I recently published a teaser ad that suggested a cooperative effort between Detroit Gun Works, Blackhawk! and Kroll International. I speculated that Detroit Gun Works would be building an AR-style rifle. Well, it now looks like Detroit Gun Works will not be at the SHOT Show and may not be making any products with their brand on it in the near future.
In a statement published on their website, Detroit Gun Works stated they will not be at the 2013 SHOT Show, and they will not be making lowers or rifles with the company name on them.
Detroit Gun Works stated that the company is continuing to make components. Also, the company states they are not “…currently manufacturing lowers with the Detroit Gun Works name on them.” To me, this suggests they are still cranking out AR lowers, but for someone else exclusively.
The stated reason for the company’s shift is a “strategic business decisions (sic) to refocus on our strengths.” This could obviously mean many things, such as a new business deal to provide lowers to a larger company that would eat up all of their manufacturing capacity. It could also mean that the company believes the market for the AR-platform will soon dry up due to future anti-gun legislation. There may also be some other reason, or combination of reasons, to cause the company to make a significant shift.
I do not envy any company in the industry right now. Between a suppressed economy and the potential for devastating legislation, there are a lot of unknowns to deal with. Piloting a gun company right now is a bit like trying to take a ship into an unknown, uncharted harbor: you know where you want to go, but there is a lot of dangerous territory between here and there.
I am disappointed that the company will not be be bringing a .308 or .300 BLACKOUT rifle to the market in 2013, but can understand that the health of the company comes before my own desires to see an expansion of the AR market.
Surviving the Street: Guide to Concealed Carry of a Firearm
Essential information on concealed carry. This book has just the basics - not a lot of fluff to get bogged down in. Easy to read, Surviving the Street introduces the reader to the important information you need as an armed citizen.
The author presents frank information about self defense in a way that is easy to understand and use.
About Richard
Richard Johnson is a gun writer, police trainer and really bad joke teller. Check out his other writing on sites like Human Events, The Firearm Blog and BlueSheepdog.
Dude, this sucks. I was hoping to get one of their 308 lowers! I didn’t know they were working on a .300 AAC also… lame.
Too bad. After seeing the Kroll ad, I was looking forward to seeing what they showed at the SHOT Show. This will be my second year at SHOT (crap that place is big), and I loved seeing all the new stuff. I guess something from DGW will not be on the agenda.