Author Topic: Knight closing in June? (Read 3961 times)

BMoeller · « **on:** May 22, 2009, 12:21:12 PM »

Read this on predatormasters. Any truth?

coop2564 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 22, 2009, 01:16:37 PM »

Hope not, but rumors are flying heard it on several web sites the last few days!

Busta · « **Reply #2 on:** May 22, 2009, 04:36:30 PM »

Just ordered some parts from Knight yesterday morning, according to them they haven't heard a thing about it. $:-\$

1sourdough · « **Reply #3 on:** May 23, 2009, 09:38:05 AM »

I too hope it's not true. I may need some parts in the future. I'd like to help them but 3 Knights is enough for now.

1sourdough · « **Reply #4 on:** May 25, 2009, 12:51:41 AM »

A guy on another board posted an add about an auction at their property. It listed a bunch of guns & other stuff. So I guess there may be some truth to them shutting down.

slowfog · « **Reply #5 on:** May 26, 2009, 11:39:36 AM »

When Knight was based in Centerville, IA they had auctions on a regular basis, probably every couple years. They generally sold slow selling guns, special runs, overstock, or parts guns. They also sold old stocks and old accesories. The plant was moved a couple years ago but they kept the building and used it for storage I believe. They are having another auctions selling approx. 300 guns along with allot of the old stuff from the plant. My guess is they are going to clean out the old plant and sell it once and for all now that operation is up and running in there new location. The company that owns them also owns Green Mountain, Knight and Hale, along with several other companies. I suspect there isn't much to the closing rumors but I no longer know anyone who woks for them.

coop2564 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 27, 2009, 11:20:32 AM »

Just got some pretty reliable info that Knight does plan on shutting down temporary but only long enough to reorganize, trim the fat and come back and concentrate on a couple of new, well thought out models...and come back strong. Will see I guess!

manofthe45 · « **Reply #7 on:** May 27, 2009, 12:13:44 PM »

we have what 3 maybe 4 large in-line manufacturers and they all suffer from the same problem. Redigns for new models Eevery year. The number of new and buying a newer gun guys is lower than what they need to cover manufacturing costs let alone make a profit. so the cost for the new models is high and then the guys considering getting into the sport buy either good used guns or cheaper wolf cva knockoffs. They have cut their own throat when they enjoyed their golden days

Me I won't pay the new sticker price. I have been in the game to know what guys on the web have to buy the best and newest gun every year and buy their last years gun for alot less than new price.

Swampman · « **Reply #8 on:** May 27, 2009, 12:56:56 PM »

Quote

cheaper wolf cva knockoffs.

There's the problem. Folks would rather buy cheap garbage than pay a fair price for a quality American made product.

manofthe45 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 27, 2009, 01:42:50 PM »

To a point yes that is part of the problem. The flip side is that ML can be expensive to get into. Some states have a very short or limited season for in-lines. Here in PA our muzzleloader season is one week restricted to does only and only for zones in which you have a doe tag. Not to confuse we do have a flintlock season which runs two weeks after christmas where a buck can be harvested.

Let me give you a hypothetical situation:

I move from PA where I use a PA Special (Remington pump in 30/06) to Ohio where Rifles for deer are not allowed. I have never used a sluggun or in-line, but hey blackpowder looks fun and I would be challenged by a single shot. I drive to the local cabelas, basspro, gander, (put whom ever you like here) to check them out. I walk down the aisle whwere they are al racked up and wow these things are pretty. A KNight elite catches my eye it shoulders well my eyes fall right in line with those fiber optic sights I lift the price tag and what the ...................... It goes back on the shelf. What about that T/C truimph sitting beside it. Shoulder it. hey I really like this thumbhole and no tools needed to disasemble. Do I want to look? Holy .... I am going to the rifle section to look for a decent combo shottie. No powder to buy no worries did I grab my reloaders or am i going to have time to clean it tonight, who is going to teach me how to do this? Wait whats this on the end cap. I never heard of wolf but it looks just like that CVA optima and in a bundle package with everything i need but powder and primers for less than 180 bucks and I already have an extra scope in the safe from when I sold the pump and hey if i like it i will upgrade in a year or two when I know what i am doing.

Depends how you look at it I guess. A sale to the US guys lost, but still a newcomer to the ranks of muzzleloaders.

I live close (way to close) to a cabelas store in SE PA. In the months of sept til jan they will have endcaps and bins packed full of these wolf blister packs that are wiped out time and time again. Sure they sell alot of t/c omega's and triumph's and prohunters, but these wolf's fly off the shelf. Heck even the new black diamonds that T/C has made for as long asI care to remember still run 275

Me. Well when asked by guys looking to get into our PA season cheap i recommend the good old NEF.

Reese · « **Reply #10 on:** May 28, 2009, 09:50:11 AM »

I am going a bit off topic. Manofthe45, I just wanted to comment that you don't have to move that far to not be allowed to hunt deer with a center fire rifle. I live and hunt in the Special Regulations area in PA, not too far from you. We cannot use a center fire rifle for deer hunting so I use a quality inline muzzleloader and don't feel a bit disadvantaged doing so. The "no quick follow up shot" fear was put to rest the first season I got serious using a muzzleloader. The Special Regulation area allows for two weeks of Antlered (a couple more if using a flintlock after Christmas) and almost nine weeks of Antlerless using an inline.

coop2564 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 28, 2009, 12:30:14 PM »

NOTICE:
Today, May 28, 2009, KNIGHT RIFLES Announced That They Will Be Ceasing Operations. We Do Not Know At This Time If This Will Be A Permanent Closure Or If The Company Plans To Restructure And Reopen At A Later Date. Watch For More Details On This Website The Week Of June 1st.

http://www.knightmlhunt.com/

manofthe45 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 28, 2009, 02:43:04 PM »

Reese I AM MINUTES FROm the very special regs area of which you speak of. I have hunted public land inrifle season armed with a t/c renegade flinter and a cheap cva caplock. I love my omega th with 25 acp plug and cabelas ml scope. When I do my part it is almost a half inch gun at 100 yards, but I have shot ml since my early teens. My point was that since. They do not offer budget pckages. Your fathers with two kids in sports that gets to hunt a couple hours a week will buy a budget gun to decide if they like it over a several hundred dollar gun investment for short seasons

Reese · « **Reply #13 on:** May 29, 2009, 04:02:10 AM »

Your point is well taken. No argument here. I have several friends that would only get in to muzzleloading as cheap as they could because to them, it was a one week in October deal. I have helped them set up their rifles to their liking. I showed them what I like and use and let them pick and choose what appealed to them.

jjas · « **Reply #14 on:** June 01, 2009, 04:34:46 AM »

Here's the latest I've found on the subject:

http://www.gunsandhunting.com/Knight.html

Jim

nomosendero · « **Reply #15 on:** June 03, 2009, 03:44:36 PM »

Yea, I am still waiting for that June 1st announcement, whether Knight or hpmuzzleloading

Busta · « **Reply #16 on:** June 03, 2009, 05:24:25 PM »

Knight Rifles to Close

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Modern Muzzleloading, Inc. Press Release

Modern Muzzleloading, Inc. is announcing today that it will close its Knight Rifles division (“Knight”) in Decatur, AL effective June 30, 2009. The decision to close the Knight operation resulted from an overall industry downturn.

This closure will not affect service of Knight Rifles’ products. Customer service for wholesale and retail customers will be provided by Modern Muzzleloading, Inc. All warranty, non-warranty, and replacement part services will remain in place for the various customer categories and all customers will have access to experienced service personnel for consultation, questions, and repair of Knight products (in serviceable condition.) Sales of Knight’s parts and accessories will be also be handled by Modern Muzzleloading, Inc.

Until June 30, 2009, you are requested to continue to use your regular customer contacts and service department personnel. Prior to Knight’s closure on June 30, 2009, you will be provided with new customer service contact information.

Modern Muzzleloading, Inc. will continue to operate the office functions for Knight so as to provide continuity for its customers and vendors until resolution is concluded.

Knight Rifles’ management and staff would like to extend its appreciation to all of the Knight customers for the support of Knight’s products over the years.

Inquiries regarding the content of this press release should be directed to:

Lynn Schlichte or Tom Rainey @ (256) 260-8900 or via email at krcs@knightrifles.com

http://www.knightrifles.com/PressRoom/PressReleases/Knight_Rifles_to_Close

Nrut · « **Reply #17 on:** June 06, 2009, 07:11:24 PM »

Well Darn!..there goes that idea...

Busta · « **Reply #18 on:** June 07, 2009, 05:30:44 AM »

Quote from: Nrut on June 06, 2009, 07:11:24 PM

Well Darn!..there goes that idea...

What was your IDEA? You know you can't leave us hanging like that!

There are several models of Knights I still wouldn't be afraid to buy. I have 7 Knights, 3 Whites, 3 H&R/NEF's, all no longer made.

T/C is not selling may muzzleloaders either right now, they have had a couple big layoffs over the last year or so. They would probably be in the same boat had they not had the non sporting S&W firearms sales to fall back on that is carrying them through the hard times.

This Inline industry has been a boom for the last 15 to 20 years, Knights boom started around 5 years before the others. When Tony Knight sold the company, it was still doing well. It has been going down hill every since EBSCO purchased it and even faster when production was moved away from Centerville, IA. Knight got lax in their promotion of the good rifles they used to make, along came the T/C Omega, they got left in the dust, then more Spanish knock-offs. Then panic set in, they had way too many "next best things" on the table, they played ALL the cards (Revolution, Revolution II, Vision, KRB7, KP1, Shadow), and lost. Then along came the Triumph, never gave it much thought before, but there may be a reason it was called the TRIUMPH! EBSCO forgot WHO their Knight customers were and what they wanted to buy. Now I'm not saying that these rifles are not any good, they all do what they are designed to do and may be your favorite rifle. What I am saying is that they never I better quit, I could go on and on about how these Holding Groups and big Corporations ruin good Companies every day. I'll spare you!

nomosendero · « **Reply #19 on:** June 07, 2009, 07:42:41 AM »

Quote from: Busta on June 07, 2009, 05:30:44 AM

Quote from: Nrut on June 06, 2009, 07:11:24 PM
Well Darn!..there goes that idea...

What was your IDEA? You know you can't leave us hanging like that! There are several models of Knights I still wouldn't be afraid to buy. I have 7 Knights, 3 Whites, 3 H&R/NEF's, all no longer made.

T/C is not selling may muzzleloaders either right now, they have had a couple big layoffs over the last year or so. They would probably be in the same boat had they not had the non sporting S&W firearms sales to fall back on that is carrying them through the hard times.

This Inline industry has been a boom for the last 15 to 20 years, Knights boom started around 5 years before the others. When Tony Knight sold the company, it was still doing well. It has been going down hill every since EBSCO purchased it and even faster when production was moved away from Centerville, IA. Knight got lax in their promotion of the good rifles they used to make, along came the T/C Omega, they got left in the dust, then more Spanish knock-offs. Then panic set in, they had way too many "next best things" on the table, they played ALL the cards (Revolution, Revolution II, Vision, KRB7, KP1, Shadow), and lost. Then along came the Triumph, never gave it much thought before, but there may be a reason it was called the TRIUMPH! EBSCO forgot WHO their Knight customers were and what they wanted to buy. Now I'm not saying that these rifles are not any good, they all do what they are designed to do and may be your favorite rifle. What I am saying is that they never I better quit, I could go on and on about how these Holding Groups and big Corporations ruin good Companies every day. I'll spare you!

All of the above is true. There is another factor as well concerning overall muzzleloader sales & the reason that even TC is feeling it. there is an overall feeling among hunters/shooters out there that alot of the things they want will be outlawed soon. Not only semi auto rifles, but handguns, bolt guns so called "sniper rifles" & we all know about the massive ammo & reloader component buying. So, many have put some things like muzzleloaders on the backburner for awhile and have made a short term push on buying these items for now. I am one of those & have put off updating my
bow hunting setup & a new .50cal tube for my Encore until I have bought another handgun or two & some AR clips, etc.

coyotejoe · « **Reply #20 on:** June 12, 2009, 05:17:39 AM »

I think you're exactly right there nomosendero but it does seem to me that any well managed company should be able to ride out a temporary down turn without going belly up, the key phrase being "well managed".

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #21 on:** June 12, 2009, 07:00:51 AM »

I think you're right about the scare regarding firearms regulations, I know I've been directing my $$ to more centerfires. Also, there seems to be some market maturity in in-line muzzleloaders, we had a big boom from the early plunger guns to various other types of actions, but that has been exploited for the most part. Also at the higher price points of many mz's you're seeing people holding on to them longer, the Encore contributed a great deal in this regard. For Knights part they've been running behind on development for the past several years, too late to market with a multi-barrel gun,etc.

Nrut · « **Reply #22 on:** June 13, 2009, 09:02:46 PM »

Hello Busta...
My plan was to buy stainless KP1 with two 30-06 barrels and have one of the barrels re-bored and re-chambered to ether a .35 Whelen, 9.3X62, or a 38-90 (9.5X74R) and set it up with open sights...The KP1's didn't make it up here to Canada as far as I can find out...If the KP1 had been out for awhile and they had the little bugs worked out (trigger) I would still look for and buy one...With Knight going under and no factory support I will not chance it now...I see that new CVA Apex might fill the bill for what I am looking for...I am not interested in a Encore or H&R/NEF...
It is really to bad about Knight going under because of mismanagement esp. for all of those worker's..
Sad ....

Busta · « **Reply #23 on:** June 14, 2009, 04:19:10 AM »

Nrut,

They have a new rebounding hammer setup for the KP1's. I handled several at one of my favorite toy stores a couple weeks ago. Some had the older hammer w/safety on the side, some had the newer rebounding hammer without the hammer safety. I tried establishing a timeline with the serial #'s, but some of the lowest serial #'s had the newer hammer, and some with serial #'s real close had different hammers. So it is basically going to be impossible to determine what hammer it has, unless you can look at it in person, or if the person/company you are ordering it from knows the difference. I have also heard that the new hammers are set a little heavier than the previous ones. I think they have at least 3 different trigger/hammer groups, just too bad they didn't get it right the first time. They will be honoring the warranty, supplying parts, and servicing rifles. I have also heard through the grapevine that someone else may be taking a serious look at picking them up. I sure hope that is the case.

nomosendero · « **Reply #24 on:** June 14, 2009, 03:05:44 PM »

I have wondered about Rem, as they are now heavy into AR's, shotguns, bolt guns, Marlin & NEF, a MZ addition would be a natural. They just bought Dakota & to me this buy would be better, esp. if they have a pro to run it, get rid of the losers of the Knight line & just make the winners. Regardless of who buys Knight, I wish them success.

Swampman · « **Reply #25 on:** June 14, 2009, 03:40:29 PM »

I'd sure like to see Remington produce an inline smokeless version of the 700ML......with a walnut CDL or Classic stock.

Busta · « **Reply #26 on:** June 14, 2009, 04:01:03 PM »

Quote from: Swampman on June 14, 2009, 03:40:29 PM

I'd sure like to see Remington produce an inline smokeless version of the 700ML......with a walnut CDL or Classic stock.

They had their chance before Savage, but maybe they didn't take Henry Ball serious? The rest is history.

nomosendero · « **Reply #27 on:** June 14, 2009, 04:43:15 PM »

Quote from: Busta on June 14, 2009, 04:01:03 PM

Quote from: Swampman on June 14, 2009, 03:40:29 PM
I'd sure like to see Remington produce an inline smokeless version of the 700ML......with a walnut CDL or Classic stock.

They had their chance before Savage, but maybe they didn't take Henry Ball serious? The rest is history.

Indeed it is, at this point they are not in the MZ business.