Maryland Natural Resources Police Convert to Smith & Wesson M&P Pistol

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Aug. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: SWHC), parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp., the legendary 157-year old company in the global business of safety, security, protection and sport, announced today that the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) has equipped its entire officer force with primary duty side arms from Smith & Wesson’s Military & Police (M&P) Series of advanced-design polymer pistols. The Smith & Wesson M&P40, chambered in .40 S&W, will be issued to each officer of the Maryland NRP to replace currently issued non-Smith & Wesson firearms supplied by a European-based manufacturer.

Officials at the Maryland NRP indicated that the M&P pistol incorporates several key features that are valuable for their officers, including enhanced ergonomics and ambidextrous controls. The department added that the polymer pistol’s interchangeable grip sizes and ease of maintenance, as well as the officers’ ability to disassemble the firearm without pressing the trigger were all key factors in their decision-making process.

Other full-conversion in-state police departments and agencies that have selected the M&P pistol for use in Maryland include the Charles County Police Department, the Gaithersburg Police Department, Howard County Probation, Queen Anne’s County Police Department, Seat Pleasant Police Department, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office and the Greenbelt Police Department. The contract with Maryland DNR represents the first Maryland state agency that has converted to the M&P Series of pistols.

Leland Nichols, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Smith & Wesson said, “We are extremely pleased with the continued success that the M&P pistol has achieved in police departments across the nation. Contracts from sizeable state agencies such as the Maryland NRP not only provide a respected endorsement for the M&P Series, but they also allow other departments within the state the ability to access the testing and evaluation results. This often saves smaller agencies the time, expenses and manpower of conducting their own analyses.”

The M&P pistol features a Zytel polymer frame reinforced with a rigid stainless steel chassis and a through-hardened black Melonite finished stainless steel barrel and slide for durability; a passive trigger safety to prevent the pistol from firing if dropped; and a sear release lever that eliminates the need to press the trigger in order to disassemble the firearm. A loaded chamber indicator is located on top of the slide. The firearm also features an ambidextrous slide stop and a reversible magazine release, as well as an enlarged trigger guard designed to accommodate gloves. The M&P40 has a 15 + 1 capacity and the Smith & Wesson lifetime service policy is standard with each pistol. The M&P pistol series is available in 9mm, .40S&W, .357SIG, and .45ACP calibers. Compact versions of the M&P pistol are also available for concealed carry and back-up use.

Read more

Rocky Brands Announces GSA Footwear Order

Under the terms of the blanket purchase agreement, the GSA has the right to purchase approximately $29 million of these boots through July 2014. The Company has received an initial order to produce 205,000 pairs of these boots with an approximate value of $14.5 million. Shipment of this order is expected to begin in September 2009. All of these boots will be manufactured in the Company’s factory in Moca, Puerto Rico.

Mike Brooks, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are very pleased to have been awarded this contract to produce high quality boots for the GSA. Importantly, production of these insulated boots will allow us to better utilize our company-operated manufacturing facility in Puerto Rico and should help reduce manufacturing costs going forward, particularly during our slower selling seasons.”

About Rocky Brands, Inc.

Rocky Brands, Inc. is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of premium quality footwear and apparel marketed under a portfolio of well recognized brand names including Rocky Outdoor Gear®, Georgia Boot®, Durango®, Lehigh®, and the licensed brands Dickies®, Michelin® and Mossy Oak®.

Read more

Ammo Shortage on CNN video

Quarterly Firearm and Ammunition Excise Taxes Up 43%

NEWTOWN, Conn., July 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — During a time period of great economic uncertainty, firearm and ammunition sales have continued to increase throughout the country.

 

According to the most recent Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Collection Report, released earlier today by the Department of the Treasury, firearm and ammunition manufacturers paid more than $109.8 million in the first calendar quarter of 2009; up 43% over the same time period reported in 2008.

 

This dramatic increase follows a 31.3 percent increase in excise taxes from the previous quarter (4Q, 2008) and eight straight months of increased FBI background checks – another strong indicator of firearm sales.

 

A third reliable source, the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA), reported that in 2008, “Hunting and Firearms” equipment was the only category to grow double digits and only one of seven categories that exhibited growth. NSGA’s forecast for 2009 shows “Hunting and Firearms” as one of only two categories to exhibit growth.

 

Manufacturers of firearms and ammunition pay a federal excise tax — a major source of wildlife conservation funding — on all firearms and ammunition manufactured (11% on long guns and ammunition and 10% on handguns).

 

This latest excise tax report, which covers the time period of January 1, 2009 through March 31, 2009, shows that $33.0 million was collected in taxes for pistols and revolvers, $38.9 million for long guns and $37.8 million for ammunition. Compared to the same quarter in 2008, collections were up 65.5% for handguns, 42.9% for ammunition and 28.3% for long guns.

 

Translation to sales:

Using the latest collections as an indicator of sales, a projection of $1.03 billion was generated in the first quarter (calendar year) of 2009. Please keep in mind that although excise taxes are one of the best indicators of industry performance, they only report what the manufacturers paid in taxes and do NOT reflect retail mark-up and final retail sales.

 

Pistols and revolvers: $33,043,554.83 / .10 = $330,435,548.30 = $330.4 million for handguns

Long guns: $38,979,972.16 / .11 = $354,363,383.27 = $354.3 million for long guns

Ammunition: $37,846,038.52 / .11 = $344,054,895.64 = $344.0 million for ammunition

Total estimation for the quarter: $1.028 billion

SOURCE National Shooting Sports Foundation

Cabela’s profit tops expectations

CHICAGO, July 30 (Reuters) – Outdoor gear retailer Cabela’s Inc (CAB.N) posted a bigger-than-expected 25 percent increase in quarterly profit, helped by cost-cuts and demand for hunting equipment, sending its shares to their highest in almost two years.

The company also raised its 2009 revenue outlook and said earnings for the year could top last year’s earnings.

“These guys had what appears to be a fantastic quarter,” Feltl and Co analyst Mark Smith said, citing strength across all segments, especially the hunting equipment category, and better-than-expected results within the credit card business.

“The fact that they’re talking about ‘if this momentum continues we’ll see earnings growth’ is very good news for investors,” added Smith, who has a “buy” rating on the stock.

Cabela’s sells gear and apparel for fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities in stores, through its catalog and on the Web. In recent quarters, sales of firearms and ammunition have given results a boost, but charge-offs at its financial services arm have cut into profit.

Read more here:

Outdoor Channel Holdings to Host 2009 Second Quarter Conference Call on August 4

TEMECULA, Calif., July 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Outdoor Channel Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: OUTD) today announced that management will host its regular quarterly investor conference call at 2 p.m. PDT (5 p.m. EDT) on Tuesday, August 4, 2009, to review the financial results for its 2009 second quarter ended June 30, 2009. Investment professionals are invited to participate in the live call by dialing 866-713-8310 (domestic) or 617-597-5308 (international) and using participant passcode 95894795. The call will be open to all other interested parties through a live, listen-only audio Internet broadcast in the Investor Relations section of the company’s Web site, www.outdoorchannel.com. For those who are not available to listen to the live broadcast, the call will be archived online for one year. A telephonic playback of the conference call also will be available through Tuesday, August 11, 2009, by calling 888-286-8010 (domestic) or 617-801-6888 (international) and using participant passcode 57390283.

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Earnings of 46¢ Per Share and Declares Dividend of 12.3¢ Per Share

July 29, 2009

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE-RGR) announced today that for the second quarter of 2009, the Company reported net sales of $72.4 million and earnings of 46¢ per share, compared with sales of $38.7 million and earnings of 5¢ per share in the second quarter of 2008.

For the six months ended July 4, 2009, net sales were $135.9 million and earnings were 76¢ per share. For the corresponding period in 2008, net sales were $81.2 million and earnings were 12¢ per share.

The Company also announced today that its Board of Directors declared a dividend of 12.3¢ per share for the second quarter, for shareholders of record as of August 14, 2009, payable on August 28, 2009. The amount of the dividend was based on a percentage of Operating Profit after adjustment for certain items, the same approach used by the Company last quarter when it declared its first dividend in over three years. Under this approach, the amount of the quarterly dividend fluctuates directly with certain operating results of the Company.

Read the rest here:

S&W earns both “Rifle and Manufacturer of the year”

Smith & Wesson News

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts— Smith & Wesson Corp., announced today that it has received top awards in two categories from the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence. Smith & Wesson was named the “Manufacturer of the Year” and also received the “Rifle of the Year” award for the company’s M&P15 MOE (Magpul Original Equipment) tactical rifle.

To read more click here:

Scientists to investigate wind power impacts on migratory wildlife

Racine, WI & Ithaca, NY -Thirty top wildlife scientists have announced agreement on some of the highest research priorities to help America’s rapidly growing wind energy industry produce much-needed alternative energy-while also providing safe passage for birds and bats. This coalition of scientists from industry, government, nongovernmental organizations, and universities met recently in Racine, Wisconsin, to address unanswered questions about how continued wind energy development will affect migrating birds and bats. The meeting was hosted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the American Bird Conservancy, and The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread.

“We see great potential in wind energy for addressing global climate change and reducing America’s reliance on fossil fuels,” said Dr. Michael Fry of the American Bird Conservancy. “It’s critical we act now to understand the interactions between wind energy installations and birds and bats.”

“What are you buying”?

« Previous Page — Next Page »