Hardened Arms - Out of Business?

<*(((>< · Apr 29, 2019

Looks as if Hardened Arms (AR15's and parts) out of Washington is out of business? Their website is down and rumors are that customers have lost out on items ordered. Like I said this is rumors at this point.

Does anyone have any substantiated reports on the situation? I've never ordered from them but I have family that have in the past, they were terribly slow to ship but always did eventually and the quality seemed pretty decent.

Anyone with outstanding orders with them better try and contact them, it looks as if people have orders with them and are getting no response. Just FYI anyone with outstanding orders with them.

JWF III · Apr 29, 2019

I had ordered from them once, didn’t have any issue with them. I had my upper in a little over a week. And that was for a non standard feature, so it had to be built after it was ordered. And that was while “the greatest gun salesman ever” was still in office.

Could it be that sales have slumped off now with a more gun friendly president? I hope that’s not it, and they are just having issues with their internet service. We’ll see...

Wyman

Charlie Horse · May 2, 2019

Looks like they're closed for at least the foreseeable future.

http://www.islandguardian.com/archives/00000501.html

04/17/2019: "Owner Closes Down Hardened Arms In FH"

(UPDATED 12:20 AM, 04-29-19) Multiple sources reported ATF (The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms) showed up at Hardened Arms in Friday Harbor on Tuesday, and closed them down, however ATF states they were not involved, and Pat Merlino, the owner of Hardened Arms, states the reports are not true, and that he closed down the operation due to "declining sales;" a statement also verified by the production manager of Hardened Arms. Harden Arms employed approximately 20 plus local employees and made after-market parts for the AR-15 and other types of non-military rifles.

<*(((>< · May 2, 2019

Charlie Horse said:
Looks like they're closed for at least the foreseeable future.

http://www.islandguardian.com/archives/00000501.html

04/17/2019: "Owner Closes Down Hardened Arms In FH"

(UPDATED 12:20 AM, 04-29-19) Multiple sources reported ATF (The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms) showed up at Hardened Arms in Friday Harbor on Tuesday, and closed them down, however ATF states they were not involved, and Pat Merlino, the owner of Hardened Arms, states the reports are not true, and that he closed down the operation due to "declining sales;" a statement also verified by the production manager of Hardened Arms. Harden Arms employed approximately 20 plus local employees and made after-market parts for the AR-15 and other types of non-military rifles.

Thank you for the update, didn't want to spread rumors but it didn't look good.

rb288 · May 3, 2019

I am sorry to hear this.
I have 2 Hardened Arms uppers, 8.25" 300blk and 10.5" 5.56.
Both have been flawless in function, and have given me many hours of shooting enjoyment.
Sad news.

<*(((>< · May 3, 2019

rb288 said:
I am sorry to hear this.
I have 2 Hardened Arms uppers, 8.25" 300blk and 10.5" 5.56.
Both have been flawless in function, and have given me many hours of shooting enjoyment.
Sad news.

Yeah it’s too bad, the way I understand the company it was kind of a small mom and pop company. Probably tried to expand with the huge demand and then the demand fell through the floor. It’s really tough managing growth, especially in the firearms industry.

SSN Vet · May 7, 2019

Running a business ... any business, has significant risk.

I hope the owner didn't lose his life's savings in the process, and that the employees got paid what was due to them.

Better to shut down before the bottom falls out and everyone get's screwed.

JONWILL · May 8, 2019

SSN Vet said:
Running a business ... any business, has significant risk.

I hope the owner didn't lose his life's savings in the process, and that the employees got paid what was due to them.

Better to shut down before the bottom falls out and everyone get's screwed.

This is true. I used to be a contractor right before the 2008-2009 housing crash.

I bet Palmetto has put a hurting on almost everyone that has anything to do with AR's. Cheap and a decent product with good warranty.

AlexanderA · May 8, 2019

If it was a voluntary shutdown, due to declining sales or other business reasons, it wouldn't be done suddenly, with no orderly winding down, no notice to existing customers, no attempt to honor pending orders, no attempt to outplace employees, etc. That lends credence to the idea that this was an involuntary closure. Either way, the company's name is mud among the gun community, and there is no way they could go back into business even if they wanted to. Who would want to risk ordering from them and to be left holding the bag?

Dogtirade · Jun 13, 2019

I have several of their products. Good stuff. Always made quality gear as far as I could tell. It is a sad day. I'm sure no one wanted it to end like this.

FTG-05 · Jun 16, 2019

AlexanderA said:
If it was a voluntary shutdown, due to declining sales or other business reasons, it wouldn't be done suddenly, with no orderly winding down, no notice to existing customers, no attempt to honor pending orders, no attempt to outplace employees, etc. That lends credence to the idea that this was an involuntary closure. Either way, the company's name is mud among the gun community, and there is no way they could go back into business even if they wanted to. Who would want to risk ordering from them and to be left holding the bag?

Arfcomer lost whatever he bought: https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/Hardened-arms-out-of-business-/5-2214093/

George from Alaska · Jun 22, 2019

I have a beautiful 300 Blackout registered SBR and about eight 5.56 and Blackout barrels from them. Great customer service - you could always "get it your way" and production and shipping were very fast.

Hardened Arms - Out of Business?

<*(((><

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