Smith & Wesson to acquire Westfield-based Savage Arms in $160 million deal

A major change for two firearm manufacturers with ties to Western Massachusetts Smith and Wesson acquiring Savage Arms. Hearing from state and local officials about what this means for the area. If we lost that it would hurt for sure. Smith and Wesson, a leader in US firearm manufacturing and design, announcing they are acquiring Westfield based firearms manufacturer Savage Arms. The transaction totaling $160 million. Currently, Savage Arms, or now Smith & Wesson, employs about 400 to 450 people. It would be an interesting hit. Within the last three years, Smith & Wesson, a historically Springfield manufacturer, moving much of their operation out of state, keeping only a smaller portion in the Pioneer Valley. They just moved a large portion of their manufacturing to Tennessee. So they did leave a portion in Smith & Wesson and Springfield, but the majority of it went to Tennessee. So you're like, does that mean that they're going to be looking at relocating Savage Arms? Savage Arms has been headquartered in Westfield for more than 130 years. So one of the main questions from this acquisition becomes, what does this mean for the local economy? Obviously, it would be very good. Manufacturing is a challenge for us in the state. It's a statewide kind of thing. Savage has been a partner with us forever, so we wouldn't want to see him go anywhere. Smith & Wesson, which currently focuses on handguns, long guns, and other accessories, saying the acquisition will help them to better serve customers across the industry, as Savage Arms primarily manufactures sporting rifles. Mayor McCabe saying he is looking forward to potentially meeting with Mark Smith, the president and CEO of Smith & Wesson, to see if the city can help in any way to keep the company in Westfield.