by Joseph P. Tartaro | Executive Editor
While the gun industry is not as booming as it was in 2013, it is still thriving in spite of reports to the contrary in some media, and several companies are turning to a variety of rebate, discount and bonus promotions that mean consumers can find some extra buying incentives this year. If you are in the market for new guns or additional cartridge chamberings, now is a good time to shop. Here are just a few of the offers available.
Thompson/Center’s Venture Predator is just one of several T/C models earning a $75 mail-in rebate during the balance of 2015.
Smith & Wesson Corp. announced that it is expanding its “Nation’s Finest” rebate program, which is designed to provide qualified military personnel and disabled veterans with discounts on select Smith & Wesson and Thompson/Center Arms firearms.
From now to Dec. 31, 2015, any current active duty, retired or disabled member of the US armed forces or reserves is eligible to receive a rebate with the purchase of any qualifying Thompson/Center Arms or Smith & Wesson firearm. The Nation’s Finest program offers eligible military personnel and disabled veterans a $30, $50, $75 or $100 mail-in rebate for the purchase of a qualifying M&P15 rifle, M&P pistol or Smith & Wesson revolver. The program also offers mail-in rebates for the purchase of any T/C Venture™ or Dimension® bolt-action rifle as well as the purchase of any Encore®, Pro Hunter™ XT, or Triumph® muzzleloader. Please visit either www.smith-wesson.com/nationsfinest or www.tcarms.com/nationsfinest for complete details on the Nation’s Finest program and to learn more about qualifying Smith & Wesson and Thompson/Center Arms products.
The S&W and T/C “Nation’s Finest” program is available to all active duty US military, retired military with retired military status, active National Guard reservists and disabled veterans of all US military branches, including the Coast Guard.
In addition, until May 31, 2015, S&W is offering consumers a limited opportunity to obtain three free magazines with the purchase of a new full-size or compact M&P pistol.
Three days later, Smith & Wesson announced that its Thompson/Center Arms division is currently offering consumers a limited-time $75 mail-in rebate for the purchase of any new T/C Venture rifle. The T/C rebate offer is available from now through Dec. 31, 2015.
The new promotion is limited to one rebate per new T/C Venture rifle and is only valid in the US and Canada for those individuals who are legally able to own and possess firearms. The mail-in rebate cannot be combined with any other Thompson/Center Arms brand promotion and all rebates must be postmarked by Jan. 15, 2016 in order to qualify.
During the month of April, Browning ran a promotion timed to the month everyone faces the federal income tax deadline. This wasn’t an IRS tax refund but the equivalent of a 8% sales tax refund. If you purchased a new Browning firearm or safe at retail between April 1 and April 30, you were promised a rebate of up to 8% of the purchase price to reimburse you for your state sales tax. If you live in a rare “no sales tax” state, Browning promised “special consideration.”
If you did purchase the qualifying Browning product in April, you had until May 15, 2015 to file for your Second Amendment rebate, by mailing in the proper supporting documents, including a copy of your sales receipt.
The Browning rebate was one to a customer in the US only. Of course, Browning employees, sales representatives, authorized dealers and their sales staff, and members of their immediate families were not eligible for this promotion.
About the same time the Browning, S&W and T/C promotions were launched, FN America announced their own law enforcement officer discounts and rebates program designed to show support for law enforcement, first responders and the military. Under the FNH USA Individual Officer Purchase (IOP) and Law Enforcement Instructor Rewards Program, qualifying officers will be able to purchase FNH USA products through authorized FNH USA IOP dealers at a discount for duty and off-duty use. The added Rewards Program bonus will allow officers with qualified IOP purchases of all FNS™ striker-fired pistols the opportunity to obtain a free Safariland holster.
Individuals listed below qualify to purchase one firearm per category per year (pistol, carbine or shotgun) from an authorized FNH USA IOP distributor or dealer at special discounted pricing: All sworn local, county and state law enforcement officers; all federal law enforcement officers; all corrections officers, including parole and probation officers; all retired federal, state, county and local law enforcement officers with “retired” credentials; employees of state licensed security companies; state/city-licensed security officers; active duty military personnel of all branches; reserve duty military personnel; honorably retired military veterans with “retired” military ID; all TSA employees; licensed paramedics and emergency medical technicians; firefighters, including volunteer firefighters, with appropriate ID; federal flight deck officers; court judges, and district attorneys and deputy district attorneys.
And through to the end of May, certified law enforcement instructors that purchase any FNS™-9 or-40 from an FNH USA authorized Individual Officer Program dealer can take advantage of the very first rewards offer of a Safariland Model 6378 ALS® Paddle Holster, a $71 value.
