Why Knight went out of business (maybe).

[Forestclimber]

This is just a wild guess, so don't take it for the pure truth why Knight went out of business, or at least it may be part of the reason.  Knight and Green Mountain are the same company now.  I think with the war in Iraq, Green Mountain got a big order to manufacture army rifle barrels.  That may also explain why nobody can get the T/C drop-in barrels any more.  It's a business, and like all businesses, they are open to make money.  

[Redhawk1]

Knight went under because not many people bought there guns. Bottom line.

[builder459]

Knight had several rifles that were flops which decreased thier sales. and with the global market competition making cheap guns they failed.Smith bought T/C which was a good thing and they started making more reasonably priced rifles of good quality,doin that has kept them competitive in the M/L market.it's a shame Knight made some nice rifles.

[hunt-m-up]

Knight went from a position of leadership and innovation to chasing the pack with poor designs and construction, sounds like some car companies I know...

[str8shooter48]

Knight went from a position of leadership and innovation to chasing the pack with poor designs and construction, sounds like some car companies I know...

Yea like Toyota I wonder if the ever redesigned a gas pedal to work with a floor mat.

[Urban_Redneck]

Knight went under because not many people bought there guns. Bottom line.

Seems to me they stayed too long with the discs and plunger design.

[Swampman]

They are still about as good as it get IMO.  The Savage is better but pretty expensive.

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

Knight went from a position of leadership and innovation to chasing the pack with poor designs and construction, sounds like some car companies I know...

Yea like Toyota I wonder if the ever redesigned a gas pedal to work with a floor mat.

Dont ya know thats easily fixable with a hacksaw?!!

[alsaqr]

Knight had several rifles that were flops which decreased thier sales.

Exactly.   These were the culprits:

1.  The Knight Revolution.
2.  The Knight Revolution II.
3.  The KP1.
4.  That .52 caliber power stem thing. 
5.  The KRB.   

[quickdtoo]

This is just a wild guess, so don't take it for the pure truth why Knight went out of business, or at least it may be part of the reason.  Knight and Green Mountain are the same company now.  I think with the war in Iraq, Green Mountain got a big order to manufacture army rifle barrels.  That may also explain why nobody can get the T/C drop-in barrels any more.  It's a business, and like all businesses, they are open to make money. 

Knight isn't out of business, they quit making rifles, but they're still alive and well, maybe not well, but still open for business.

Tim

http://www.knightrifles.com/

An Important Message from Knight Rifles

 We would like to thank all of our loyal customers: past, present and future. Knight Rifles is no longer producing or selling any guns. However, we will continue to produce and sell parts and accessories for your Knight Rifles. We plan to continue in this role for the foreseeable future.

To express our appreciation for being Knight customers, we would like to announce that ALL ORDERS PLACED ON THE WEBSITE will receive a 10% discount over retail prices.  This will take effect immediately and will continue until further notice.

We would also like to restate that our Technical Support and Warranty departments are still fully operational. 

[Redhawk1]

I'll pass and stick to Savage and my Encore.

[Swampman]

The undersized bore on the T/Cs really leaves me cold.  I'll keep my 700ML......it even shoot patched round balls like you wouldn't believe.  I also prefer the #11 cap system.

Knight, White, and Savage rock!

[Redhawk1]

The undersized bore on the T/Cs really leaves me cold.  I'll keep my 700ML......it even shoot pacthed round balls like you wouldn't believe.  I also prefer the #11 cap system.

Knight, White, and Savage rock!

I did not buy my modern muzzleloader to shoot round balls, if I want to shoot round balls, I will grab my T/C Renegade.

Never had a problem with a tight barrel on any of the 6 Encore's or the 4 Omega's I have owned.
And it is just hard to beat a Savage smokeless. 

[AndyHass]

A company, even a division of one with no revenue stream, is on life support.  Only a fool of a businessman would continue that indefinitely.  If they do not get a buyer they will NOT continue to maintain customer service indefinitely.  My guess is they are trying to sell Knight for someone else to restart....once they give up that effort they will fold it (think GM and Saturn).

[Busta]

A company, even a division of one with no revenue stream, is on life support.  Only a fool of a businessman would continue that indefinitely.  If they do not get a buyer they will NOT continue to maintain customer service indefinitely.  My guess is they are trying to sell Knight for someone else to restart....once they give up that effort they will fold it (think GM and Saturn).

I wouldn't say NO revenue stream, but yeah! They are selling parts and accessories. I agree that they are hoping for a buyer. And it is no secret, at least not to me that they have a 2 year contract to supply parts, accessories, and perform warranty service. That contract started around the end of June or first part of July, 2009.

Knight had a good run for a lot of years, sold lots of quality rifles until PRADCO/EBSCO got ahold of them. Poor decisions, bad engineering and design were their biggest problems. They didn't wake up until it was too late.

They were in business for 24-25 years. The inline muzzleloading market has pretty well been saturated. Only new innovative models will make it at this point. Instead of spending the time to make one or two excellent models, or improving on their proven models, they tried introducing about 8 half baked models in the last few years. They hung on to that FPJ WAY to long as well. That IMO, was the beginning of the end, the failed rifles just added more fuel to the fire.

Corporations like EBSCO lose touch with the thing that matters most, the customer.

My $.02 worth

[Swampman]

I wish Remington would buy them.

[grouse]

It's no secret T/C was closing if S&W didn't buy them. Knight Extreme's and Elite's are still two of the best ever made. The T/C Triumph is probably the best all around now. The Knights are going to catch them with the new Lehigh plug.

[Busta]

It's no secret T/C was closing if S&W didn't buy them. Knight Extreme's and Elite's are still two of the best ever made. The T/C Triumph is probably the best all around now. The Knights are going to catch them with the new Lehigh plug.

Speaking of which, when is Dave going to be releasing that conversion?

[grouse]

Everything is done Busta. He is sending the primer holders out to be heat treated. I think that's over kill but that's okay. They are really good. 90% blow back free. If he had each gun he could make them 100%. I suggested not, and this was good enough. Also and o ring was another option like you are aware of. Again i suggested not. This plug wont need anything done to it. maybe change a vent-liner once and awhile. I'm really happy and most will be as well.

[AndyHass]

It's no secret T/C was closing if S&W didn't buy them. Knight Extreme's and Elite's are still two of the best ever made. The T/C Triumph is probably the best all around now. The Knights are going to catch them with the new Lehigh plug.

Well, a gun that isn't sold anymore needing an aftermarket plug hardly qualifies as "catching them"....

Never owned an Elite, though I was always intrigued, but their time has passed unless they come back to production.

I was not aware that T/C was closing unless bought until now, so apparently it was a decent secret...their sales were solid.

[ourway77]

I believe why knight went under is their rifles are high dollar, and with companies like CVA etc, people felt they could get just as good a rifle for a lot less money. No matter what you tell some people they remain Penny Wise Penny Foolish. Knight rifles stayed right with the best as far as accuracy went. But try to get your money out of one or even close. Now that the company has stopped production, you will see the prices of used Knights rise again. Have you noticed to don't see the Knight disc extremes FS like they were before knight stopped making rifles? There are enough Knight rifles being used the company can reak the profits from sales of parts and accesories. And they still have thier repair facility up and running, not like austin halleck when they closed thier doors there is no provision for repairs etc. I have one that was right expensive and I put a TH stock on it and I can't give it away. I know someone will chime in and say they will take it... Lou

[builder459]

It's no secret T/C was closing if S&W didn't buy them. Knight Extreme's and Elite's are still two of the best ever made. The T/C Triumph is probably the best all around now. The Knights are going to catch them with the new Lehigh plug.

Well, a gun that isn't sold anymore needing an aftermarket plug hardly qualifies as "catching them"....

Never owned an Elite, though I was always intrigued, but their time has passed unless they come back to production.

I was not aware that T/C was closing unless bought until now, so apparently it was a decent secret...their sales were solid.

You are correct T/C was not closing it's doors prior to S&W purchase thier profits were in the single digits.since the purchase thier in the double digits..with hangun sales up around 31% and T/C making a bolt action rifle,S&W felt this would get thier foot in the hunting/long gun market.barnes just sold to Remington and they were making a profit also.not unusal for smaller companys like barnes and T/C to sell out when they recieve a offer they can't refuse from companys like Remington and S&W,who have the financial resourses to expand and better compete on the global market.

[DennyRoark]

Since the early nineties , Remington has been owned by a string of investment bankers.  In 1998, THEY were being looked over by S&W, I know this because I was a supervisor in the Findlay target plant and lost my job due to failings in the gun division (the target division was making money hand over fist but couldn't carry the gun works).  At one point in the summer of 1998, they stopped making all guns due to quality issues.  The current owners will more than likely sell them again once they have owned them 7 or 8 years, maybe longer (typical of investment banker groups).

[Swampman]

with companies like CVA etc, people felt they could get just as good a rifle for a lot less money.

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

with companies like CVA etc, people felt they could get just as good a rifle for a lot less money.

Which is true.

 i dont see to many people out here fighting over a knight revolution, krb, vison

. CVA/TC are the main dogs in the muzzleloading world.

Not many new guys are going to ask for rifles  that still use plastic primer jackets, especially when repairs/customer service are in question.

[Swampman]

CVA/TC are the main dogs in the muzzleloading world.

A very sad fact.  I'll never own either as far as inlines go.

[S.S.]

I believe why knight went under is their rifles are high dollar, and with companies like CVA etc, people felt they could get just as good a rifle for a lot less money.

I agree, 100%....
I would take it a bit further and say the CVA Optima in general put the headstone on their grave.
Inexpensive and excellent quality.

[Swampman]

As long as you wear kevlar.

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

keep it up swamp and i'll have to go to the headman for a report on you. You wont turn this into a crap trolling post like you always do. Stick to the main topic.