Company History and recent progress were shared with us on our visit to the Savage Arms Canada facility in Lakefield.
Arthur W. Savage was born in Jamaica in 1857 and founded Savage Arms in Utica, New York about 1894. In 1919, Arthur Savage provided discounted rifles to a reserve after which the Chief of the tribe, Chief Lame Deer, gifted his likeness to Mr. Savage and it was added to the company logo. In 1994 Lakefield Arms (1969-1994) was purchased by Savage Arms and became Savage Arms Canada. The United States represents 94% of its market and they source more than 50% of their production parts and services from within one hundred miles of the Lakefield facility.
Savage Arms Canada manufactures .22 & .17 calibre rim fire rifles for hunting and target shooting. One of their biggest customers is Wal-Mart in the U.S. and they have sales of more than $30 million annually. The company does not make military products and did you know…all U.S. police forces can only purchase guns that are made in the United States?
In 2004 the company introduced the AccuTriggerTM, an innovation that was adapted for the rim fire product line at the Lakefield facility. It is considered revolutionary in the shooting world. Also in the “revolutionary” category- the Balanced Scorecard management system that Savage Arms Canada has developed that will be shared at the upcoming Tri-Association Manufacturers’ Conference in November. The GPA EDC was able to assist Savage Arms Canada by providing more than $65,000 to the company in funding through its recent manufacturers’ training initiatives. Submitted by: Laura Lauzon, Director of Manufacturing and Small Business
