Savage Arms, one of America’s oldest firearms companies, has been acquired by another of the US’ oldest firearms giants - Smith & Wesson. Formed in 1894 by inventor and businessman Arthur Savage. Previously, Savage was a subsidiary of Vista Outdoor until 2019, when Savage and Stevens were sold to investors in a deal worth $170 million.During Savage’s long 130+ year history, the company has produced pistols, shotguns and rifles, carving a niche in the modern hunting and sporting rifle market. Smith & Wesson bought Savage through a $160 million in a stock and cash deal. Smith & Wesson says that the acquisition is “more than a financial transaction; it's the union of two authentically American manufacturing stories, grounded in the same values of quality, durability, and performance.”Here’s Smith & Wesson’s announcement in full:“Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc., a leader in firearm manufacturing and design, today announced it has acquired Savage Arms, Inc., the 132-year-old Westfield, Massachusetts-based maker of legendary rifles and shotguns, from JDH Holdings, for $160 million in a stock and cash transaction. The acquisition brings together two of the most recognized and respected names in American firearms manufacturing – uniting Smith & Wesson's strength in the handgun, revolver, and modern sporting rifle markets with Savage's reputation for accuracy, innovation, and craftsmanship in the hunting and long-gun categories. This creates a compelling platform to generate sustainable, long-term growth."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 Mark Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. "With this transaction, we have significantly expanded our presence in the hunting category, particularly in bolt-action rifles, which will enable us to better serve our customers. 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 stronger combined business".The combined company will immediately rank as the largest commercial firearms manufacturer in the United States, with a full-line product offering spanning handguns, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, and suppressors. Savage brings roughly $160 million annual net sales and a dedicated, skilled workforce of approximately 500 to the Smith & Wesson family, strengthening the combined company's position at a moment when consumer demand for American-made firearms across every category remains strong.Savage and Smith & Wesson already sell through many of the same dealers, distributors, and big box retail partners, and are trusted by an overlapping base of hunters, competitive shooters, and everyday sportsmen and women across the country. That shared customer base – and the supply chain, vendor, and distribution relationships behind it – creates immediate go-to-market efficiency and unmatched scale.Few combinations in this industry carry the historical weight of this one. Smith & Wesson was founded in 1852 in Massachusetts; Savage Arms was founded in 1894, also in Massachusetts. Both companies have spent well over a century as fixtures of American manufacturing, innovation, and craftsmanship – arming hunters, sportsmen, and protectors across multiple generations. This is more than a financial transaction; it's the union of two authentically American manufacturing stories, grounded in the same values of quality, durability, and performance that built this industry in the first place.”What do you think about the merging of two iconic American firearms brands? Let us know in the comments below!