Windham Weaponry Closes Its Doors

Windham Weaponry, of Windham, Maine, is shutting its doors after twelve years of manufacturing (primarily) AR-15 rifles. Slumping sales and mounting debt have forced the company to close. Today is the last date web orders are being processed.

Richard Dyke – original founder of Bushmaster Firearms – launched Windham Weaponry in 2011 after Bushmaster moved from Maine to New York:

When the people who bought Bushmaster in 2006 decided to move it “lock, stock and barrel” out of Maine to New York in 2011, the original Bushmaster owner, Mr. Richard Dyke was left with both a dilemma and an opportunity. Almost to the day of the 2011 move, Mr. Dyke’s non-compete clause expired. He still owned the property where Bushmaster had been built, and knew all the workers – now laid off – who had helped him build it. He made a decision to “get back in the game” and promptly put an email out to many of his former employees and friends asking if there was interest in joining him for a new project.

Dyke's Windham Weaponry was able to employ many of his friends and colleagues from the Bushmaster days. The company's goodbye message is quoted below for posterity. We wish everyone affected by the company's closure good luck.

It is with deep regret that we announce the closing of Windham Weaponry. Our website/online retail ordering system will remain active through Tuesday night, Sept 12. We will do our best to ship all orders this week and early next week. No credit card will be charged until the order is shipped.
 
Twelve years ago, when we started Windham Weaponry, our shareholders and longtime employees were excited to continue the traditions and spirit of Bushmaster Firearms, after the new owners decided to leave Maine.
 
We built WW into a company we could be proud of providing outstanding customer service, high quality products, as well as a great place for our dedicated employees to work.
 
The last few years have been a very challenging time for the firearms industry, and we have struggled to keep the WW dream alive for as long as possible. Unfortunately, we have not been able to meet our loan obligations with the bank after they worked with us as much as they could.
 
There was a glimmer of hope when we were negotiating with an investor to help keep WW alive and healthy, but that just fell through.
 
We have begun discussions with Keenan Auction Company to determine the best course of action for a full liquidation which should happen within the next month or so.
 
Our shareholders and employees truly appreciate your loyal support all of these years.
 
Windham Weaponry