I blame the rise of the MBAs (master of business administration) for the demise of many a fine company, all over the world. For them, the bottom line is the only line, and while they may understand spreadsheets, they know nothing about what it takes to make a quality product.
Skilled workers are anathema to them, "They want real wages, and respect for their hard earned knowlege." Replace 'em with kids pushing buttons on a machine they don't understand.
Great story about the broaches, a legacy job passed down through the generations. To build quality
you need motivated artisans who take pride in their work.

 

While I understand the sentiment and for the most part agree, I will say that not ALL MBA's are like this. Some do understand the value of craftsmanship and quality for quality's sake. The part that needs addressing and constant monitoring is when the MBA's start to have more of a voice in the boardroom than those who produce the actual product. For example, the executive management of company that makes widgets should always be a guy who's made widgets or designed the original widget. Not the bean counter that only calculates the marginal value of an additional production unit. MBA's are valuable as long as management keeps them focused on their areas of expertise and does not allow the foxes in the hen house so to speak.

 

Spot on Rrussa.

Back in the early 90s, I had dinner with the CEO of the Kimber Rifle Company at a mutual friend's house. Kimber was still in Oregon at the time. When I asked various firearms related questions, he looked like a deer staring into the headlights of a speeding car. His firearms knowledge was absolutely zilch. He was conversant in monetary facts and figures though.

 

Jesus. .is coming again too. Yet we know not when.

 

Every Tuesday some time in the AM, around here.

 

Lever action PCC in 10mm!

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

 

Cautiously optimistic !

 

Chef,
I can appreciate your nuance on the issue. With balance of approach, number crunchers have their uses. Too often in this day and age, I feel they become the driving influence, short term profits over long term sustainability.

 

And yet, somehow, the stock market is far far above its level of twenty years ago, and a record number of investors are making plenty of money to build a better life for themselves....this is somehow a “downfall”?



.

 

And yet, somehow, the stock market is far far above its level of twenty years ago, and a record number of investors are making plenty of money to build a better life for themselves....this is somehow a “downfall”?



.

RB,
After being in the market for well over 20yrs, here are the three things that are essential to understanding it; 1.The stock market is not the economy. 2. The stock market is not the economy.
3. The stock market is not the economy.
It is increasingly the provence of the .1%ers. Income inequality has been steadily increasing as fewer and fewer control more and more capital. Read Thomas Picketty and "Capital in the Twenty First Century". Main street is NOT Wall street.

Can't like this enough. The rise in the stock market is called inflation. Inflation is to much money chasing to few goods. In the last forty years the number of publically traded stocks has dropped from around 8000 to somewhere over 4000. The number of Americans invested in the stock market has risen from 15-20% to around 55%(edit: down from the 2008 high of 62%.). It is no longer an equity market supportted by actual hard capital assets it is a demand market propped up by cash flow. And no one cares how they generate that cash flow. Which includes mining equity to make the quarterlies.

Excellent explanation of why a major bull stock market is a sign of economic free fall. I day trade and swing trade for a living and have made an absolute killing off of this market and the feds antics, while we experience great depression levels, HISTORIC levels of unemployment. Those who know how to take advantage of it get richer, and the rest stuck in a dying asset known as the dollar get poorer. Bears gotta eat too and I'll be waiting and ready to short the market when that day does come.

To the topic at hand, I'm ready to see what Ruger produces and what the quality level is like. Ruger has had it's own fair share of QC issues over the last few years, but nothing as bad as Remington. This can only be a good thing.

 

RB,
After being in the market for well over 20yrs, here are the three things that are essential to understanding it; 1.The stock market is not the economy. 2. The stock market is not the economy.
3. The stock market is not the economy.
It is increasingly the provence of the .1%ers. Income inequality has been steadily increasing as fewer and fewer control more and more capital. Read Thomas Picketty and "Capital in the Twenty First Century". Main street is NOT Wall street.

 

Can't like this enough. The rise in the stock market is called inflation. Inflation is to much money chasing to few goods. In the last forty years the number of publically traded stocks has dropped from around 8000 to somewhere over 4000. The number of Americans invested in the stock market has risen from 15-20% to around 55%(edit: down from the 2008 high of 62%.). It is no longer an equity market supportted by actual hard capital assets it is a demand market propped up by cash flow. And no one cares how they generate that cash flow. Which includes mining equity to make the quarterlies.

 

What destroyed Remington, Marlin, H$&R/NEF and many other companies is the venture capitalists like Mitt Romney’s old company Bane Capital. They buy companies and drain them dry with no intentions of long term success. Although, fiction, remember the movie with Michael Douglas as Gordon Gecko....greed is good.....

 

Greed is not good.
Numbers crunching only is totally practical in a few things:
recipes
analysis
budgets
and weight and balance of aircraft.

Number crunchers should not make the recipe for a quality product. They should only supply the facts so the experts can budget, manage products and set prices that bring further profits to said company.

 

This has become an insightful thread. And interesting. Keep going.

Thank you gentlemen.

 

And to any that are scratching their heads over some of the comments, I highly recommend sitting down and watching "The Big Short". Great little movie that's an eye opener as to how markets can and do operate.

 

Keep it going fellow Marliners . . but funny that my Original Post was just about WE MIGHT GET NEW MARLINS SOON!!!

 

It is so easy to get side tracked. I hope we see them soon.

 

I will believe it when I see it. Ruger has announced so many products over the years and there was usually a 12-18 month "reality lag" before you even saw one in person, let alone were able to handle one. I hope this is different.

 

I'd rather wait a year and have them produce quality guns out of the gate. It's going to come down to the business philosophy and approach that drives the company. Who's in charge at the end of the day? The guys who watch the stock market on a daily basis? Or someone who's trying to build a legacy product?

Some years ago I read an article about the companies that did the best in the long run. Family owned and operated were the best bet, they had a sense of leaving something good for their kids/heirs.
My sense, rightly or wrongly, is that many of the members here care and keep their guns for the long haul. Great grandpa's 30-30 still shoots, and with a minimal amount of maintenance, will continue to do so for the next generation or two. Simple technology coupled with good design and execution thereof still brings home the bacon, venison, etc, and fills the freezer provided the operator does his/her job. McPherson has some great tips on accurizing the old lever action into an MOA shooter.
Hornady and their FTX bullet technology and powder development has turned the best of their recent cartridges into genuine 300yd rifles.

 

Wish there was a thumbs down icon. LOL You had a thumbs up until you mentioned Hornady FTX. My experience is it is a very high dollar paper puncher. Sure accurate.

 

A new article just posted April 2, 2021 on OUTDOOR LIFE.COM talks about the acquisition of Marlin by Ruger from Remington . . Sounds really good to me and I love all my Ruger handguns and rifles . . Can't wait to see what Ruger/Marlin comes out with first . . . .

Is Marlin Firearms on the Brink of a Comeback?

After years of difficulties with Remington, expect to see new American-made Marlin rifles—now owned by Ruger—hitting the market this fall.

www.outdoorlife.com

I read somewhere that Ruger will start with the Lever rifles.

 

hope they have some quality and precision in their product. jsb

 

Sure hope that they offer something this year. I'd love to see the quality back in the product. I suppose it'll be asking too much to see something in 35 Remington, though - I reload that round for my 336.

 

I'm looking forward to the next crop of Marlins in the LGS's, but fear they will get snapped up for price-gouging resale on GB. Seems like that's a common moneymaker for society's newest parasites!

I will not hesitate if I see a new Marlin that I like (if it passes my 'inspection)', because it probably won't stay on the shelf for long!

 

I'd be happy to see Ruger bring back the Model 96, would really like to see a return of the Model 44, but at least the 96 was a lever gun!

 

I'd be happy to see Ruger bring back the Model 96, would really like to see a return of the Model 44, but at least the 96 was a lever gun!

Agreed, I stupidly sold mine long ago. But realistically, why would Ruger bring back a rifle which failed to sell originally, and which now competes with their new line of levers - for which they paid plenty? Fun to dream anyway.





.

 

why would Ruger bring back a rifle which failed to sell originally, and which now competes with their new line of levers - for which they paid plenty? Fun to dream anyway.

Indeed, the world has changed a lot, seems no company wants to make anything that doesn't fly off the shelves, even if it does make a profit, the floor space at the plant is better utilized producing the top sellers with the biggest margins. They are in business to make money and increase value to the stockholders

 

I hope Ruger keeps out of the lever business in there brand. Since I own several older M44's (Carbines) I don't want them to build any of those either. Keep the value in mine. I found the 96 kind of nice and accurate but not very eye catching.

 

I do not think Ruger making lever rifles will affect the value of our old Original Marlins in a negative way. Original Marlins will always increase in value over the years. I am sure Ruger will put their name or logo on any new Marlin lever rifles to indicate the difference. . .

 

Maybe some Ruger/Marlin high bread like 96 into a .308 Marlin, 338 Marlin. Sort of like a 88 Win.

 

I Think Ruger is a quality gun maker. I have never had any trouble with any firearm and I have had many over 50 years.