American Outdoor Brands Corporation announced that its accessories business, Battenfeld Technologies Inc., has agreed to acquire substantially all of the assets of Fish Tales, LLC, a provider of premium sportsman knives and tools for fishing and hunting, including the premium knife brand, Bubba Blade.
James Debney, president and CEO of American Outdoor Brands, said, “In August of last year, we purchased the assets of Taylor Brands, LLC, a designer and distributor of high quality knives and specialty tools and the owner of a number of highly-regarded, legacy brands including Schrade, Uncle Henry, Old Timer, and Imperial. The purchase of Fish Tales will expand our presence in the knife and tool market, and establish our entry into fishing accessories. The Bubba Blade brand is widely recognized among outdoor enthusiasts for some of the finest knives and tools for fishing, hunting, and kitchen use. The company’s proprietary design has gained popularity due to an enhanced handle grip, which is highly effective in adverse environments. With an existing product line that spans knives, pliers, and other tools, and a distribution channel that includes wholesale, major retail, and direct-to-consumer sales, Bubba Blade products are a natural fit with our accessories business. We look forward to further innovating and expanding this popular product line into adjacent markets that we believe will benefit from the Bubba Blade design.”
The company intends to complete the acquisition utilizing cash on hand. The transaction is expected to close this summer, after which it will transition the business to its facility in Columbia, MO. Bubba Blade products will be on display at ICAST 2017, the world’s largest sportfishing tradeshow, on July 11 – 14, 2017 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.
American Outdoor Brands reports two segments: Firearms and Outdoor Products & Accessories. Firearms manufactures handgun and long gun products sold under the Smith & Wesson, M&P, and Thompson/Center Arms brands as well as provides forging, machining, and precision plastic injection molding services. Outdoor Products & Accessories provides shooting, hunting, and outdoor accessories, including reloading, gunsmithing, and gun cleaning supplies, tree saws, vault accessories, knives, laser sighting systems, tactical lighting products, and survival and camping equipment. Brands in Outdoor Products & Accessories include Smith & Wesson, M&P, Thompson/Center Arms, Crimson Trace, Caldwell Shooting Supplies, Wheeler Engineering, Tipton Gun Cleaning Supplies, Frankford Arsenal Reloading Tools, Lockdown Vault Accessories, Hooyman Premium Tree Saws, BOG POD, Golden Rod Moisture Control, Schrade, Old Timer, Uncle Henry, UST, and Imperial.
Photo courtesy Bubba Blade
