes.

Other firearms can be problematic - for example, Daewoo imported a nice semi-auto rifle, but imports were cut off and spare parts are hard to come by. Domestically, MSAR was producing a clone of the Steyr AUG, but they shut down for restructuring. (I understand they've since re-opened.) But with Steyr finally producing AUGs here . . . why go to a clone?

Even companies still in business still cut off parts for older guns - Walther is one example that comes to mind.