Bighorn Arms is Changing to Zermatt Arms
- Thread starter IowaGeologist
- Start date
Not sure I how I feel about the name change, will be weird to see the name "Bighorn" disappear from the game.
Excited to see the new product though!
Excited to see the new product though!
They are just changing what it says on the action. Been Zermatt for years now. Nothing new.
Now they need to change the name of the TL3 to the Zorro.
Zermatt Zorro sounds awesome
Zermatt Zorro sounds awesome
I know what you're saying, since my invoicing and everything was "Zermatt". But in fairness, their website still is "Bighorn Arms". Looks like the Instagram page was just changed. Just wanted to point that out for anyone that might miss it.
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I think we all realize that, but the brand has always been "Bighorn" up to this point.
At the end of the day, it's really inconsequential what the brand is called. As long as they still produce kickass products.
Dang... just about to buy a TL3 now I’m wondering if I should wait and see what they’re about to release.
Interesting decision. I get the Zermatt ownership and wanting that to be the brand, but not sure how I feel about doing away with the Bighorn name.
Lots of history and legacy actions out there with the Bighorn branding, and that's how they are known among the shooting community. I have a hard time picturing myself answering the question "What action you running?" with any answer other than "Bighorn". Zermatt just doesn't have the same ring to it.
Lots of history and legacy actions out there with the Bighorn branding, and that's how they are known among the shooting community. I have a hard time picturing myself answering the question "What action you running?" with any answer other than "Bighorn". Zermatt just doesn't have the same ring to it.
I'm not a huge fan of the change but I like being able to drive to their shop so I'll get over it.
Love my Bighorn. Don't care for the name change, but it's just a name I guess. Very similar feeling to me when "Core" changed their name to "Altus". Still love those guys, but the name change makes me cringe a little.
Will miss the name. To me, Bighorn always reminds me of the Bighorn River and Mountains in WY.
Well, I plan to keep my s/a and l/a TL2s for life, so the name will stay with me. Thanks Bighorn/Zermatt!
Well, I plan to keep my s/a and l/a TL2s for life, so the name will stay with me. Thanks Bighorn/Zermatt!
I bought TL-2's RIGHT before the (unbeknownst to me) release of TL-3's. I'd wait if'n I was in your shoes.
I thought about selling the TL-2's and replacing them with TL-3's, but quickly determined it wasn't going to make me a better shooter. I am very happy with my TL-2's.
Wouldn't have a problem with it at all if that logo for Zermatt Arms wouldn't have the goofy spelling mistake with the unnecessarily added double dot Umlaut symbol on it, reminds me of Haagendazs icecream. Drop the Umlaut, add a Matterhorn picture to the shroud to replace the Bighorn and don't monkey with the TL3.
It's Swiss, Zermatt is the town at the foot of the Matterhorn a 14,692 ft majestic looking mountain. I just hope they continue to do really well and this isn't going to turn into one of those classic Coca Cola moves.
Sort of feels like the Ford Mustang logo is getting replaced with a cool racing name like Le Mans but with a double dot added over the A. Don't get me wrong I love Bighorn Arms/Zermatt Arms, love the products, the customer service, always had my doubts about the spelling mistake but I took it with an inside joke giggle. I want to see the company prosper because their products are top of the line. Rebranding is a tricky thing and name recognition is a big part of business.
I hate the new name. You're killing the goodwill and brand recognition of bighorn for a power trip with the less liked name and logo of the parent company.
That being said I'm going to buy an Origin and will be interested in the new release, lol.
That being said I'm going to buy an Origin and will be interested in the new release, lol.
And it will be good
And a name is just a name. We still have some boys with Pre "Bighorn" actions still running like a sewing machine. Some TL2's say CO, some say NE.
I think its a good thing and will be easier to do SEO too. @Zermatt Arms hit me up if you need some of this...
Man, didnt realized when I started the thread some people would get so worked up about the name change.
Over under on how many years it takes for most to call it a Zerhmatt action instead of a Bighorn? I don't see the logic on this branding decision. I've been a part of orgnaizations that re-branded a couple different ways. Some for the worse and some for the better. No dog in the fight and no issue with their products. I just don't see it on this one from a marketing or branding perspective.
Alright, hopefully most people have had a chance to sleep on this and reign it in a little bit.
Like some of the people here have pointed out, the only thing changing with this is the name engraved on JUST the TL3 and SR3 receivers. ZAI has been engraved on ALL of our Origin actions and, if you call our shop, you've been greeted with Zermatt forever.
We know this isn't going to be easy. We know it's going to irritate some people. We know it's going to create confusion. But we also know this is the right decision for us to create brand clarity.
When we say "brand clarity," we say it because there are multiple other entities in the firearms industry using the Bighorn name on either products or in their branding. We even sell our actions to a company with Bighorn in their name and there is no relationship between us other than the business we do together. There's another manufacturing company with Bighorn in their name and every year at SHOT, we get dozens of people coming to our booth asking to see their product, not ours. That's tough to overcome using the same name as someone else.
We chose Zermatt Arms first because we already have ZAI on our FFL so we can use that to engrave actions. Second, our home base in Bennet, NE is the home of Zermatt Tool, a state of the art machine shop that specializes in manufacturing parts for aerospace, bio-science, food industry and other industries. These capabilities have made action production more accurate and efficient than we could have ever dreamed of. Zermatt Arms (ZAI/Bighorn Arms) has been producing actions here in Bennet since 2015. There's more information about the origins of the company on our soon to be old website in the about page.
This change wasn't an overnight decision. There were a lot of factors that went into this decision and a lot of time spent discussing the decision. We had been discussing this change before the Origin was released about 2 years ago. We feel we've made the right decision and hope all of our loyal customers will continue to support us and we look forward to impacting new shooters and people in our community.
Thank you for everything you do, SH Forum and Members. Let's have some fun this year, alright?
- Ray
Like some of the people here have pointed out, the only thing changing with this is the name engraved on JUST the TL3 and SR3 receivers. ZAI has been engraved on ALL of our Origin actions and, if you call our shop, you've been greeted with Zermatt forever.
We know this isn't going to be easy. We know it's going to irritate some people. We know it's going to create confusion. But we also know this is the right decision for us to create brand clarity.
When we say "brand clarity," we say it because there are multiple other entities in the firearms industry using the Bighorn name on either products or in their branding. We even sell our actions to a company with Bighorn in their name and there is no relationship between us other than the business we do together. There's another manufacturing company with Bighorn in their name and every year at SHOT, we get dozens of people coming to our booth asking to see their product, not ours. That's tough to overcome using the same name as someone else.
We chose Zermatt Arms first because we already have ZAI on our FFL so we can use that to engrave actions. Second, our home base in Bennet, NE is the home of Zermatt Tool, a state of the art machine shop that specializes in manufacturing parts for aerospace, bio-science, food industry and other industries. These capabilities have made action production more accurate and efficient than we could have ever dreamed of. Zermatt Arms (ZAI/Bighorn Arms) has been producing actions here in Bennet since 2015. There's more information about the origins of the company on our soon to be old website in the about page.
This change wasn't an overnight decision. There were a lot of factors that went into this decision and a lot of time spent discussing the decision. We had been discussing this change before the Origin was released about 2 years ago. We feel we've made the right decision and hope all of our loyal customers will continue to support us and we look forward to impacting new shooters and people in our community.
Thank you for everything you do, SH Forum and Members. Let's have some fun this year, alright?
- Ray
But why?
what if when McDonalds sold out and the new guy just wanted to call it Steve’s?
Edit: I’m retarded, I just rest Zermatt post. Seems logical.
what if when McDonalds sold out and the new guy just wanted to call it Steve’s?
Edit: I’m retarded, I just rest Zermatt post. Seems logical.
Yep. Looks like they aren't doing pre-orders. Selling through existing vendors? Has anyone heard?
So is my bighorn action now a collectors item? I’ve built my long action and am looking forward to a clone in short action and my ocd is going a little crazy that they aren’t going to match. But as long as their product remains great, I think I’ll survive.
i can kind of understand the confusion of the 2 names especially being new in this game but that being said
if the service and quality stays the same....who cares
if the service and quality stays the same....who cares
Don't doubt quality is going to remain the same, but whats gonna take the place of the rams head on the bolt shroud?
How am I gonna get street cred from my friends?
How am I gonna get street cred from my friends?
It’s going to bug you to the point where you can’t sleep, eat or fornicate.
As a friendly savior I’ll buy it really cheap so you can get a matching action.
Ps don’t tell tucker cuz he’s suspected of hogging all the good deals.
Who cares what the name is. I just bought a tl3 and had timing issues with the firing pin trigger timing made a phone call and got to talk to a real person who knew what the hell they were talking about resolved my problem and sent me a part to fix the issue. The person spoke English without an accent and was very helpful. I will support most any company that is in the industry with that kind of support.
This.
I have no idea why you'd buy an existing brand just to change the name. Isn't the whole idea on buying a brand the name recognition that comes with it?
In the end the owner will do what he will. And people will buy any good product at a reasonable price.
I'd bet there's a drop in sales with the loss of arguably the most recognized name in custom actions.
Well the business was bought in ‘15, so if they bought it, “just to change the name” they sure took their sweet assed time.
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