Follow-Up On Windham Weaponry Closure

Approximately a month ago, I posted the unfortunate news that Windham Weaponry was closing its doors. The statement from Windham included a note that full liquidation would take place within a month or so. Given the notice of an auction I received recently, the liquidation will take place by auction with lots closing on Tuesday, October 17th.

The auction is online at Proxibid.com. A quick look at it shows stripped lowers in lots of 15-20 , other parts, ammunition, and some fully finished firearms. I am a little surprised at the bids on the fully finished firearms as they are higher than I would have expected.

Conversely, many of the parts used to assemble an AR are going for well under cost. The auctioneer has posted the costs of the parts in each lot. For example, Lot No. 646 contains 9mm buffer bumper caps, ejectors, weights, and more related parts. The cost of the parts is said to be $8,951 while the current bid is a mere $60.

A separate auction is being held for the general intangibles such as the company name, goodwill, mailing list of 54,000 names, their website, and social media accounts. This auction closes tomorrow, October 16th at 11am for the acceptance of sealed bids. A 10% deposit must accompany the bid.

The final auction for their machinery, office equipment, trucks, shelving, and other factory or office furnishings is also being held online at Proxibid. This auction starts closing on Tuesday, October 17th at 1 pm. I wish I lived closer as I would love some of their industrial shelving as well as a work bench or two. The prices here are very low. If someone was trying to start up a machine shop or a full-service gunsmithing operation, they could pick up some real bargains here.

It is always sad to see a manufacturing business close its doors. It is doubly sad to see a firearms company going under.

Bushmaster Reaches Out To Windham Weaponry Employees

After the Remington bankruptcy, Bushmaster Firearms was purchased by Franklin Armory (Crotalus Holdings LLC) and moved to Nevada. They are now located in Carson City.

Yesterday, I received an email from Lee Felch who is the Director of Marketing for Bushmaster. He said given the close history between Bushmaster and Windham Weaponry that the company was reaching out with condolences on the closure and possible job offers.

From the attached press release:

It is good to see other companies in the firearms industry reaching out to the Windham Weaponry employees. Furthermore, Bushmaster is not wasting any time in seeking those employees with critical skills to its own success. I’m not sure how many will trade the Sebago Lake region of Maine for the high desert of Carson City but a job is a job.

Windham Weaponry Closing Its Doors

Windham Weaponry, the Maine-based manufacturer of AR-15s, is going out of business. Founded in 2011 when Richard Dyke’s non-compete clause expired with the Freedom Group, it was in many ways the successor to the original Bushmaster. Windham was in the same facility and most of its workers were the original Bushmaster employees left behind when production was moved by the Freedom Group to the Remington factory in Ilion, New York.

Before Walmart went all PC and stopped selling AR-15s, if you saw an AR in their gun case, it was likely to be from Windham Weaponry. However, the last few years have been tough on the company.

From their website announcing closing:

It is with deep regret that we announce the closing of Windham Weaponry. Our website/online retail ordering system will remain active through Tuesday night, Sept 12. We will do our best to ship all orders this week and early next week. No credit card will be charged until the order is shipped.

Twelve years ago, when we started Windham Weaponry, our shareholders and longtime employees were excited to continue the traditions and spirit of Bushmaster Firearms, after the new owners decided to leave Maine.

We built WW into a company we could be proud of providing outstanding customer service, high quality products, as well as a great place for our dedicated employees to work.

The last few years have been a very challenging time for the firearms industry, and we have struggled to keep the WW dream alive for as long as possible. Unfortunately, we have not been able to meet our loan obligations with the bank after they worked with us as much as they could.

There was a glimmer of hope when we were negotiating with an investor to help keep WW alive and healthy, but that just fell through.

We have begun discussions with Keenan Auction Company to determine the best course of action for a full liquidation which should happen within the next month or so.

Our shareholders and employees truly appreciate your loyal support all of these years.

It is a sad day when any firearms company closes its doors. While I never owned a complete Windham Weaponry rifle, I have bought parts including a barrel from them.

I do hope that the employees can find new jobs with salaries commensurate with their old positions.

One last thing – if you still want to order from them, you can do it through tonight and your order will be processed.

Windham Weaponry Will Take Over Old Bushmaster Plant

The Portland Press-Herald is reporting that a new company will take over the old Bushmaster plant in Windham, Maine. The new company, Windham Weaponry, plans to hire up to half of the 73 works laid off when the Freedom Group moved production to the Remington plan in Ilion, NY.

“A group of investors felt there was a great opportunity for a new company when Bushmaster Firearms International LLC decided to relocate the company to another state and lay off all its employes. These employees in many cases have 25 years of experience in making one of the finest rifles in the world,” said the release.

Windham Weaponry will be located in the Windham business park and will begin production in July, with initial shipments scheduled for September.

The group of investors is led by Richard Dyke who sold Bushmaster to Cerebrus in April 2006. Dyke noted in an interview with the Kennebec Journal that his non-compete agreement expired in April of this year.

According to a Form D filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Windham Weaponry issued and sold $1.5 million in a private stock sale as of June 8th and were incorporated this year in the State of Maine. The executives and directors of Windham Weaponry include:

Richard E. Dyke
Executive, Director, Promoter

Jeffrey E. Dyke
Executive, Director

Mark Eliason
Executive

Allen W. Faraday
Executive, Director

Thomas F. Kent
Director

Galen P. Mc Kenney
Director

Richard Pratt
Director

None of the news stories indicate just what type of rifles will be made at the plant but I think it is safe to assume it will be AR-15’s.