Knight closing up shop

[captchee]

ha , heard a roomer that nights is closing its doors
Knight Rifles will be ceasing operations on June 30th, 2009
anyone know if this is true or not ?

[GF.]

But as a friend in the energy business said when Enron went down...


'It just couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of people...' :rolleyes:

[Smokey]

I still hate to see any gun company go down. But a lot of companies are struggling in these times.

[ncboman]

I did a news search on it and didn't see anything.

ncboman

[captchee]

thats the reason i ask .
not only have i read a post concerning this but i also talked to a man this weekend who said that he called them and was told that after Knight Rifles will be ceasing operations on June 30th, 2009

now im not sure i have this right , as i know diddle about what knight has but im thinking he said he was going to buy a shadow ?
and that they had stopped making them even though they were still in the latest cataloge

[Twanger]

Well, if you've just gotta have a Knight, you better buy two so you can use one as spare parts.

I own 4 White Rifles muzzleloaders for just that reason... :D

[ncboman]

:rolleyes:

Does owning four Whites make up for missing the Ohio rut? :D

ncboman

[alan]

Wasn't Knight purchased by a foreign company about a year ago? If that's so, why would they shut down rather than just flip it?

[Twanger]

:rolleyes:

Does owning four Whites make up for missing the Ohio rut? :D

ncboman

Nooooooo...... but this 140-class 11 pointer took the sting out of missing it last year. :D

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/walt_11ptr_small.jpg

I would love to go to Ohio... I really enjoyed it. Hunting the big open spaces with your wits (and no corn) is difficult, but very gratifying.

[Little Buck]

Web rumor on most sites is that they are going to close for a while and "restructure."

Hate to see this happen. Personally, I feel that they are T/C's only true competition. A competition they've not been doing too well at lately. I think they over-extended themselves by trying to get into the tip open ML race. If they would concentrate a couple of truly high quality models and the TK2000, I think they'd probably be better off.

If they would keep the Extreme, the TK, the KRB, release their new rifle, and ditch all the other stuff they'd be better off.

But, then again, just my thoughts. Guess that's why I don't own a ML'er company.

LB

[Twanger]

Savage has been doing pretty well with their 10MLII.
A buddy just bought one... I may get to 'fondle' it Sunday.
Might even shoot it if he gets powder/bullets.

[ncboman]

I guess it's official.


June 1 , 2009

Good Night, Knight Rifles




During the recent NRA Annual Meetings, Americanrifleman.org/Americanhunter.org learned that Knight Rifles is closing its doors after 24 years as a key American firearms manufacturer. That news was confirmed late last week via an announcement from Modern Muzzleloading, Inc., a related subsidiary under corporate parent, Pradco Outdoor Brands/EBSCO. The press release stated, “The decision to close the Knight operation resulted from an overall industry downturn.” Reportedly Knight sales had declined sharply in recent years and efforts to sell the brand and company assets were unsuccessful.

The release indicated Knight owners would not be abandoned. “All warranty, non-warranty, and replacement part services will remain in place…and all customers will have access to experienced service personnel for consultation, questions and repair of Knight products (in serviceable condition).” Additionally, Modern Muzzleloading will continue to offer Knight parts and accessories, according to the announcement.

From the time of introduction in 1985, Knight’s inline muzzleloaders exerted a profound effect on the American hunting scene. Founder Tony Knight’s ingenious adaptation of a largely forgotten, 180-year-old muzzleloader design attracted deer hunters in droves thanks to modern lines and ease of operation. In short order other firms co-opted the inline concept, and the resulting new class of firearms tallied big sales. This led to a resurgence in muzzleloading as big-game hunters across the nation equipped themselves to take advantage of blackpowder-only seasons.

Like millions of other American hunters, I took advantage of the muzzleloading boom to spend many more days afield, and accordingly Knight muzzleloaders played a big part in my sporting life. Using the early MK-85 model I tracked deer in snow during late seasons, and later used a Magnum Elite to kill my first 6x6 bull elk. Subsequently I used Knights to take mule deer, pronghorns, black bears, wild hogs and many more whitetails. For me—as I expect will be the case for others—the news of Knight Rifles’ demise is like learning about the loss of an old friend.

—John Zent, Editorial Director

ncboman

[captchee]

i dont think Savage is to far behind knight , to tell you the truth .
the development costs , added to the liability insurance of the ML10 has to be un real .
Would be interesting to see what the company projection is for turning a profit on that design .

Im slowly seeing the same thing happen to the modern folks that happened to the traditional shooters back in the 1970’s and 80’s
I cant help but wonder who will it come down to ?
Surly , TC , Pedersoli , will CVA hold on in the modern market ?
What im getting at here is that we have seen these bigger name companies quitly stop producing .
Remington , Browning , Ithaca , Winchester.

Truly I can help but wonder if savage is in any better of a spot then knight

[ncboman]

I doubt Savage is any better off.

In a war of attrition, ongoing high insurance and high prices of raw materials spell doom, insurance being the killer.

The only sector not bleeding right now is the insurance business and I doan see the guberment doing anything about it, in fact it seems the guberment is at war with private enterprise.

ncboman

[Twanger]

I just took a look at the Savage 10MLII on Sunday.
It was very well made. If it shoots like it looks it should be sweeeeeet! :D

I hope to shoot it on Saturday.

[captchee]

well you better grab one the twanger , .
i did alittle snooping . now i dont know what all this means but it doesnt sound good .
this 1/4ly report was from the end of april 2009


WE MAY BE SUBJECT TO SIGNIFICANT CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

In connection with the sale of former operations in November 1995, our
subsidiary Intelect Communications Systems Limited agreed to indemnify Savage
Sports Corporation, the purchaser of Savage Arms, Inc. (a manufacturer of fire
arms) for potential losses associated with product liability, environmental
matters, employee matters and other similar items. Certain of these indemnity
obligations survive indefinitely. A finding of liability against Intelect
Communications Systems Limited could materially adversely affect our business,
results of operations, and financial condition. Furthermore, we could incur
substantial costs (including the diversion of the attention of management) in
defending lawsuits relating to these indemnity obligations.

One of the liabilities assumed in the 1995 sale involves a firearms product
liability lawsuit which one defendant, Western Auto Supply Co., settled for $5
million and, in turn, has asserted a third-party claim against Savage Arms, Inc.
for indemnification in the amount of the settlement plus attorneys' fees and
related costs (the "Taylor litigation"). Savage Arms has asserted defenses to
the claims and we believe additional defenses may be available. Based on the
information available to date, it is impossible to predict the outcome of this
litigation or to assess the probability of any verdict.

Savage Sports Corporation also seeks indemnification for certain other
products liability claims. Intelect Communications Systems Limited has
undertaken the defense of a lawsuit filed against Savage Arms, Inc. by Emhart
Industries, Inc. in the United States District Court for the District of

Massachusetts, in which Emhart requests indemnification from Savage Arms (to
date, approximately $2.2 million). We have asserted additional defenses. The
parties are in discovery and we cannot at this time predict the outcome of the
litigation.

An adverse outcome in the Taylor or Emhart litigation would materially
adversely affect our financial condition and the results of operation.

[ADK Jakes]

Say it aint so...I love my Disc Extreme!

[ncboman]

So, does the value of a Knight rifle, or Savage for that matter, go up or down? :rolleyes:

[captchee]

well officialy ?? i dont know . i do watch the pawn shops and such for used rifles . for the most part , the modern rifles are very cheep , 100 bucks or so . doesnt really seem to mater unless its a TC .

but as of late i have seen the asking price for older rifles climbing ,in some cases drasticly climbing . so mybe the same thing will also happen to the Knight rifles ?? only time will tell