Savage Arms, a local gun manufacturing company in Lakefield with a parent company in the USA, was bought last week by Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.
The announcement of this new acquisition was made on Wednesday October 21 by Smith and Wesson.
According to the press release, Savage Arms is a 132-year-old Westfield, Massachusetts-based maker of legendary rifles and shotguns. The Smith & Wesson Brands acquired the company from JDH Holdings for $160 million in a stock and cash transaction.
The release stated that this move will bring together two of the most recognized and respected names in American firearms manufacturing. It will unite Smith & Wesson’s strength in the handgun, revolver, and modern sporting rifle markets with Savage’s reputation for accuracy, innovation, and craftsmanship in the hunting and long-gun categories. This will create a compelling platform to generate sustainable, long-term growth.
The combined company will immediately rank as the largest commercial firearms manufacturer in the United States, with a full-line product offering spanning handguns, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, and suppressors. Savage brings roughly $160 million annual net sales and a dedicated, skilled workforce of approximately 500 to the Smith & Wesson family, strengthening the combined company’s position at a moment when consumer demand for American-made firearms across every category remains strong.
Smith and Wesson media representatives told the Herald, “For the Savage Arms community and employees, this transaction reflects the tremendous respect we have for the brand’s 132-year heritage, its loyal customers, and the talented team that has built its reputation for quality and performance. Savage’s manufacturing expertise, skilled workforce, and strong position in the hunting market were key reasons behind the acquisition, and we are excited about the opportunities that come from combining the experience and capabilities of both organizations. Most importantly, we remain committed to honouring the legacy that has made both brands successful while building an even stronger future together for employees, customers, business partners, and the broader firearms.”
Savage Arms representatives told the Herald that their business operations at the Lakefield facility will remain unchanged. They have no plans to relocate, and they remain committed to their employees, the community, and their local community partners.
The gun manufacturing company based in Lakefield currently employs about 240 people and will continue operating from Lakefield and building on the strong relationships they have established within the community.
Smith & Wesson’s media representatives said, “The acquisition of Savage Arms marks an exciting new chapter for both companies, bringing together two of the most respected and historic names in American firearms manufacturing. The combination is rooted in the strong complementarity of the two businesses, with Smith & Wesson’s leadership in handguns, revolvers, and modern sporting rifles paired with Savage Arms’ renowned expertise in hunting, bolt-action rifles, rimfire firearms, and shotguns. By combining these strengths, we have created a broader platform that allows us to better serve hunters, sport shooters, dealers, distributors, and consumers while accelerating innovation and supporting long-term growth.”
Savage and Smith & Wesson already sell through many of the same dealers, distributors, and big-box retail partners.
They share an overlapping base of hunters, competitive shooters, and everyday sportsmen and women across the country that trusts both brands.
According to the press release, few combinations in this industry carry the historical weight of this one. Smith & Wesson was founded in 1852 in Massachusetts; Savage Arms was founded in 1894, also in Massachusetts. Both companies have spent well over a century as fixtures of American manufacturing, innovation, and craftsmanship – arming hunters, sportsmen, and protectors across multiple generations. This is more than a financial transaction; it’s the union of two authentically American manufacturing stories, grounded in the same values of quality, durability, and performance that built this industry in the first place.
For more information, visit www.smith-wesson.com.
