Smith and Wesson to buy Thompson Center

abf journal ^ | 12/18/06 | n/a

[sig226]

TD Banknorth Finances Smith & Wesson’s Buyout of Thompson/Center Arms Monday, December 18, 2006

Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Thompson/Center Arms, a designer, manufacturer and marketer of premium hunting firearms, for $102 million in cash. The transaction is expected to close in the beginning of January 2007.

[Gideon Reader]

Forgiven? Not by ME! I keep the enemies I make or those who make me an enemy. BR>
I am a "gun person" and will go out of my way to avoid anything to do with modern issues from S&W.

However that does NOT stop me from acquiring older models, more specifically pre/post war large frame revolvers with fixed sights. .38-44 Heavy Duty & Hand Ejector models, etc, in any original caliber.

Their newer stuff is crap in my opinion. Last decent Revolver they made (IMO) was the Model-13/65 (Blue/SS)in 3inch fixed sights RB.
Is this boring anyone? :~)

[mbynack]

On May 11, 2001, Saf-T-Hammer Corporation acquired Smith & Wesson Corp. from Tomkins PLC for $15US million, a fraction of the $112US million originally paid by Tomkins. Saf-T-Hammer also assumed $30US million in debt bringing the total purchase price to $45US million. [4] [5] Saf-T-Hammer, a manufacturer of gun locks and other firearms safety products, purchased S&W with the idea of incorporating its line of security products into all Smith & Wesson firearms in compliance with the 2000 Clinton administration agreement.

Tomkins was the British company that sold Smith. I believe Saf-T-Hammer was headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ.

Bottom line - Smith is now American owned, so if you're still angry about the tea tax, don't take it out on Smith.

Smith makes a fine weapon and the people at Tomkins who made the deal with the Clinton administration no longer have anything to do with the company. I'm not crazy about the built in key locks, but I do like some of the new Smith pistols and wouldn't hesitate to buy one.

[Mr Rogers]

What are the key locks? How do they work?

My S&Ws are over 25 years old, and I've only bought one gun in the last 10 years, so I'm a bit out of date!

[looscnnn]

Anything is for sale, for the right price & cash IS king.

[Gideon Reader]

I have this mental image of jack Benny and his safe.:~)

[looscnnn]

So now, S&W owns Walther and T/C. Wonder what else they will be aquiring? Good thing I bought stock in them over the summer, along with Ruger. I wish some of the other gun companies would go public so that I can buy thier stock also.

[mbynack]

Saf-T-Hammer developed a key lock system. The key fits into the grip of the pistol and it can't be used unless the key is inserted and turned. They're also doing research into electronic systems that recognize the owner's grip or fingerprints and will only activate the gun if the owner is using it.

I worry about the reliability of the system. What if you need the gun and the battery is dead or can't get to the key to activate the weapon? What if you're hand is injured or bloody? Will the system still work?

[Gideon Reader]

No problem. I broke off a steel rod three inches into the muzzle.
Snapped off the firing pin, and wedged a bit of bar stock in the trigger mechanism. and used a three pound sledge on the mainspring area of the frame. I bent the crane and the ejector rod. I put some melted lead behine the firing pin hole too.
Filed off the sights and bent the frame where it accepts the barrel. That sucker will NEVER kill an innocent by it's
self ever.

Firearms maintainance for and by the dumbassed liberals who thing that guns kill peeople. Now they have a bludgeon.

[mbynack]

No problem. I broke off a steel rod three inches into the muzzle. Snapped off the firing pin, and wedged a bit of bar stock in the trigger mechanism. and used a three pound sledge on the mainspring area of the frame. I bent the crane and the ejector rod. I put some melted lead behine the firing pin hole too. Filed off the sights and bent the frame where it accepts the barrel. That sucker will NEVER kill an innocent by it's self ever.

I just take the bullets out of mine.

[B4Ranch]

Be sure to remove the primers from the cartridge cases and store the powder separately.

[TC Rider]

It will shoot the .45 Colt round, often referred to as the .45 long, or .45 Long Colt.

[TC Rider]

Well, I'd say that if you want a TC, get one while you can. It's only a matter of time before S&W complicates an otherwise solid design with their integral trigger lock.

Although the past sins of previous ownership have been forgiven, I'm not a big fan of integral trigger locks. Just complicates the design and increases the probability of an internal failure.

It's worth noting that S&W has not added the lock to John Browning's design on their fine 1911 clones, introduced under the new owners.

The new management seems much more sensitive to their user base. I'm looking forward to visiting their sports center in February for the IDPA Winter Nationals.

TC Rider (disclaimer - TC does not stand for Thompson Contender)

[Phsstpok]

It looks like Smith has the "most powerful handgun in the world" under their flag again.

I'm sure there are others, but don't they have to 'contend' with these guys for the title?

 

That's their revolver, with ".45/70, .480 Ruger/.475 Linebaugh, .450 Marlin, .500 S&W, .50AE, .444 Marlin, .30/30 Winchester, .45 Long Colt/.410 (not for sale in CA), and the new .460 S&W Magnum - as well as .454 Casull, and the unique .22 Hornet."

They also make the Desert Eagle autoloader and a line of rifles that go up to 300 Win mag and .308.  I know TC goes past the rifles, but does it go past the BFR?  If so, it's not in a wheel gun, so you're talking one shot. 

I understand about the sport of handgun hunting, but back when it was reasonable for me to consider hunting (before my eyesight failed) I would only have considered a handgun for backup and would have been hunting with something in either 30-06 or .308 (I would have been hunting with one of my uncles up in Wyoming and that's what they carried, mostly Army surplus rebuilt by them or friends on the res).  But if I were with them the backup would have been for a bear that got inside our perimeter, so having more than one shot in a big bore pistol would have been high on my list of priorities. <g>

Now, if I were using a Barret one shot at a time is about right, so I wouldn't mind not going with one of the box fed versions of those mothers.

[TC Rider]

Their newer stuff is crap in my opinion. Last decent Revolver they made (IMO) was the Model-13/65 (Blue/SS)in 3inch fixed sights RB.

Is this boring anyone? :~)

No, but some gun porn would be nice.

I have one of each, 13/65, both with 3" barrels.

I picked up a 19-5 in nickel last week, life is good.

My only bought new S&W is my 1911DK, which does not have the lock.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Gun porn? How about a NIB Colt Officer's Model from 1922?

[dfwgator]

Smith and Wesson to buy Thompson Center

From the title I thought they were buying an arena. Could you imagine if an arena was called "Smith and Wesson Center."

[Petruchio]

My only S&W is a Model 10 snub nose I got used. It was made in the '70s I think.

[Gideon Reader]

Very recently received my 60's era BHP(9mm) back from Master Gunsmith Ted Yost, who did a sharkskin fore & aft on the grip frame, relieved the frame under the trigger guard, installed Ashley Big Dot Tritium on the front, Novak Black half ghost fixed rear, C&S oval loop hammer, combat trigger job & interior works, oversized strong side safety and radiused the whole thing before a Birdsong Black T finish. Craig Spegel Dark Coco Bolos in full checker and it IS the IDPA style combat shooter of my dreams.
At 15 meters it is a two incher, and does well out to 25M.

The term slick as OwlShit comes to mind when I pop caps.
This is a VERY SERIOUS handgun. It does EVERYTHING well.
I am NOT a photo guy and do not even have a .35mm Fuji throwaway. Never has been my thing.

Let me find a neighbor who can do that stuff and I'll post "pistol" porn that would make Ron Jeremey cry. :~)

[Gideon Reader]

Caliber and price?

[Tijeras_Slim]

.38 Special

Not for sale. It's keeping my similar vintage M&P Target company in the safe. :)