Local gun manufacturer sees increase in demand during coronavirus outbreak
JOPLIN, Mo. – Gun sales have risen in the u-s since the beginning of the pandemic
Sullivan Gun Works has been in Joplin for 14 years with the owner Jon Sullivan having more than 30 years’ experience in the industry.
He says typically gun sales rise when people are in panic, but the influx of sales with the coronavirus outbreak is something he’s never experienced before.
“All of a sudden, bam, it started hitting hard, and it has not let down. We see that big influx and usually guys that have stock, inventory in their stock ready to push to sale, usually sell everything out and then get replenished with new stuff coming in the door. We are looking at having to replenish that for the next two or three months.”
Sullivan is a 07-02 manufacturer of federal firearms, mandated through the Department of Justice and the ATF.
He says on average he will make 75 AR upper receivers a week for merchandisers, but now he’s doing 175. Two weeks ago he had 13 custom builds to get done for individuals…now its jumped to 39.
He says the influx has him working 14 hour days, seven days a week, in order to keep up with the demand.
“You have an influx and you know it’s going to fade away and go, but in this situation until the economy gets back, until we start getting back to work, get kids back to school and get back doing stuff I see this going to be a long term of us having to supply the industry.”
Sullivan added that his typical work season is September through May and May through September is usually when things start to quiet down, but with the high demand he is seeing recently he doesn’t think that’ll be the case and he’ll continue working until all the orders are filled.
