Lakefield Herald Special Report

Savage Arms Lakefield stages annual pot luck

by Anita Locke

Savage Arms in Lakefield held its annual company potluck last Thursday.

The event marks the start of the regular two-week summer shutdown and is always much-anticipated by management and staff.

Savage Arms employs 118 people in two shifts.

Besides an amazing variety of food, employees were treated to music provided by the “Lakefield Savages”, a live band comprised of Savage Arms employees, management, and friends.

Savage Arms’ General Manager Terry McCullough plays drums. He’s the former drummer for Toronto’s Jamie and the Del Rays and the Intenders.

In addition, he plays with the MacNaughton Highlanders, a Scottish pipe band performing highland and lowland music. Visit http://www.macnaughtonhighlanders.com/index.html to listen to some of its music.

Dan Washburn, Purchasing Agent for Savage Arms provides bass, lead guitar and back-up vocals.

He’s the former lead singer for South Mountain as well as band leader for the late Colleen Peterson.

He’ll also be producing a project for Lisa Ruschke (the band’s lead vocalist) in the coming weeks as well as a third album for Peterborough gospel singer/songwriter Randy Smith.

Guitar and vocals are provided by Barry Haggarty, owner of Haggarty Sound Studios in Peterborough.

Barry has played with such notables as Ronnie Hawkins, The Family Brown, and has been nominated for Guitar Player of the Year several times.

Rob Phillips, a veteran Peterborough player, brings his keyboard talents to the group. Kevin Goss plays sax.

Back-up vocalists are Karen Alderdice (Savage Arms employee), Michelle Washburn and Lisa Ruschke.

Sound is provided by Roy Craft of Custom Sound Productions, Peterborough.

Savage Arms has been a part of the Lakefield community since 1968. Originally known as Lakefield Arms, production started with two models of .22 caliber rifles.

From 1970 to 1991, the company built Mossberg Model 500 pump action shotguns.

In 1989, Enterprise Canada Ltd. purchased Lakefield Arms, and from that point forward the company added more than 25 models to its .22 caliber line.

In 1994, Lakefield Arms was sold to Challenger Industries, a holding company that also owned Savage Arms and Passive Bullet Trap, located in Westfield, Mass, U.S.

Ron Coburn, the present owner, purchased Savage Arms Inc. which included this business as well as the businesses in Westfield in 1995.

The company changed its name to Savage Arms (Canada) Inc., and a corporate name change was made to Savage Sports Corporation.

The company has continued to enjoy steady growth, adding a large warehouse in 1998. Today, it exports nearly 97 per cent of its product to the United States.

The product line consists of bolt action and lever action single shot, bolt action repeater, semi-automatic, ‘Striker’ handguns and other firearms. In 2002 it added the .17 caliber product; by 2003 that model represented 45 per cent of the company’s shipments.

In 2006 the company introduced the AccuTrigger, a trigger design so revolutionary it will forever change the way shooters expect triggers to function. It’s another example of Savage’s fresh innovation in setting new standards.

Company officials say, “Savage Arms is proud of its reputation for product improvement and has become the standard for accuracy in the industry.”

The company also actively engages in fundraising partnerships in the community including the United Way, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Lakefield Junior C Chiefs hockey club, Lakefield Santa Claus parade, Polar Fest and many more.

Visit their website at www.savagearms.com for more information.

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