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Hi Guys,
O.K.! June 30, 2006 has come and gone! We are no longer accepting orders for
"VIPs of any type, "Special Edition"s, or any 2011 style gun with an
aluminum frame. The "Model 2200"’s are gone and "RangeMaster
II" orders will only be accepted in quantities of 16 or more. (It’s just
amazing how popular this one became after we announced it’s limited
availability. Maybe one of our U.S. Distributors will order a run and have
the market cornered?) The 6" Trojan,
the 6" Eagle, and the "Stinger"
have about three more months to prove their value in the line up and orders
for the "IPSC 30th
Anniversary Commemorative" will cease being taken at the end of this
year.
Due to the apparent lack of PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) capacity in this
country for tungsten/cobalt, the finish that we have applied to our "Legacy"
series, the new "Texican" SAA revolver will still have a color case hardened
frame but it may, of necessity, have a lustrous blue finish on
everything else. The PVD finish turnaround on the Legacy adds 4-6 weeks to
your lead time just in the volumes we are currently having done. Since we
anticipate the Texican volumes to be far higher, we just don’t yet have a
big enough pipeline established. Our vendor is working with us. We’ll keep
you posted.
All of the new products seem to be "on schedule" to this point with
pre-orders for the "Spartan" and the "Texican" beginning to roll in in
appreciable numbers.
Having announced the Colt "Defender" sized gun in .45ACP (what else), I’m
beginning to take heat for the same item in 9mm. Knowing that tooling up for
magazines may be an extreme problem, I’ll still ask: Any interest out there?
Or would we be better served to just increase the length of the "LS9"
frame to equal the length of the Defender frame, assuming that the magazine
problem could be surmounted of course. From this point on, I’ll stop
referring to this model as "Defender sized". From now on, it’s the "Escort".
With many of our models having run out their practical life and (with you
guys help) having decided on the new product line up for next year, it is
very obvious that we will be doing a new catalog for 2007. With that said,
do not hesitate to give us a call if additional 2006 catalogs will do you
any good. We probably have plenty.
On that note, please remember that the SHOT Show will be earlier than usual
this year. I mention that only because it will probably be the first
opportunity that many of you will have to actually see, and better yet
touch, our new product line up. Since it’s in Orlando this year, many of you
might consider coming to see the entire line in one place at one time.
Well, the BATF has just published firearms manufacturers’ production numbers
for 2004. While overall the industry was down just a little, STI was up
significantly and has moved into 20th place on the list of top 60
U.S. pistol manufacturers, by volume. (Notably absent from that list was the
name of another Texas pistol manufacturer.) The "cut off" number to be on
the list was 200 guns produced. The other list of significance that we did
well on was the "Pistols Exported" list. Of all the U.S. pistol
manufacturers who export, we were 3rd in volume, well
ahead of some of the biggest names in the industry.
If you don’t have your copy of "American Handgunner" magazine for September/
October yet, ya’ need to get one. (read
on website) On
the cover is the prettiest 9mm "STI GrandMaster" you ever saw. Of
course, it looks like all the rest of them we ever made, but hey …………, this
one was photographed beautifully by Ichiro Nagata. He brings out the best in
everything. One heck of a good story by Dave Anderson, too! If anybody ever
doubted that mans’ ability to shoot good groups, he put those doubts aside
with this article. (and this gun) Just as a side note: We built up a worthy
supply of 9mm GM’s late last year and offered them out to "main stream"
retail Dealers. They sold out quickly and we are back ordered. If you guys
think that these things just sell to USPSA/IPSC shooters, you’re wrong. They
sell to all types of individuals who appreciate fine workmanship, accuracy,
and beauty in a firearm. The "Legacy" is proving that, also.
I
am told that the September issue of "Front Sight" magazine will have an
article by (Irish magazine writer and international IPSC competitor) David
Thompson about the "STI European Championship" which was held in
Philipsburg, Germany last month. That match gets bigger and better every
year. I haven’t seen the article yet, but I’ll bet it’s a good one.
Americas’ speed shooting champions converged on Montrose, CO last week for
the "STI/American Handgunner World Shootoff". It doesn’t appear that a
year’s layoff hurt the attendance, or the quality of the match or
competition. I’d expect a pretty comprehensive article about this one in the
next American Handgunner magazine.
Well, it’s "fess up" time. While we were focused on getting the volumes up
on our manufactured products for you guys, we took our eye off the ball on
purchased things. Consequently, we are OVER STOCKED on shirts,
jackets, etc. I mean OVER STOCKED! Our man John will be
posting some
blowout prices on the website for these items
very soon. If some of you Dists./Dealers want to talk volume discounts,
you’ll be amazed at how easy we listen.
This is all new product, no seconds, nothing obsolete. It all qualifies for
the "Contingency Programs" for
all coming years. It’s time to stock up for this season, next season,
yourself, your wives, your kids, and strangers that you just want to make
friends with. When our inventory levels are back to normal, prices will be
back to normal, too.
For our South American friends, Dealers, and Distributors: Pauletta and I
will be in Brasilia, Brazil for the Pan American Championship in August. STI
is the Match Sponsor! See us there if you need a "sit down".
For our Asian friends, we’ll be in the Philippines at least once this year,
maybe twice.
North America wise, we’ll be at the U.S.P.S.A. Nationals in Barry, IL and
Tulsa, OK.
Past that, John, Lori, Don, and Chris will be covering a multitude of
events. Call if you’re curious.
We’ve added quite a large number of you to the mailing list this month. If
you’re a "first timer" and want to play catch up, you can find previous
issues in the "SkinnErgrams" series on our website (
www.stiguns.com ), under "SkinnErgrams" coincidently. If any of you
prefer not to receive further issues, please reply and I will immediately
remove you from the list. Same goes for you "long timers". If you’d like off
the list, please, just let me know.
Sell a bunch. Have fun. Do good. Not
necessarily in that order! |
