by Long-time AR maker Del-Ton, Inc. is closing its doors. Founded in 1998 in Fayetteville, NC during the middle of the Clinton assault-weapons ban, Del-Ton was a stalwart of the entry-level of the AR market. They later moved to Elizabethton which is about half-way between Fayetteville and Wilmington in Bladen County.
They have posted this announcement on their website:
Thank You For Your Support – Del-Ton is Closing.
As Del-Ton prepares to close its doors, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to the incredible people who have been part of our journey.
To our loyal customers: Your trust in our products and support of our mission has been the cornerstone of our success. Every purchase, every kind word, and every moment spent using our products has meant the world to us.
To our vendors and partners: Your collaboration, innovation, and shared commitment have been invaluable in helping us deliver quality and reliability to our customers.
To our dedicated employees: You are the heart and soul of Del-Ton. Your hard work, passion, and unwavering commitment have shaped our legacy and built a company we can all be proud of.
Together, we’ve achieved so much, and though this chapter is ending, the memories, partnerships, and friendships will remain. Thank you for being part of the Del-Ton story.
With heartfelt appreciation,
The Del-Ton Team .
The entry-level or low-end of the AR market has gotten increasingly competitive with makers like Palmetto State Armory and Anderson going head-to-head with Del-Ton. According to the 2022 AFMER manufacturing report posted on the ATF website, Palmetto made four times as many finished rifles as Del-Ton. Similarly, Anderson dominated in the unfinished lower market with almost 150,000 unfinished AR lowers to Del-Ton’s zero. If you are having to compete on price and not quality, the bigger manufacturers with their economies of scale will dominate.
I don’t know if this is the beginning of a realignment in the firearms industry or just the “Trump Slump”. Nonetheless, it is sad to see any firearms company go out of business.
The “Trump slump”?????
Tell me you have TDS without telling me you have TDS.
Sorry but that is what it is called. Gun sales go down when we have a president that respects the 2A and up when we don’t. It happened earlier back in 2017 when President Trump was elected the first time.
It has nothing to do with disliking President Trump for whom I voted three times.