Industry Notes

…Barack Obama’s presidential campaign has worked to assure uneasy gun owners that he believes the Constitution protects their rights and that he doesn’t want to take away their guns.

…While Green Bay Packers fans continue to debate whether Brett Favre will ever come back to play, the iconic quarterback has just finished filming two new commercials that will debut nationally in a few months.

…Are the two Democrat candidates misrepresenting their positions on gun rights to gain an edge in the Pennsylvania Democrat primary?

April 9, 2008—Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. has recalled Ruger SR9 pistols manufactured between October 2007 and April 2008. Problem: Under certain conditions, the pistols can fire if dropped with their manual safeties in the 'off' or 'fire' position and a round in the chamber. The pistols will not fire if the manual safety is in the 'on' or 'safe' position. …

Wal-Mart has agreed to adopt a 10-point retailing system pushed by the anti-gun group Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Wal-Mart, the largest seller of firearms in the nation, cooperated in the drafting of and adopted what the Mayors Against Illegal Guns group calls the Responsible Firearms Retailer Partnership. …

Suffield, CT - April 11, 2008 - Savage has announced a new chambering for its precision rifles. For 2008, the following 12 Series Varmint rifles are available in 6 Norma BR: Model 12 Long Range Precision Varminter single shot and repeater models, and the Model 12F Class benchrest model. The Model 12 Long Range Precision Varminters are chambered in 223 Rem, 22-250 Rem, 204 Ruger, and the new round, the 6 Norma BR.

Max Michel and Kay Clark Miculek captured the Men’s and Women’s titles the 2008 U.S. National Steel Championships. The match, now in its second year, was held at the Skip-J Range in Anderson, South Carolina, with 90 shooters competing.

Remington Arms today announced four marketing and sales organizational changes, effective immediately. Bill Schirmacher, who was with Marlin for 36 years, joins Remington as director of brand management and product development for Marlin and H&R/New England Firearms. Jay Stuart, currently serving as director of Remington sales-west, assumes a newly created role as director, business development, focusing on managing all brands (Remington, Marlin and H&R 1871) and product categories with Wal-Mart. …

ONALASKA, Wis. – Shooters Ridge introduces the new Gorilla Range Bag. The Gorilla Range Bag (MSRP: $74.49) is a sectional, filled rest that can be used in eight different configurations. Available in the spring 2008.

…Total firearm production in 2006 increased 3.3 percent, following a 4-percent uptick in 2005. Pistol and rifle production increased the most in 2006, while shotguns posted a slight increase, and revolvers a 14-percent decline.

…The Sa vz. 58 was developed by Ing. Jiri Cermak in 1956 and 1957, adopted by the Czechoslovakian army in 1958. and was produced by Ceska Zbrojovka in Uhersky Brod, Czechoslovakia until 1983.

Smith & Wesson Corp., announced today that it has entered into an agreement with the online training company 3point5.com to provide retail sales training support for the Company’s Smith & Wesson, Walther and Thompson/Center Arms products.