Verney Carron going under!

[matt85]

I was very impressed with the VC rifles I've handled and it saddens me to hear they are going under.

 

[Altitude sickness]

I posted mid year and at the end of 2024 that I thought now will be remembered as a great time to buy these rifles. New and especially preowned.

Materials and labor costs are never going back to pre Covid times. Many companies have been absorbing those costs. Some have either been incrementally raised. Or will need a drastic increase reset to survive. If you look at the books. Most are upside down and are being subsidized by another profitable entity.

Then when fewer new rifles enter the market. The used market will increase in value.
Buy, Buy, Buy

(If the African hunting model continues as is.)

 

[AZDAVE]

Sad to hear this news. I have owned a couple VC's.

 

[Puddle]

Depending on how good or bad the internal numbers are, I'm wondering if Beretta Holding might see them as value-add ...

 

[PerH]

Unfortunately, I predict that more sporting arms companies (mostly European but also a few American) will close their doors within the next five years or so. Or at least significantly trim down their production lines. The strongest ones will probably be the last ones standing. Verney Carron wasn’t perfect. But I’m still incredibly sad to see them go. I think that the only remaining French manufacturer of double rifles now, is Chapuis if I’m not mistaken. And they offer nothing bigger than a .470 Nitro Express.

On a related subject, I was quite depressed to recently learn that Browning has discontinued the X Bolt series. This was (in recent years) Browning’s only rifle line that included a big bore chambering (.375 Holland & Holland Magnum). Now, Browning doesn’t make rifles in any Magnum calibers except 7mm Remington Magnum and .300 Winchester Magnum.

Speaking about Browning , I tried to access the Winchester International web page and its not opening that page .

Rifles | Bolt-Action - Lever-Action - Semi-Auto | Winchester

Winchester rifles are avaliable in bolt-action, semi-auto and lever-action repeating rifles are known for their durability, reliability, and accuracy. They were some of the earliest repeating rifles to be manufactured and are still popular with hunters and collectors today.

www.winchesterguns.com

it just lead to Winchester US page . Never seen that occur before .

Very sad to see VC go , wonder if Beretta will buy them now as they own several other firms .

 

[PAUL_MAUSER]

This sounds very similar to the problems Colt experienced a few years back.

Very much so. They only offered AR platform rifles and 1911's and started having a didn't care attitude towards consumers it seemed as they were riding on the government gravy train. Well, when other contractors stated easing in on their action that government cheese wasn't guaranteed or went away their lack of innovation caught up to them really quick. CZ buying them was the best thing to happen to them.

 

[rookhawk]

What I find interesting is a battle of two sentiments. One is these double rifle companies that aren't making it, or where a small shop retires without a successor. On the other side, Heym's prices continue to climb and their back-log of orders continues to grow.

Are the "successful" rifle companies like Heym and Rigby doing everything right, or they as fragile under the water's surface as VC?

I haven't been granted access to the balance sheets so I have no idea, I'm just trying to reconcile different situations.

 

[chashardy]

Might be an opportunity for one of the bigger companies to acquire the sporting rifle division of VC. Beretta acquired both Chapuis and Holland & Holland, so both of those companies have the financial stability of Beretta. They probably don't need VC added to their porfolio, but another company might want to add quality double rifles to their product line.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Unfortunately, I predict that more sporting arms companies (mostly European but also a few American) will close their doors within the next five years or so. Or at least significantly trim down their production lines. The strongest ones will probably be the last ones standing. Verney Carron wasn’t perfect. But I’m still incredibly sad to see them go. I think that the only remaining French manufacturer of double rifles now, is Chapuis if I’m not mistaken. And they offer nothing bigger than a .470 Nitro Express.

On a related subject, I was quite depressed to recently learn that Browning has discontinued the X Bolt series. This was (in recent years) Browning’s only rifle line that included a big bore chambering (.375 Holland & Holland Magnum). Now, Browning doesn’t make rifles in any Magnum calibers except 7mm Remington Magnum and .300 Winchester Magnum.

Well now it’s Browning’s X Bolt 2 with a redesigned receiver, fluted bolt and they went back to a walnut stock. I’m surprised they didn’t go with a threaded barrel? They stopped chambering the original X Bolt in .338WM and .375 H and H a couple of years ago.

 

[Aussie_Hunter]

 

[Hunter4752001]

Cybergun, a airsoft and replica maker, took over VC in 2022. No wonder VC quality and reputation went through the floor, with bankruptcy following soon after.

 

[pc3]

This is a tragedy….close to putting a deposit down a few months ago due to being a little cheaper than a Heym, would have lost my $$ has I done it. Aussie agent for Heym wants a 10k deposit for a 3 year wait….I want some assurances/legal instrument to ensure I’m not caught out some how. Agents yet to get back to me with a solution….end of the day I can get 5.5% on that money for 3 years, what do you do ? I need it held in trust or the like. Not comfortable with a year wait a lot can happen with macro economic conditions in that time.

 

[sniper7]

This is a tragedy….close to putting a deposit down a few months ago due to being a little cheaper than a Heym, would have lost my $$ has I done it. Aussie agent for Heym wants a 10k deposit for a 3 year wait….I want some assurances/legal instrument to ensure I’m not caught out some how. Agents yet to get back to me with a solution….end of the day I can get 5.5% on that money for 3 years, what do you do ? I need it held in trust or the like. Not comfortable with a year wait a lot can happen with macro economic conditions in that time.

Just buy a Heym. They are solid. I just put 50% down on a new 470 double and they will stand the test of time.

 

[pc3]

I agree that Heym is solid, it’s parting with your money for 3 years with the middle man.

My last post is riddled with typos, replying on the phone does note help grammar etc. apologies

 

[CoElkHunter]

This is a tragedy….close to putting a deposit down a few months ago due to being a little cheaper than a Heym, would have lost my $$ has I done it. Aussie agent for Heym wants a 10k deposit for a 3 year wait….I want some assurances/legal instrument to ensure I’m not caught out some how. Agents yet to get back to me with a solution….end of the day I can get 5.5% on that money for 3 years, what do you do ? I need it held in trust or the like. Not comfortable with a year wait a lot can happen with macro economic conditions in that time.

3 years is a long time to have $10K invested waiting for a rifle or many other things. Another “black swan” event like the Covid pandemic or another global financial meltdown and kiss it goodbye.

 

[Hunter4752001]

Not saying this is the case in this situation, but the Australian firearm industry is plague by parasites who sign up exclusive distributor agencies. Generally they have no capacity, or interest, in servicing the product but use their sole agency to charge a several 100% markup while only importing when they have enough paid orders even if this is years. All of this would collapse if it wasn't so dificult to privately import.

 

[DieJager]

Unfortunately, I predict that more sporting arms companies (mostly European but also a few American) will close their doors within the next five years or so. Or at least significantly trim down their production lines. The strongest ones will probably be the last ones standing. Verney Carron wasn’t perfect. But I’m still incredibly sad to see them go. I think that the only remaining French manufacturer of double rifles now, is Chapuis if I’m not mistaken. And they offer nothing bigger than a .470 Nitro Express.

On a related subject, I was quite depressed to recently learn that Browning has discontinued the X Bolt series. This was (in recent years) Browning’s only rifle line that included a big bore chambering (.375 Holland & Holland Magnum). Now, Browning doesn’t make rifles in any Magnum calibers except 7mm Remington Magnum and .300 Winchester Magnum.

I definitely am not seeing this. In Europe there are a lot of sporting arms manufacturers that are doing well. Sometimes a business makes poor decisions, that seems the case with VC. But not everything is doom and gloom.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Not saying this is the case in this situation, but the Australian firearm industry is plague by parasites who sign up exclusive distributor agencies. Generally they have no capacity, or interest, in servicing the product but use their sole agency to charge a several 100% markup while only importing when they have enough paid orders even if this is years. All of this would collapse if it wasn't so dificult to privately import.

Here, Remington went bankrupt due to a variety of factors. I ALMOST sent my .22-250 Rem 700 Varmint to them two weeks beforehand to have the Walker trigger replaced with their newer CMP trigger for free due to a recall. Glad I didn’t. May have taken 10 years to get back the rifle after the bankruptcy if at all. But it was about a $700 rifle, not $10K.

 

[Altitude sickness]

In today’s world of political change especially in Europe and especially surrounding firearm freedoms. 3 years is a long time.

I would ask if they would consider using an escrow company for the deposit. What would make me nervous is if they say they need your $10 deposit to fund the build. That tells me they are not financially secure. And it’s almost a ponzi scheme of rifle building.

I could understand a one man shop operating like that. but not Heym.

If they allow the deposit to be held in escrow and you agree that you lose the deposit if you back out. That seems fair. It shows commitment on your part and is more secure. Or find a preowned one.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

I definitely am not seeing this. In Europe there are a lot of sporting arms manufacturers that are doing well. Sometimes a business makes poor decisions, that seems the case with VC. But not everything is doom and gloom.

I’ll tell you a little secret about myself. I’ve been a cranky old man suffering from chronic depression, ever since Lebeau Courally (Belgium’s last gun maker) closed down their gun making business in 2019 and shifted to manufacturing watches & handbags.