Ruger has bought Marlin from Remington

Zac Kurylyk in Guns on October 7, 2020

Longtime lever gun manufacturer Marlin is about to change ownership again. Sturm, Ruger and Co. has bought the company from Remington for $30 million.

As we told you earlier this year, Remington is currently in the middle of selling off its assets, due to its second bankruptcy in two years. There's considerable speculation this bankruptcy is tied to the company's involvement in a lawsuit with families of victims from the Sandy Hook mass shooting. True or not, the facts are: Remington is selling off parts of its company, and according to documents filed in federal court, Ruger is hoping to buy Marlin.

Remington bought Marlin back in December, 2007, and immediately ran into problems. Marlin's production lines in Connecticut were a mess. Remington had to basically rebuild the whole manufacturing process when it started making the company's famous lever rifles in New York. Marlin firearms built early under Remington ownership had poor fit and finish, but that reputation turned around in recent years. Now, Remington builds Marlins in its Ilion, New York, plant.

That might change, under new Ruger ownership. Now, at least, if Ruger moves the Marlin production setup, everything has supposedly been modernized. It should be much easier to relocate now, with hopefully no dip in quality.

The rest of Remington

What about Remington's other subsidiaries? Supposedly Sierra wants to buy Barnes. JJE Capital Holdings is said to want DPMS, H&R, Stormlake, AAC, and Parker brands (remember H&R single-shots? Maybe this would mean we'd see them back on the market). Franklin Armory wants to acquire Bushmaster, and Sportsman's Warehouse wants to buy Tapco. Roundhill Group wants to buy up some other pieces.

While Remington flounders in crippling debt, forcing it into Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the rest of the US firearms industry is barreling forward at top speed. Thanks to pandemic fears and social unrest, 2020 has seen month after month of record-breaking guns and ammo sales. Remington might be in big financial trouble, but everyone else has lots of money to step in and take over.