This article pretty much sums up what's known so far:

http://www.recoilweb.com/danie...orkforce-130055.html

Sucks to hear. How big is the $2000+ rifle market though?

Maybe this is a case of getting too big too fast?

Hopefully they can waive the non-compete clauses and find other work quickly.

Not surprised really. The affects of a strong pro-2a president. Market will fall in the next year, supply and demand will eventually balance out.

I don't know, but it may pick up quite a bit now.

quote:

Originally posted by Augen:
Not surprised really. The affects of a strong pro-2a president. Market will fall in the next year, supply and demand will eventually balance out.

It's balancing itself now...all those guns ordered in 2013 have been delivered to gun stores and the are awash in them...I saw a Ruger AR15 for $499 today...cheaper than the guy I'm working for can get them...

quote:

Originally posted by Scurvy:
Sucks to hear. How big is the $2000+ rifle market though?

I think that's the problem. Daniel Defense made a very high-quality price-competitive AR-15 in 2012 or so. Fast forward five years and they're selling very similar stuff for a much higher price, while the market is rushing the other way. In 2012 a Colt 6920 and a DD were comparatively priced, maybe a slight upcharge for the DD. If I remember right, straddling the $1k mark for either, pre-Sandy Hook. Today, you can get a 6920 for $700-800.

I can believe that DD makes better rifles than the base Colt 6920, but I have hard time believing they're twice the rifle to justify twice the price.

Just to clarify, I do really like Daniel Defense as a company and I think they make some real nice stuff. But they might want to rethink their pricing a bit.

Those non compete agreements can be shaky in some states, esp. for working stiffs versus executives and power brokers etc. I was already under one of those agreements as an original condition of employment when I was laid off, but it was unenforceable in my state because the company was essentially telling me I couldn't work in my field. Which is pretty stupid when you think about it. So what was I supposed to do ? Not work in my field ? The lawyers at this company were just doing what they were told, even though it was perfectly ridiculous. So if you're a mechanic and you get laid off, you can't work on cars for the next two years ? That's what they were telling me; that essentially I could not work in the software industry for x years. Ridiculous. Then years later they call me and try to bring me back into the company. Really guys ? Greedy weasels.

Bad news. Different times for gun owners now. I have a DD Omega hand guard on each of my ARs. Great company, sorry to hear of their financial troubles. Hope they can recover.

quote:

Originally posted by Rob Decker:

quote:

Originally posted by Scurvy:
Sucks to hear. How big is the $2000+ rifle market though?

I think that's the problem. Daniel Defense made a very high-quality price-competitive AR-15 in 2012 or so. Fast forward five years and they're selling very similar stuff for a much higher price, while the market is rushing the other way. In 2012 a Colt 6920 and a DD were comparatively priced, maybe a slight upcharge for the DD. If I remember right, straddling the $1k mark for either, pre-Sandy Hook. Today, you can get a 6920 for $700-800.

I can believe that DD makes better rifles than the base Colt 6920, but I have hard time believing they're twice the rifle to justify twice the price.

Just to clarify, I do really like Daniel Defense as a company and I think they make some real nice stuff. But they might want to rethink their pricing a bit.

DD moving away from the standard carbine, and moving to more boutique style rifles definitely put me off them. During the last 8-years, when the 6920 was selling for $1100, spending $1500 on a free float DD rifle made sense. Now? I bet they wish they still offered something more accessible.

The only thing they make I want is their 12" RIS II rail, which is never available. I refuse to buy a pinned 14.5" upper or rifle just for the rail.

Sad, but no surprise, here.

DD is my fav AR brand, and I don't even own an AR ! I do hope things work out in the long run, given their unique designs, great balance between the hands, and quality. Those ARs are like comparing a Rock River 1911 to a Dan Wesson or a custom build.

How can they demand a non-compete without offering severance. What incentive is there to sign such a thing? Doesn’t make sense to me.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Yarchin:
How can they demand a non-compete without offering severance. What incentive is there to sign such a thing? Doesn’t make sense to me.

Yep, sounds totally ridiculous, unless there's something else we don't know about. Two-year noncompete. You're fired, no severance package. You're SOL. I guess folks who are desperate for food on the table would sign it.

I'm fired!? Fuck you, I'm not signing shit.

quote:

Originally posted by mikeyspizza:
I'm fired!? Fuck you, I'm not signing shit.

They signed it at the start of employment.

quote:

Originally posted by mikeyspizza:
I'm fired!? Fuck you, I'm not signing shit.

Well, you can still shout it in defiance anyway.

Sadly, given the lower demand for certain types of guns, lay offs in the firearms related industries isn't unexpected. I've faced lay offs in the past and understand the necessity for a company to adjust to changing market conditions. I truly hope the industry, and DD, recovers and that these workers find good jobs.

The thing that bothers me is when a company sees fit to sponsor a concert series/ entertainment or sporting venue/ or sporting event or team, while facing a declining revenue. It seems unconscionable for DD to sponsor a NASCAR team while laying off workers.

Their prices have also continued to increase in the last year, where most have decreased


I love Daniel defense. I was living in savannah when Marty Daniel was making rails for the rangers out of an industrial park

When they opened their new black creek facility I got invited to go down and tour it...they were way ahead of the rest of the industry in terms of barrel technology and such at the time

Whoever above said they've become more and more boutique is right...couldn't have said it better myself

Their roots were in building great guns for grunts

Now they build $2000 ARs for a mission that can be accomplished for half that


Part of it was that some companies (BCM comes to mind) entered and stole a huge portion of their market share

And everyone and their brother, including the big guys like roger and s&w, started making budget to mid priced ARs, so I guess they felt they had to move up a notch


There just isn't enough market up there....

quote:

it was unenforceable in my state because the company was essentially telling me I couldn't work in my field.

Non-competes are usually only enforceable if you quit or are fired for cause, and sometimes not then.

quote:

Now they build $2000 ARs for a mission that can be accomplished for half that

Yep. My LT6720R cost half what an average DD rifle cost, the DD rifle _might_ be better but not 2x better.

quote:

It seems unconscionable for DD to sponsor a NASCAR team while laying off workers

Marketing drives sales. No difference between a NASCAR sponsorship and buying ads on TV. There is a calculated return on investment expected from advertising dollars. They aren't doing it for fun.

I read the SilencerCo just had a second round of layoffs. The gun industry is longing for the old Obama days.