Smith and Wesson’s $160 million buy of Savage Arms makes it the largest commercial US firearms manufacturer
Smith & Wesson was already a classic titan of American industry, and has been since 1852. In 2026 alone, it generated $523.8 million in revenues. But it’s about to get a whole lot bigger: On Oct. 21, 2026, Smith & Wesson announced the acquisition of Savage Arms from JDH Holdings for $160 million.
“The acquisition of Savage is transformative for Smith & Wesson and contributes to our objective of becoming the undisputed market leader in the firearm industry,” said Smith & Wesson CEO and president Mark Smith in a company statement. “We are excited to combine Savage’s expertise and scale in the hunting category with our proven capabilities in the handgun and semi-auto rifle markets. We believe our teams’ core competencies will complement one another, translating into a strong combined business.”
Founded in 1894, Savage has its own history as a core brand in American firearms manufacturing. It was one of six companies that competed for what would become the Army’s M1911 pistol, making it to the final round against Colt’s design by John Moses Browning. During World War I, Savage made Lewis machine guns for the war effort. During World War II, the company made the iconic Thompson submachine gun. Under license, they even made British No. 4 Lee-Enfield rifles to supply allied nations under the Lend-Lease Program.
In the postwar era, Savage returned to its roots as an established manufacturer of commercial shotguns and rifles. Iconic firearms like their Model 64 .22LR and Model 110 made Savage a go-to brand in the hunting market. In 2007, the later rifle surpassed the Winchester Model 70 to become the oldest continuously manufactured bolt-action rifle in America.
“Savage has a storied history spanning more than 132 years, and we are incredibly proud of the business and brand the Savage team has built,” said JDH Managing Director Michael Fertitta in a company statement. “Smith & Wesson is a natural partner for Savage given the complementary strengths of the two companies and their shared commitment to quality, innovation and serving the firearms community.”
Historically, Smith & Wesson has been a powerhouse of pistol production, including the Army’s Model 3 and M1917. Today, the company’s handgun line includes the well-established M&P series and the extremely popular Bodyguard series. Building on the design language of the M&P series, Smith & Wesson expanded into pistol caliber carbines as well as a pump-action shotgun. The company also has a line of semi-automatic AR-style rifles.
Smith & Wesson’s acquisition of Savage comes on the heels of Ruger’s announcement that the company would be discontinuing many of its firearms, including bestsellers like the Blackhawk and Ruger Precision Rifle. This may be indicative of a new direction for Ruger; Beretta Holding, the corporate parent of Beretta and other firearm brands, is Ruger’s largest shareholder. Ruger has held the top spot as America’s number 1 firearms manufacturer by volume, with Smith & Wesson trailing just behind.
Another changing trend in the firearms industry is the migration out of the American northeast. Ruger quietly moved its headquarters from Connecticut to North Carolina at the start of 2026. Five years earlier, Smith & Wesson began the move from its historical home of Massachusetts to Tennessee where the company is headquartered today. No word on if Savage, founded in New York and headquartered in Massachusetts, will also leave the northeast.
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