On November 08, 2021, Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp announced that Remington Firearms will locate its global headquarters and open a new advanced manufacturing operation as well as a world-class research and development center in LaGrange, Georgia. Through these projects, RemArms will invest $100 million and create 856 jobs over a five-year period in Troup County.
“We are very excited to come to Georgia, a state that not only welcomes business but enthusiastically supports and welcomes companies in the firearms industry,” said Ken D’Arcy, RemArms CEO.
Founded in 1816, Remington Arms is one of the nation’s oldest firearms brands, operating for 205 years. Other firearms companies that make their homes in the Peach State include HK, Taurus, Daniel Defense, and Glock.
In October 2020, the Roundhill Group bought Remington’s non-Marlin gun business for $13 million, which included a plant in Ilion, NY, and operations in Lenoir City, Tennessee.
Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc., announced late last year that it would move its headquarters and a large portion of the company’s operations to Tennessee, relocating its headquarters and assembly operations from Springfield, Mass., to Maryville, Tenn. In 2023, S&W is expected to create 750 jobs in the state and invest more than $125 million to build a new state-of-the-art facility.
The firearms industry already employs nearly 7,800 people in Tennessee through direct or indirect jobs, and gun makers contribute more than $1.07 billion in economic impact. Also last year, Troy Manufacturing announced it was moving production from West Springfield, Mass., to Clarksville, Tenn. Beretta U.S.A. moved production from Maryland to Gallatin, Tenn., in 2016, and Barrett Firearms is headquartered in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Based on the Remington and S&W moves, one has to wonder when the industry-representative National Shooting Sports Foundation will move its headquarters from Newtown, Connecticut to a state friendlier to firearms manufacturing and ownership.
Passing of Alan Mossberg. On November 6, 2020, Alan Mossberg, chairman of O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc., passed away at his home in Tierra Verde, Florida. Mossberg, 89, was the grandson of O.F. Mossberg & Sons, Inc. founder, Oscar Mossberg. For the better part of the last 50 years, Alan Mossberg made the company into one of the world’s largest small-arms manufacturers. He was also a pioneer in the area of firearms safety. In 1989, he directed the company to ship a gun lock with every firearm that the company sold, which is now a common practice across the industry.
