Smith & Wesson Ditches Massachusetts For Move To Tennessee
BY Herschel Smith
3 years, 2 months ago
Less than six months after gunmaker Kimber Mfg. moved from New York to Alabama due in part to ‘gun and business-friendly support’ from the red state, Smith & Wesson is moving out of Massachusetts – and will relocate its headquarters to Maryville, Tennessee in 2023, according to Bloomberg.
The nation’s largest gun manufacturer cited restrictive legislation currently under consideration in Mass., which if enacted, would prohibit the company from manufacturing certain guns in the state they’ve called home for nearly 170 years.
“These bills would prevent Smith & Wesson from manufacturing firearms that are legal in almost every state in America and that are safely used by tens of millions of law-abiding citizens every day exercising their Constitutional 2nd Amendment rights, protecting themselves and their families, and enjoying the shooting sports,” said SWBI CEO Mark Smith.
“While we are hopeful that this arbitrary and damaging legislation will be defeated in this session, these products made up over 60% of our revenue last year, and the unfortunate likelihood that such restrictions would be raised again led to a review of the best path forward for Smith & Wesson,” he added.
The move will bring 750 jobs to Maryville, along with a $125 million investment, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development.
Lower cost of living was also a factor in the move, according to Smith.
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said in a statement that the move will cost the city 550 job, which he described as ‘devastating’ for the families involved. The city said they would attempt to work with the gunmaker to try and retain 1,000 remaining jobs.
According to a person familiar with the move, the company will keep some production in Springfield.
The good. S&W is moving. What took you so long? You should have made this move a long time ago to grab a part of Gun Valley Moves South (and here is Part II).
The bad. You should have made this move a long time ago. You waited too long, just at the time when housing prices are at a peak.
The ugly. You’re leaving some manufacturing in Massachusetts. This is a bad move, and you’ll live to regret it, from unionization from one plant to another, to further restrictions on firearms manufacturing. What – you don’t really think this is the last, do you? It’s better to get it all done at one time.
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On October 1, 2021 at 7:13 am, Lord T said:
I agree with you but we had a similar things, not gun related, when legislation was enacted against our business, and the Management team decided to move the workforce but kept the management there at the original site because they didn’t want to move.
Less them making a point but more they are making decisions that suit them personally. They will get hit later but that is for the shareholders to worry about. The management simply don’t want to move.
On October 1, 2021 at 7:27 am, Matt said:
I agree they should have moved at once. Devastating to the town of Springfield? Let me play the worlds smallest violin for them. They voted for the crap they’re getting. Feeling some pain just might make people angry enough to do something about their own nonsense.
On October 1, 2021 at 12:57 pm, ExpatNJ said:
“leaving some manufacturing in Massachusetts”
Could this be a requirement of their current union contract, until it runs out?
“city would attempt to work with gunmaker to try and retain remaining jobs.”
Lip-service. Let me know if the city truly gets serious, and busts-down the doors of MASS legislators. I’ll be over here …
Matt said: “… They voted for the crap they’re getting …”
Did they really?? Some might argue about the validity of those votes after what we now know about the 2020 POTUS election and recent CA Gruesome recall.
MA State Legislators are virtually all ‘blue’. It is duplicitous – but not unexpected – of them to *say* they are pro-worker, yet enact ‘laws’ which hurt workers. Understandable, as they have to maintain both the commie narrative and disarmament initiative, after all.
I hope The South will welcome S&W with open arms. But, their relocation will mean NOTHING if they continue to sell arms to governments in The North.
On October 1, 2021 at 2:23 pm, RCW said:
Living in MD (not for much longer), this situation reminds me of Beretta bailing to TN for similar reasons several years ago. Either the citizens voted for it (maybe) or if not, then they tolerated it, effectively condoning the legislative/executive shenanigans & tomfoolery.
A more powerful message would have been sent and felt if S&W management had moved ALL operations (manufacturing, marketing, logistics, G&A), but not altogether surprising since S&W is no longer an all-American company.
On October 1, 2021 at 9:21 pm, Fred said:
Well, they’re a global and publicly traded company. I fully expect them to, what appears to normal people, mess this up. I wonder if they’ve considered, that being a fully submitted corporate entity of the State, that folks down here, especially in trades and skilled trades, don’t where the face diaper devils phylactery and they ain’t exactly lining up for the shot either. I’m certain the chambers of commerce and “public-private partnership” has sold them on the idea of a capable workforce. Before the government nationalized personal health that was very well true, but there is zero lack of skilled trades work available already where no shot is mandated. Oh well. But, they can probably hire the same retards who still think the NRA is pro gun, to work there fully “vaccinated” and wearing masks.
We could have had liberty and justice for all but now we’re stuck with upholding safety for all.
Two years ago I would have been excited about this, maybe even considered working there but now I’m past 100% done with the globalist unified robotic ruleset for all. Hey, maybe they can hire all the fags, the global cabal loves inflicting faggetry on normal people. Yeah, it’ll be great.
On October 1, 2021 at 9:45 pm, Joe Blow said:
I live outside Maryville in Roane County.
This is fantastic news. Very excited.
On October 3, 2021 at 4:58 am, Roger J said:
The revolver manufacturing is staying in Springfield, according to industry reports. Building revolvers is a craft, as well as a technology and science. It is easier to make semi-auto pistols, especially now with CNC machining centers. Remember the Marlin lever action fiasco, when they fired all the experienced people in North Haven? No one wants a new Marlin – maybe that will change with Ruger picking it up. As much as I hate Mass. (I lived there for a few years because of my job) I am glad that the guys with experience in Springfield will continue to build S&W revolvers.