Harris Publications Dead

[DPris]

Just passing this along for the 3 people who actually were still reading gun magazines.

Harris Pubs closing doors today.
All titles dead.
Last issues have been sent to printer, no more will be out after those.

I'm posting this for those who might be interested or affected with subscriptions.

I'm also asking you guys to please make heroic efforts in fighting the immediate temptation to turn this into four pages of the usual running gunmag criticisms.

Not my purpose in starting this thread.
Denis

 

[JellyJar]

I just went to their website:

http://www.harris-pub.com/

and of the four gun magazines I see of theirs the only one I will miss is Combat Handguns.

I don't read gun magazines the way I used to but I will miss that one.

 

[steveno]

Combat Handguns was pretty good up until they went to the full the full color format which made it kind of hard to read sometimes. I still like to sit in the recliner and turn pages. I will miss it

 

[CLP]

Whew... I confused them with Wolfe Pub. for a min. Was worried that I'd stop getting Handloader Magazine.

 

[bannockburn]

Combat Handguns was pretty decent when it first came out but soon every issue had on the front cover that the latest gun to hit the marketplace (and that they were featuring), was now "The Ultimate...". Got to be kind of ridiculous after awhile.

Oh well another tree saved and another gun magazine I won't miss.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

That's a bummer to see.

But then, I'm part of the problem.

I don't recall the last time I bought a "Combat Handguns" or "Farmer's Almanac".

Shoulda supported them more.


Todd.

 

[Damon555]

Of the magazines titles they owned it appears the only one left of real value would be the Farmers Almanac.

 

[ATLDave]

There's only so many sales brochures people will pay $8 for.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

There's only so many sales brochures people will pay $8 for.

There's a lot to that though they are usually forced to go ad-heavy as subscriptions and newsstand sales plummet.

I think less frequent publishing and content quality control is the way to go. I get a kick outa my semi-monthly "Garden&Gun" subscription.

Todd.

 

[ClickClickD'oh]

That's not the real Farmers Almanac. Much like many of their other title copy the style of more popular magazines, that one is riding the coat tales of the Old Farmers Almanac.

 

[bannockburn]

The only magazine I look through nowadays on my occasional visits to Barnes and Noble is Small Arms Review.

 

[Bobson]

Field and Stream goes under, let me know.

 

[Swing]

There's only so many sales brochures people will pay $8 for.

True. Coupled with pervasive free Internet content and, frankly, the overall decline of the quality of content in print, it isn't surprising. Sad, in some respects, but not surprising.

With the exception of a small number publications (e.g., Small Arms Review, The Double Gun Journal, etc.), it has been many years since I've bothered with mainstream gun magazines. Apparently, I wasn't alone.

 

[roscoe]

There's only so many sales brochures people will pay $8 for.

So true - but it is the same for magazines that cover sports cars, motorcycles, mountain bikes, running, backpacking, rock-climbing, whatever. Everything new is better, so go buy it! But read about it first here!

 

[Red Cent]

I understand Guns of the Old West is closing. Seems as though the digital era is creating havoc.

 

[DPris]

ALL Harris titles dead.
Denis

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

I'm surprised there isn't more of this going on with the internet ---a lot of newspapers are going under--you would think most all printed items are being affected.

I hadn't bought a gun mag in years until I picked a copy of G&A a couple months ago.

 

[evan price]

Darn, now what am I going to read while waiting for my prescriptions at the grocery store? You mean the magazine rack isn't a library? #istandcorrected

 

[GBExpat]

The only gun magazines that I have read in a couple of decades are American Rifleman (quickly peruse & discard), GCA Journal (quickly peruse & save) and, for several years during the 1st 10 of the 21st, SGN.

 

[Old Fuff]

I enjoyed Guns of the Old West and will miss it. At this point of my long life I don't need anymore "combat weapons" because I have enough to meet any requirement.

That said, between SASS, THR, and various manufacturer/dealer websites I should be able to survive.

 

[MagnumDweeb]

All these publications could go digital and start a Youtube video section so we could actually see the reviews as they happen and not just feel like we are being sold goods. Millenials are more likely to spend time on Youtube then pickup a magazine, much less pay for one.

I don't buy magazines anymore, you just end up with a massive pile you have to throw out. I'll read handloader out of curiousity but I can't remember when I last bought one of their issues.

 

[threefeathers]

I'm sorry. Mas Ayoob and Mike Detty are close friends of mine.

 

[gulogulo1970]

I used to love Combat Handguns.

It was amazing how much money I used to spend on gun magazines. From the late 80's to the mid-90's I probably bought 6 to 8 per month. The internet has killed that expenditure for me.

 

[lemaymiami]

Over the years I've written an article or two for several different magazines (fishing topics only - never for any firearms related magazines). The handwriting has been plain now for a few years... If you have a publication you enjoy.. value it since all are headed for extinction.... The magazines I used to write for can no longer afford even a minor article - everything is being done by the few in-house employees still remaining... That's also true of newspapers. Enjoy them while you can since they're fast disappearing....

If you've noticed some magazines that have become total advertising rags with little, if any, editorial content... That's what they've had to do to survive.... Wish it weren't so bu the internet and today's information world has just made print media un-profitable....

 

[DPris]

Adapt & survive.
In my case, switching entirely to Kindle eBooks.
Anybody interested, keep an eye out there.
Denis