Posted on 12/11/2013 1:08:11 PM PST by marktwain
Photo by Oleg Volk
In what might appear to be a counter-intuitive move, Wilson Arms plans to move its barrel production facility from Wisconsin to Connecticut. But, the company already has operations in Connecticut, and this move will consolidate operations. The company owner, Hugo Vivero, purchased the company from the Wilson family six years ago. Wilson Arms was founded in New Haven, Connecticut in 1954, when firearms regulation and legislation were much more sane and reasonable.
The acquisition of the former Badger Defense Company, located in Wisconsin, occurred in 2012, so what is happening is that a Connecticut based company purchased a Wisconsin based company and is moving the machinery to Connecticut, where its main base of operations has existed for nearly six decades.
Because Wilson Arms deals in gun barrels rather than complete firearms or receivers, they are not subject to many of the worst of the emotionally based firearms regulations and laws passed in the last few months.
©2013 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included. Link to Gun Watch
why Conn?
shouldn’t these companies be moving south?
Or further West?
not too far west though
I thought Wilson was in Berryville, AR?
I wonder how long it will take to mount a boycott of these products (at least in Connecticut)? Not long, I would guess.
Nope, not as far as the left coast, definitely!
Oh, I don’t know. We have both Nosler and Leupold out here, and they do just fine.
Although I understand the potential economy of adding to an existing operation, nonetheless I am baffled at why any gunsmithing or related company would risk/ invest one PENNY in operations in ANY gun-grabbing state like CT — particularly when dozens of non ‘grabber states would bend over backwards to get those operations instead.
Just don’t go too far west (as a firm that manufactures guns or parts), or you end up in California, Oregon or Hawaii. :P
The liberals around Portland certainly have everything tied up as far as reputation goes, but the reality of gun laws in Oregon is actually pretty good.
Shall issue CHL, can carry on school grounds, no waiting periods for purchase.
The only real sore spot is no reciprocity on concealed carry.
I did not know that! In many ways Oregon reminds me of California in the 1980s: strongly liberal leaning but still capable of sanity on occasion. (Obviously I don’t think California still meets this description.)
Just give it a little time.
Being from Connecticut.I would have to say that that was a damned stupid move I bringing a hated firearms business to Connecticut.
Where the hell has this owner been following the incident at Newtown?Doesn’t he know how our state Legislature just about killed our 2nd Amendment Rights to own so called”Assault Weapons”?
If I were to buy a new weapon or anything else.The last place I would want it manufactured would be Connecticut.
If I were to buy a new weapon or anything else.The last place I would want it manufactured would be Connecticut.
___________________
CT was once a center of firearm production in the country.
Let’s pretend that you have a factory in CT worth $500m with 1000 employees, and you bought a factory in WI worth $5m with 10 employees.
Still baffled? It has a lot more to do with assets and investment than politics, at least until they make life miserable for them in CT.
Gives new meaning to “Out of the frying pan into the fire”.
It’s baffling because it’s my inexpert assessment, from gun-grabbing CA, that CT is already rather draconian in terms of gun rights. Those economies of integration must be huge.
I’m not sure why they did the integration, but that could be a very different thing than moving the CT factory.
I’ve never done it, but I think moving a large factory, moving the key employees that are willing, hiring and training new staff at the new location, and weathering all the down-time of the move must be very difficult.
There are serious costs to a move like that... although I’d be sorely tempted if I ever found myself in a place like CT again!
My only point: there are many other factors to consider than being located in a place that doesn’t like your product.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.