Bass Pro to Wolverine Supplies: Canada’s Top Gun Importers 2016

Following is a list of Canada’s biggest gun importers in 2016, based on official statistics published two weeks ago.

Bass Pro Shops, Beretta Holdings SpA, Remington Arms Co. and Wolverine Supplies Ltd. are among the companies that shooters and hunters will recognize most because they operate retail stores or make firearms.

Big Rock Sports Inc., North Sylva Co. and Korth Group Ltd. are less well known because they don’t sell directly to the public. They operate behind the scenes as importers and distributors, getting firearms from the factory floor to your local gun store.

Canada imported $134.7 million of firearms last year, 17 percent less than in 2015, according to trade data published earlier this year by Statistics Canada.

The three largest importers for each type of firearm — rifle, shotgun, handgun, muzzle-loader — handle about half the shipments.

What’s New in 2016

Nine New Importers Listed

• Rifles: Bass Pro Shops, Korth Group
• Shotguns: Bell Lifestyle Products, Phantom Forge
• Handguns: Freedom Ventures II (owned by Sean Hansen, a Nova Scotia shooting champion), I Run Guns, London Arms, Rampart International, Wolverine Supplies

One Importer Unlisted

• Handguns: Beretta [The company wouldn’t comment. The Canadian Border Services Agency, which collects the data for Statistics Canada said it can’t comment on specific companies.]

Biggest Importers, 2016 (Alphabetical)

Rifles

• Bass Pro Shops, U.S.
• Beretta Holding SpA (via Stoeger Canada 1990 Ltd.), Italy
• Big Rock Sports, U.S.
• Cabela’s Inc., U.S.
• Herstal Group (via Browning Canada), Belgium
• Korth Group Ltd., Canada
• North Sylva Co., Canada
• Remington Arms Co., U.S.

Shotguns

• Bass Pro Shops, U.S.
• Bell Lifestyle Products Inc., Canada
• Beretta Holding SpA (via Stoeger Canada 1990 Ltd.), Italy
• Cabela’s Inc., U.S.
• Herstal Group (via Browning Canada), Belgium
• North Sylva Co., Canada
• Phantom Forge, Canada
• Remington Arms Co., U.S.

Handguns

• Big Rock Sports, U.S.
• Cabela’s Inc., U.S.
• European Arms Distributor (1982) Ltd., Canada
• Freedom Ventures II Ltd., Canada
• I Run Guns Inc., Canada-U.S.
• Korth Group Ltd., Canada
• London Arms Ltd., Canada
• M.D. Charlton Co., Canada
• North Sylva Co., Canada
• Rampart International Corp., Canada
• Wolverine Supplies Ltd., Canada

Top-Five Countries of Origin, 2016

Overall

1. U.S. ($75.9 million)
2. Turkey ($10.8 million)
3. Italy ($9.6 million)
4. Japan ($7.4 million)
5. Germany ($5.5 million)

Rifles

1. U.S. ($45 million)
2. Japan ($5.6 million)
3. Finland ($5.0 million)
4. Russia ($3.1 million)
5. Germany ($2.6 million)

Shotguns

1. U.S. ($10.8 million)
2. Turkey ($10.0 million)
3. Italy ($6.8 million)
4. Belgium (2.1 million)
5. Japan ($1.7 million)

Handguns

1. U.S. ($19.7 million)
2. Czech Republic ($3 million)
3. Germany ($2.6 million)
4. Italy ($1.3 million)
5. Austria ($0.8 million)

Notes

• Source: Canadian Importers Database on the website of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, updated on 18 October 2017. Importers are listed alphabetically and aren’t ranked. Source for countries of origin: Trade Data Online.
• Cabela’s was acquired by Bass Pro Shops in September 2017.
• The listed country of origin may not be where the firearm was made.
• Imports into Canada may not mean that the end consumer is in Canada.
• Some importers may not be listed.

Related Information

• Gun Imports Jump as Industry Aims to Avoid Crisis From New Rules
• RCMP’s Top Gun Suppliers 2016: Colt Canada, M.D. Charlton, S&W
• Meeting Terry Korth

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