I read on another site Brownell is closing it’s doors? Anyone else know about this?

I hope not. It's all I use!

Based on the other source I would say yes.

I received a letter from Brownell yesterday that informed me of their closing as of April 19th. I have a phone call into them and will update when I talk with them this morning . . .

Been dealing with them since the mid-90's, great folks . . .

Michael

Yes they are.

Never thought this would happen!Has someone bought them out or are their products gone for good?

As of now, doors are closing.

Just got off the phone with Cindy, and she said economic reasons. Got a little supply ordered that will hold me for a little while . . .

At this time they are not being bought out . . .

I know its part of how the world works, but a real shame that a company that's been around for 175 years has to shut it's doors.

Prayers for the workers there and hope all works out for them!

Michael

A lot of times I thought of doing business with them until I checked the prices, retail plus and a lot of plus.

We had a Gander Mountain store close in town and the new Gander Outdoors reopened in the same store promising " we will not be undersold". The problem was their on the shelf prices were retail plus and they expected the customer to find a lower price elsewhere, bring proof and contest their sky high prices.

They were out of business in a month.

Just got off the phone with Cindy, and she said economic reasons. Got a little supply ordered that will hold me for a little while . . .

At this time they are not being bought out . . .

I know its part of how the world works, but a real shame that a company that's been around for 175 years has to shut it's doors.

Prayers for the workers there and hope all works out for them!

Michael

Connecticut is killing all it's businesses, thanks to a Democrat led legislature for the last forty years, who spend like drunken sailors and pillage taxpayers like highwaymen.

REALLY HATE TO HEAR ABOUT THIS! Everybody needs to BUY NOW cause there might NOT be any more!

Not good for the industry

iv bought quit a bit of rifle reloading supplies & gunsmith tools from them over the years. but no archery stuff

I had a shirt once, showed a cat on the front, with a sight picture on the cat.... it said, This is Your Cat, on the back it showed the cats head exploding, it said This is Your Cat on Brownells Hollow Points,,,,, ha ha

for the cat lovers don't get your undies in a twist, I also have a cat, just thought it was a great shirt, as a feral cat shooter in my area,,,,,,

That color catalog had to cost a bunch to print and disseminate.

Now where am I going to get the cocobolo color B-50 to make my retro Bear strings? Man this stuff is starting to suck!

String makers will likely stock-up Steve, get some while the getting is good.

Kind of a bummer... I will say this though, Midway has a much better website, easier to use. Prices are about the same.... Lots of competition out there though.

Is it Brownell gun parts and supplies or Brownell archery (strings), confusing.

Brownell the string makers.

I just ordered a big ball of their Rhino string (really like that stuff)

Well I feel pretty stupid! I just assumed they were the same... still too bad....

me too

Consolidation by attrition. Over seas?

Parkes gone this year too.

It's Brownell Archery that is closing doors on the 19th. Selling out inventory now - manufacturing of material has stopped. A couple distributors I know are waiting on availability list of remaining inventory.

Sad, hard to believe that an established business can’t make it today, when a new business can start with all the expenses an do good. I didn’t favor one string maker over another.

It is sad but it's simply the evolution of business and happens in nearly every industry.

Same as with Abercrombie and Fitch, Herter's, Gart Brothers, Oshman's and the list goes on.

Is Brownell the same company as BCY?

Brownell and BCY are not the same company.

and the price of BCY products will be skyrocketing in 3, 2, 1....

not good. :(

what is Brownell

BCY has had 80%+ of the market for years. Got there by providing great product with great service at fair pricing. There are still a couple other companies. They will not be "skyrocketing" the prices. To say otherwise is pure speculation.

My mistake as well, I thought it was the gun parts guys.

I thought the same, Eric. Still, it's sad to see any good company go under.

The BCY guys were Brownell Archery guys befor BCY. All good string makers. What would a Bow be with out a good string. Keep making the string !

Staying in business in today's economies requires more diversification than some are willing to do, especially in a competitive market. Some of it's price, some of it is diversity of materials and or service, some of it may well be..'we just don't want to do this anymore'. I would hesitate to speculate why a company goes out of business. Like brace height, there are too many variables.

SB, I invented the Cocobolo and Cedar colors for Brownell . . . the Cocobolo was a great seller for them . . . I may have to see if BCY can make it . . .

Michael

Bcy no no no. I won't go to rehab.

Bloodline - limited colors, 2 types of materials only and no serving materials. Going to have to offer a lot more quickly to gain any market share.

Sad to hear for sure. I just picked up a couple spools of my favorite FF plus...given how long my last two spools have lasted I'll be ok with my string making. Just feel really badly for those that worked there. I lost my job only once in 32 years in my field and it was an absolutely terrifying time for me and my family. I wouldn't wish it on an enemy.

Riverwolf, when I talked with Cindy early this week and ask her, she kind of stammered hunting for words, not sure if it was emotions or she wasn't supposed to say much as to what the cause was and final said it was economics. As I stated above, according to Cindy, their products will no longer be available and at this time no one was purchasing the company . . .

Hico, Angel Majesty is carried by BCY.

Michael

Riverwolf, when I talked with Cindy early this week and ask her, she kind of stammered hunting for words, not sure if it was emotions or she wasn't supposed to say much as to what the cause was and final said it was economics. As I stated above, according to Cindy, their products will no longer be available and at this time no one was purchasing the company . . .

Hico, Angel Majesty is carried by BCY.

Michael

I always preferred Brownell B-50 over BCY B-55. Though the strand strength is nearly identical the diameter of the BCY is thicker per strand. Same number of strands in a string makes a fatter string which doesn't fit the nocks properly! Is Brownell also the maker of the #4 ylon serving I use? Don't have a spool handy to check.

What a shame. Yes SB, #4 nylon is Brownell

CRIKEY!....:(

Stringmaker, it would be awesome if BCY could start making the cocobolo color. I just picked up a few spools from Cindy to hold me for a while as soom as I heard the news. Sad, very sad news.

I have to be honest, I am confused. Can someone post a list of companies manufacturing bow string material? How many are there?

I am only aware of Brownell and BCY making Dacron string material. All the rest seem to be only "fast flight" no stretch materials. Primarily for compound bowstrings and cable and yoke systems.

BCY is the only one with 100% polyester - B55. B50 was polyester as well. BCY has 33 colors of it. They also have 8 different "fast flight" low/no stretch materials. Several of these are extremely popular and in hi/wide use on the full range of "traditional" bows.

Angel and Bloodline are the other 2 companies I know about for sure - both with limited selection of Hi grade Dyneemas and blends. There also may be a European company as well.

Finishing out my Rampage string making and starting with my BCY materials . . .

Talked with Bob today and they will be making the cocobolo color and they are working on another brown tone simular to Brownells Medium Brown. BCY's Med. Brown/Tan isn't even close to what is in the catalog/website - its just brown.

Michael

Finishing out my Rampage string making and starting with my BCY materials . . .

Talked with Bob today and they will be making the cocobolo color and they are working on another brown tone simular to Brownells Medium Brown. BCY's Med. Brown/Tan isn't even close to what is in the catalog/website - its just brown.

Michael

So when they close there won't be anymore strings?

I think you can still buy stuff at 3 rivers to make strings. Good ole 3 Rivers.,

Stringmaker....that's great news that BCY is going to make the Cocoblo color! I was more sad about it going away than anything else.....well, maybe their Crown serving also!

Strings are not going away. Brownell was a manufacturer of some of the string material. BCY is still going strong with over 80% of the market.

The sad part is, Brownell has been around so long and been the main stay of string material with no competition. I just wonder that when the competition did come along, they were just depending on their name's reputation, thinking no one could be better, and did not compete or know how to, to keep themselves going. It is a shame to see an older company like Brownell with its history in the Archery community go under. DANNY

A. S., I also sent them some Crown .026 and Bob said they wouldn't make it, that their Halo was better . . . though I tried to explain why Crown was better in some applications, but I understand it on the business side . . . if others were to ask, maybe . . .

Probably won't ever really know why they decided to close, as Cindy wouldn't really answer when I asked . . . it's a family business that did other things besides string material . . . I had also asked it someone was looking to purchase the business and no one was at the time, a lot of property to go with it . . .

Michael

I dealt with Brownell for many years. They always treated me like I was family.

Very sad to see them go. 8^(

Rick

Brownell is/was not just about archery so I guess there is no simple answer other than economic.

"Brownell & Company, Inc. Organization

Brownell & Company, Inc. manufactures and supplies archery products, helicopter cargo nets, twines and cordage, and tennis nets. The company’s products include cargo netting, barrier netting, strings, and archery bowstring materials, as well as accessories. It offers twisted linen and serving products; and cotton fiber ropes, cords, and nets to commercial fisherman. Brownell & Company, Inc. was founded in 1825 and is based in Moodus, Connecticut."

String maker, thanks again. I plan on talking to them quite a bit at ETAR in July. They will certainly be missed.

What shame.

Brownell & Company is alive and very well! On October 26, 2019, The Badinotti Group of Companies announced the acquisition of all intellectual assets, patents, trademarks, brands and processes of Brownell Archery, Connecticut, USA.

The combination of the Brownell product line with Badinotti’s own Stringshot archery nets and experience with working with high performance fibers since 1910, forms a powerful new offering in the industry. With production readiness in progress, Brownell & Company is targeting to have our full product line available for distribution in June 2020.

Of course, we will be producing your beloved favorites B-50, Fast Flight, Rhino, Vantage & Rampage along with our compliment of serving materials, string making accessories and our B-40 & B-60 Stringshot Backstop Nets.

Visit us at https://brownellarchery.com

I saw the video about bringing it back, I for one am very glad, but I havent seen it available, so now we know June of after. Thanks for the post

Rhino?!!!

You just made Rick Barbee a happy man.

:^)

Good to hear.

Excellent!

Whoopee

If it came right down to it you can roll a very good bow string from braid fishing line. It is older stuff that I take off of my bait casting reels. 60 lb test will make you a 20 strand low stretch, skinny, Flemish twist string that works excellent. Basically dyneema.

Great

I love the Rhino

I just happened to stumble on to this thread. Was aware that Brownell went under last year. Did not know that another company is bringing Brownell back into operation. This is fantastic news! I always preferred Brownell over BCY.

Let see if the be American buy American group chimes in. The company that bought them is the Badinotti Group headquartered in Italy and their North American company is in Canada.

Me, I don't give a rip where the company is, I just like B 50 better and can't wait to see what new colors they may come out with.

Will the product be made here or in Italy/Canada?

JimG supposedly South America. Haven't heard of any actually being made.

Wow scale back maybe mail order but close that certainly sucks.

Gov. won't be happy until they steal co and ration and surcharge.

Tom Gresham Gun Talk still references Brownell.

keepemsharp NOT Brownell Archery. Different company

Brownell Archery, that's great news. Thank you for the update.

We will be posting updates on this forum on Brownell Archery availability in addition to our website: www.brownellarchery.com

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