The headline says it all.
In the "Industry Intel" category today, Kit Up learned yesterday that our good friends at one of the nation's leading tactical gear design and manufacturing firms, Blackhawk!, has been sold to ammo maker ATK.
ATK’s newly formed Security and Sporting business group, a leading manufacturer of ammunition, optics, reloading and shooting accessories, has acquired BLACKHAWK! Products Group. BLACKHAWK! joins Eagle Industries as part of Security and Sporting’s Tactical Systems division and creates a market force in tactical accessories.
So it looks like ATK is edging into the lucrative tactical gear marketby acquiring Blackhawk's vast portfolio of pouches, packs, holsters, headwear and threads.
I'm not sure what the down low is on whether folks at Blackhawk are pleased with the move or how this will affect their employees, but it's a huge move for former SEAL and Blackhawk founder Mike Noell.
The company was founded in 1993 by former Navy SEAL Mike Noell. It all started with a failed pack in a mine field in Iraq that inspired Noell to create his own line of gear to perform when it was needed most. That promise has delivered a full offering of tactical products that have become trusted by a wide range of customers with specialized needs worldwide.
Blackhawk was a private company, so officials wouldn't release the financials. But ATK is a veritable colosus, pulling in upwards of $5 billion annually with an employee base of 18,000 in 22 states.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Is Blackhawk! still considered good gear by members of the military? In the civilian world it has gotten a bad rap lately in terms of value for the dollar.
We’re taking a full seabag of BLACKHAWK! gear during the Military.com embed next month, Jeff. Keep your eyes on KitUp! to see our impressions from the field.
I just love their”Best in the world crap.”I really doubt it.
No, Blackhawk is not considered good gear anymore, due to penny-pinching in their manufacturing. Their gear is good for airsoft, gamers and students, not military use in a deployed location. Tactical Tailor and Eagle are examples of quality gear.
LOL Govorit po Russki? Da, you do: Didn’t know that they made Americans to be such an embarrassment, this site is proof of it. LOVE YOUR CAPTORS…..
No such thing as an M240 ;) There’s an RR-3000 :)
M240 has a very good buyer, not American though :)
M240 has a very good fan club, but its biggest fan is not American, though, I should have said :)
As with any huge conglomerate buying out the competition… BLACKHAWK! is sure to be worthless, crappy mass-produced gunk from here on out.
Meanwhile, Noell gets his millions, so why does he worry, or say anything but positive BS?
Welcome to the world of capitalism, where you make a good product, forge a name for yourself, sell it at an opportune moment right before the value goes to hell… then buy a condo in Tahiti and retire…
As a BLACKHAWK! employee, I can assure you that business is the same as usual. We have not cut back on quality as mentioned by "FRANK" above and there is definetly no penny pinching going on. Yes, BLACKHAWK! has been purchased by ATK and like I mentioned before, it's business as usual. No, I'm sorry, business is getting stronger as we meld with the other ATK owned companies, ie: Eagle Industries, Federal Premium ammunition, Estate Cartridge, Weaver Optics, Outers, Shooters Ridge, Fusion, CCI, Speer, Champion Clay Targest, Gunslick Pro, Redfield, Simmons, Alliant Powder and several others. So, "Mr. blackhawkdown", I don't know how you feel about some of the companies mentioned above that are owned by ATK, but the feeling is "IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T MESS WITH IT"! You just can't please everyone.
sweat shop labor low wages
10 years ago I remember Blackhawk! gear being thought of as cheap Asian-made crap, but it seems like it makes quality stuff now, especially holsters.
Although I do remember a balaclava I bought being waaaay too big.