No More Smith & Wesson?

[Dan20703]

Today, Smith & Wesson board members announced that they wanted shareholders to vote in favor of changing the name to American Outdoor Brands Corp.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/4020932 ... nd-gorilla

[Skiprr]

I don't think it'll be a big deal from the consumer--or historical--perspective. They want to create a holding company, and Smith & Wesson will remain one of the brands under that umbrella. "Smith & Wesson" will still be etched on the familiar firearms and the legacy won't go away.

Makes very good sense from a business perspective. Spikes in sales have driven revenues on a nice curve, and S&W has been making acquisitions that are complementary but outside of traditional firearm manufacturing...and I'm sure they want to continue to expand and diversify while the gettin' is good. They already own Crimson Trace, Caldwell, Tipton, Wheeler Engineering, and other brands, so trading and operating under a diversified holding company is better both in dealing with the banks and stock exchange as well as better for mergers and acquisitions. For example, if they wanted to go after another familiar firearm manufacturer, negotiations wouldn't necessarily be aided by the fact that "ABC Firearms" would now be owned by S&W, even if ABC were allowed to keep it's branding and (most) executives. American Outdoor Brands Corp. is much less threatening from a merger and acquisition perspective.

[steveincowtown]

It's Smith and Wesson Holdings that is asking for the name change. I imagine that the firearms holding will still go by Smith and Wesson. This indicates a desire to dramatically diversify their offerings as a holding company. I work for a hospice company. However, it is owned by a holding company of a different name. It owns hospices in several states that have different names, but we all work for the same company and are paid by the same company.

I couldn't read the whole article because it requires an app, however, I'd venture to say that S&W Holdings wants to get some companies started that offer outdoor products not associated with firearms. They want the audience for those to be as wide as possible. The name Smith and Wesson is associated with firearms and may detract certain buyers. It also protects the firearm brand Smith and Wesson (if they keep the firearms division/company the same) from dilution due to the expanded product offerings. Their knives, sold at AutoZone, are junk. I almost chose not to buy a Smith firearm for my first gun due to the junk knife I bought at Autozone.

Agreed on all points.

With regards to the knives, these are made by another company under a licensing agreement. Many companies do this and then fail to maintain quality standards on the products that bear their name.

[Abraham]

American Outdoor Brands Corp.

What a super generic, very forgettable, corporate garbage name.

[Dan20703]

American Outdoor Brands Corp.

What a super generic, very forgettable, corporate garbage name.

[puma guy]

Smith and Wesson has had many owners and parent companies - back in the 1960's it was Bangor Punta which I believe turned into an environmental entity then S&W was owned by Tomkins, then SafT hammer/lock which is now S&W holdings. The brand remained Smith and Wesson throughout and I imagine it will remain.

[Skiprr]

Smith and Wesson has had many owners and parent companies - back in the 1960's it was Bangor Punta which I believe turned into an environmental entity then S&W was owned by Tomkins, then SafT hammer/lock which is now S&W holdings. The brand remained Smith and Wesson throughout and I imagine it will remain.

Thank goodness it isn't called the Bangor Punta M&P series of rifles and pistols, or that there aren't handguns chambered in the .40 BP or the .500 BP Magnum. Flashback to Clint Eastwood getting all squinty-eyed and holding up a hand-cannon in front of a perp, stage whispering: "This is the Bangor Punta .44 Magnun revolver, the most powerful handgun in the world...."

[puma guy]

Smith and Wesson has had many owners and parent companies - back in the 1960's it was Bangor Punta which I believe turned into an environmental entity then S&W was owned by Tomkins, then SafT hammer/lock which is now S&W holdings. The brand remained Smith and Wesson throughout and I imagine it will remain.

Thank goodness it isn't called the Bangor Punta M&P series of rifles and pistols, or that there aren't handguns chambered in the .40 BP or the .500 BP Magnum. Flashback to Clint Eastwood getting all squinty-eyed and holding up a hand-cannon in front of a perp, stage whispering: "This is the Bangor Punta .44 Magnun revolver, the most powerful handgun in the world...."

Yeah! We all thought it was some South American Dictator's company.

[Pawpaw]

No Change at Smith & Wesson

The Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation announced today its intention to hold a special stockholders meeting on Dec. 13, 2016, to seek approval for a name change to the American Outdoor Brands Corporation.

This decision drew an outcry from many who believed the company was seeking to change the name of the historic Smith & Wesson brand, which has existed since 1852. According to the company, nothing could be farther from the truth.

“Yesterday, Smith & Wesson Holding Corp., which was formed in 2002, announced that it will be changing its name to American Outdoor Brands," said Shaun Phelan, director of sales & marketing for Smith & Wesson Firearms. "We want to make sure that our fans understand that Smith & Wesson Corp., the iconic and treasured firearms company with legendary roots back to 1852 will not change its name. Smith & Wesson Corp. (the company) and its firearms will remain exactly as they are today. Smith & Wesson is one of the greatest American brands of all time, and we wholly intend that it will remain so.”

The Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation consists of the following companies: Smith & Wesson Firearms, Thompson/Center Arms, Crimson Trace, Caldwell Shooting Supplies, Wheeler Engineering, Tipton Gun Cleaning Supplies, Frankford Arsenal Reloading Tools, Lockdown Vault Accessories, Hooyman Premium Tree Saws, BOG POD, Golden Rod Moisture Control, Schrade, Old Timer, Uncle Henry and Imperial.