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.

[RightWhale]

Be sure to remove the primers from the cartridge cases

Let us know when you intend to do this operation so we can be out of town that day.

[B4Ranch]

Beautiful!

[Gideon Reader]

VERY nice indeed.
An heirloom. I do like the heavier calibers though. .44spl, .45LC, .45acp (HMCs).455, etc.

If I can find a nice condition 5inch S&W .38-44HD, or similar, I will have Bowen convert in to a .45LC, in what I call a "1930's Law Man Revolver". Stick it in an El Paso Saddelry (S.D.Meyers) Tom Threepersons Hi-rise flower carved and that is ready for some fun shooting.
:~)

I bet a liberal Lurker/Troll will think this is code sufficient to sell to the NYT to release to the Raggers we are at war with.
:~D

[blackie]

I like it!

[ZULU]

Muzzle-laoding is special - some people find it time consuming - which it is.

There are different lub combinations which can somewhat compensate for temperature. Winter lubes get runny in summer and summer lubs gunk up in cold weather.

My muzzle-laoding Enfield, with the right kind of lube, can be shot all day without needing a cleaning - but then I never shot it in Minnesota in winter.

[sig226]

You're right, it's Safetylock or something like that. Thompkins was the one who conceeded to the Clintons. You can imagine the abuse I took working at a store that stocked S&W guns the day after they announced that fiasco.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I've got a postwar Heavy Duty that's a real pleasure to shoot. One of my projects is a 2nd Model Hand Ejector .44 Special (Wolf and Klar) from about 1927 that I got cheap because some kitchetable gunsmith had done a "trigger job" on it, causing the cylinder stop drag on the cylinder nearly constantly. It had also been reblued at one of the south of the border places that seemed to lurk just over the river in the 50's. I've corrected the internals, and am debating either a period proper matte re-blue, or a nickel finish, plus either a pair of Keith Brown's Roper grips, or having Don Collins make some ivory magnas.

I've seen some of Bowen's work, you can't go wrong with him. I am more partial to .44 special than .45 Colt though, probably due to many too many evening sipping scotch and reading Elmer Keith. Ditto on the Tio Myers holsters, top notch, but I have trouble waiting. Here's a custom maker that you might want to check out. I've heard good things about him. http://www.saguarogunleather.com/

[Tijeras_Slim]

I bet a liberal Lurker/Troll will think this is code sufficient to sell to the NYT to release to the Raggers we are at war with.

Well, we did certainly have the secret handshake thing going there! ;-D

[Shooter 2.5]

There's a video on YouTube showing some fairly large guy shooting a TC Encore. I don't remember the caliber. The pistol simply disappeared past the guy's head after he fired it.

I would have to guess that's the most powerful handgun in existance for a comparible size. I think there's a Fifty BMG handgun but it outweighs a rifle.

[Gideon Reader]

Tijeras_Slim as in Tijeras NM?
Been there recently checking out a residental lot in Paako.

You have good taste in iron.
For good taste in single Malt try Lagavulin.
I personally would go for a "nitrate blue". I love the deep, dark, dive into it quality of the blue.Go with traditional cut ropers. I had a set of Fuzzy Farrants for the N Frame, but it got trashed in Andrew and dumped in fury at life sneaking up and kicking one in the ass.

Thanks for the tip on the leather maker.
Merry Christmas - Chag Chanukah

[Tijeras_Slim]

That Tijeras.

I'd welcome you as a neighbor.

Feel free to freepmail me if you have any East Mountain NM questions.

[Gideon Reader]

Tnx.
Will be for a 2nd res.
Nice area.
best,
GR

[ozzymandus]

Uh-oh. Look for contenders to get lower in quality, like S&W revolvers over the last 50 years.

[NorthWoody]

The Encore is currently available in 17 different calibers, and barrels are interchangable so one frame can be made into 17 different guns. Some of the bigger calibers include .30/06, .308 Win, 375JDJ, .45/70 Gov't, .460 S&W and .500 S&W.

Firing a handgun in any of those calibers takes considerable forethought, and it's wise to watch someone else fire it first so you know what to expect. My 7mm/08 (equal to .284 caliber) has a nice kick to it and a resounding report, but I'm sure it pales in comparison to something like the .460, or even a .30/06 with it's much larger cartridge size.

[Shooter 2.5]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQyILdv-KZ8

[ThomasPaine2000]

Everything you say is true, about the original Hawkins. My T/C Hawkin is relagated to place of honor over my fireplace right now, where it is admired... with its polished brass and highly finished walnut stock..

[ThomasPaine2000]

Everything you say is true, about the original Hawkins. My T/C Hawkin is relagated to place of honor over my fireplace right now, where it is admired... with its polished brass and highly finished walnut stock..

[Atlas Sneezed]

Uh-oh. Look for contenders to get lower in quality...

---

Same T/C factory. Same employees, same designs. Ongoing improvement and innovation.

I doubt that the S&W execs that allegedly compromised quality 50 years ago are still around.

[ozzymandus]

S&W's quality decline didn't happen all at once 50 years ago, it's been a gradual process of cutting corners to make cheaper guns.

[Atlas Sneezed]

S&W's quality decline didn't happen all at once 50 years ago, it's been a gradual process of cutting corners to make cheaper guns.

---

Fair enough. But there is little reason to think that S&W is buying TC to cut its costs and quality. TC presumably makes good money, and there is no reason to tamper with it.