Sinclair's closing it's doors in Ft Wayne

[dlebeck]

While I am not suprised, it is none-the-less hurtful to me, to see that Sinclair's is closing it's doors in Ft Wayne IN. The last day for counter sales is Sat May 1. I have seen the tide changing there over the last several years and in my opinion it has really gone downhill in the last two or so years. I have been buying from Sinclair's since it was a small shop that most guys never heard of. A good friend of mine, Ron Lee first turned me and my best friend Roger Wiley onto the place around 1990. Well I guess it's a sign of the times that yet another, well I just can't come up with the words to discribe it. This coming on the heals of the announcement that Marlin is going to close it's doors and start making FISHING equipment -what the hell! I will miss Sinclair's and my two or three trips a year to the counter. Those trips with my shooting buddy's and my son's will be missed.

 

[rain164845]

I haven't heard about Sinclair, but check the date on the Marlin announcement. I think you will find that it was on April Fool's day.

Sincerely,
Joe

 

[dlebeck]

Are you kidding me??? April Fools! Some say it ain't so! Well it's not a joke about Sinclair's. I got a postcard in the mail yesterday telling the sad tale. By now I am sure most everyone that buys from them has got the same card.

 

[rain164845]

I heard they were bought out by Brownells, but is the Ft Wayne location their only retail store? It sure would be fascinating to go in there and talk to those guys. That's a real loss.

Joe

 

[Forum Boss]

The Marlin factory in North Haven, CT is shutting down, with all employees to be terminated. That's a fact.


We did run an April Fool's story inspired, in part, by the REAL plant closure. The April 1 story explained that a "reconstituted" Marlin would start producing fishing gear.

Marlin plant closure -- REAL
Marlin fishing gear story -- HOAX

 

[dlebeck]

Oh fourm boss you are a dog!! ;D Sorry to hear about Marlin, glad they are not going to make fishing gear! As for Sinclair's, I am done with them unless they are a last resort. And yes if you have never been there go while you can. I remeber back in the day when it was in Fred's garage. This is a big loss to those of us that liked the old Sinclairs - when it was across the parking lot from where it is now - back in the day when you could walk in and around the racks and racks of stuff. Back in the day when the sport, the guys, and the glory matter as much as the money. But like so many other things now day's thats all over. Lucky for me, I am old and have more then any 10 shooters could ever use up.

Sorry for you younger guys and those just getting into it.

 

[Robert]

Yes, I heard Sinclair was closing it's doors....it is owned by MidWayUSA who also own Brownell's, not sure who bought what first but now they are one big company.

What is hapening, then?.

Are they definitely closing down, or moving activity to an other place?

They were not presnet at this years IWA in Nuremberg, and that was felt strange after many years of presence.

R.G.C

 

[Rustystud]

Have you got your facts correct..

Brownells and MidwayUSA have been fierce competetors.

Pete Brownell vs Larry Potterfield.

Nat Lambeth

 

[82boy]

I have talked to Pete Brownell and Bill at Sinclare, and yes it is happening, though they never gave me a date. Pete forwarded my concerns to Bill, he stated that they was moving the catalog sales, research and development, HR department, and other services that have been doubled by Brownell's out to Brownell's.

Bill told me that they was still keeping the operations in New haven, and was going to continue to employee the people that are there. Bill stated that they was going to still manufacture the products in New Haven. But with that all said there will not be a counter sales there in New Haven.

This hurts me because I bought a lot of powder and primers there, and will not purchase then from them anymore due to the haze mat cost. I plead my case to both of them, and it seams that they are not changing there decision.

 

[82boy]

Yes, I heard Sinclair was closing it's doors....it is owned by MidWayUSA who also own Brownell's, not sure who bought what first but now they are one big company.

Midway USA has never owned Sinclair's or Brownell's. Sinclair was it own company until sometime around 2008, when it was purchased by Brownell's.

Midway is the Wal-Mart of the gun world, Brownell's is their main competitor, they are in fierce competition, this is why Brownell's bought Sinclair, to open its lines up to the benchrest world and offer a better product than Midways brand of Caldwell.

I can see where the confusion could come from with this, Eric Sinclair (Fred Sinclair's son.) left Sinclair's and started his own company called Possum Hollow. They sell to Midway USA, and a few other dealers.

 

[NateHaler]

it is owned by MidWayUSA who also own Brownell's

This is NOT true. Midway and Brownell's are separate companies, with separate ownership. They are rivals, not affiliates.

Nor did Eddie Haskell die in Vietnam, nor is Paul Pfeiffer really Marilyn Manson, nor was Obama born in the USA (or an American).

 

[Forum Boss]

Just so everyone understands, Sinclair Int'l is not going out of business. The warehousing and personnel offices are being consolidated with Brownells, and there are probably good business reasons for that. The vast majority of Sinclair's business is via mail order, so this should not impact that. If anything packing and shipping may be faster than before.

 

[357Mag]

Sinclair's

Yeh.... an end to an " era".

I lived 5mi from Sinclairs, and had " Uncle Dudley " build my first couple of custom rifles. That was back when Tom Meredith worked for him.

You could walk right in to Fred's shop ( at first... in his converted garage ) and hit him up with whatever you needed shooting-wise. Becky would invite you in for refreshment, on occasion.

Sinclairs then expanded/moved to a small builiding in downtown New Haven, IN.

Son Eric ( EJS ) took hi sspeciality shooting products production about 15mi
East to Woodburn, In.

Later, Sinclairs blossomed into one large building in the Wayne Haven Industrial park; then on to a two building operation ( one offices, one warehouse/counter sales ).

It was always great fun to walk in and see some Sinclair-'smithed up on the wall for sale.

Yeh.... having Uncle Dudley's operation close-by was always cool !

357Mag

 

[SongdogHunter]

Thanks Nate fro clearing up the obama and Eddie Haskell confiusion!

I'm really surprised anyone thought midway bought Sinclair. I'll take up knitting before i give potterfield another cent

SDH

 

[Rust]

I suppose it's a sign o' the times. Once Midway started getting into Brownells gunsmithing end of things I suppose it was inevitable that Brownells would respond in kind. And it's easier to buy an established company with name recognition that enter an entirely new sector from scratch.

Still, having talked to Fred himself in past years it's sort of a shame to see an iconic business sold.

I just hope Brownells doesn't screw it up as Sinclairs has been my primary go to source for bullets, brass and gadjets years.

 

[boogershooter]

Good one Nate! Thats funny.

 

[1000yardstare]

Talked to a Toronto area gun shop worker today. He said the word amongst Canadian gun retailers is that Marlin is pulling a Winchester. Close the factory in the Northeastern U.S. with its high union wages and high property taxes and move to the U.S. Southeast with a new non-union work force and lower property taxes. Build a new plant and have a grand re-opening.

I have no way of knowing if any of this is true. Just offering it out for what it is worth.

 

[moorepower]

It is almost impossible for any business to operate in the northeastern USA. In a few more years, if things keep on going as they are now, this could be true in all the USA.