Smith & Wesson Buys Savage Arms: What We Know

Last updated: October 26, 2026

Short answer: Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. completed its acquisition of Savage Arms on October 21, 2026, in a deal valued at about $160 million. S&W paid with roughly 9 million shares of its stock plus $37.5 million in cash. Savage came from an affiliate of JDH Capital, which is now S&W’s largest stockholder.

Two of the biggest names in American guns are now under one roof. Here is what Smith & Wesson has said so far, in plain terms. We’re sticking to the announcement. Anything that hasn’t been announced, we’ll leave out until it is.

The deal in brief

According to Smith & Wesson’s October 21 press release:

• Who: Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: SWBI), based in Maryville, Tennessee, acquired Savage Arms from an indirect subsidiary of JDH Capital I, L.P. The deal was structured as a merger.
• When: It closed on October 21, 2026.
• Price: About $160.0 million, subject to customary adjustments. That breaks down as approximately 9 million shares of S&W stock, valued at $13.62 per share, plus $37.5 million in cash.
• Ownership: JDH now owns about 16.7 percent of Smith & Wesson, making it the largest stockholder. A JDH representative joined S&W’s board, which now has seven directors.
• Numbers: Savage had about $160 million in net sales for the 12 months ended September 30, 2026. S&W says the price is about 7.9 times Savage’s adjusted EBITDA and expects about $2.5 million in initial cost synergies.

Who Savage is

Savage is based in Westfield, Massachusetts. The release calls it “one of the world’s largest manufacturers of hunting, competition and target shooting centerfire and rimfire rifles and shotguns,” with more than 130 years of history. Guns.com reports that Savage has about 500 employees and that Smith & Wesson is 174 years old.

If you hunt, you have probably carried a Savage. We stock a good run of them, including the Savage 110 Timberline, the Axis XP scoped combo in .308, the straight-pull Impulse Big Game, the A22 rimfire and the Revel Classic lever-action .22. On the shotgun side, there are the Renegauge Field and the 320 Field pump.

What Smith & Wesson says it means

S&W President and CEO Mark Smith called the deal “a transformative step for Smith & Wesson and an important milestone in our strategy to be the undisputed market leader in the firearm industry,” adding that it “meaningfully expands our presence in the hunting category.”

Michael Fertitta of JDH said Savage “has a storied history spanning more than 132 years.”

Before this, S&W’s brands were Smith & Wesson and Gemtech. Its lineup already includes hunting guns like the Model 1854 lever action in .30-30 and carry pistols like the M&P9 Shield Plus. We also carry Gemtech suppressors and mounts.

What hasn’t been announced

The release doesn’t cover product lineups, branding, factories or customer service for Savage owners. We won’t guess. If you own a Savage, nothing in the announcement asks you to do anything. For questions about a specific gun, go to Savage or Smith & Wesson directly. We’ll update this post if either company announces changes.

Shopping in the meantime? Browse our bolt-action rifles, lever-action rifles and semi-auto shotguns. If this is your first gun bought online, our guide to buying a rifle online and shipping it to your FFL walks through the FFL step. Planning to hunt suppressed? Start with how to buy a suppressor and our 2026 state rules for suppressor hunting. Order online or in store and ship to your local FFL.

Frequently asked questions

Did Smith & Wesson buy Savage Arms?

Yes. Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. announced on October 21, 2026, that it completed its acquisition of Savage Arms from an affiliate of JDH Capital (press release). The deal was structured as a merger and valued at about $160 million, paid with roughly 9 million S&W shares plus $37.5 million in cash.

How much did Smith & Wesson pay for Savage?

Smith & Wesson valued the deal at about $160.0 million, subject to customary adjustments. That is about 9 million S&W shares at $13.62 per share plus $37.5 million in cash (press release). S&W says the price is about 7.9 times Savage’s adjusted EBITDA, and that Savage had about $160 million in net sales over 12 months.

Who owns Savage Arms now?

Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. owns Savage Arms as of October 21, 2026. The seller, JDH Capital, received S&W stock in the deal and now holds about 16.7 percent of Smith & Wesson, making it the largest stockholder. A JDH representative joined the S&W board, which now has seven directors (press release).

Sources

• Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.: Smith & Wesson Acquires Savage Arms (October 21, 2026)
• Guns.com: Smith & Wesson Buys Savage Arms (Paul Peterson, October 21, 2026)

Change log

• October 26, 2026: First published.