Hegseth Tells Smith & Wesson the War Department Is 'Opening the Aperture'

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited Smith & Wesson's headquarters on what he called the Arsenal of Freedom Tour, and in a video he posted Oct. 18 he told the company: "We're certainly eager and interested in any other ways that we can work together. We're opening the aperture to make sure that wherever American-made companies, American manufacturing can be elevated, we want that at our department." Smith & Wesson re-shared the video from its corporate account the same day, thanking Hegseth "for standing with American companies." No contract, program, solicitation or dollar figure was announced, and Smith & Wesson has not said what defense work, if any, it would pursue. Analysts now have a reason to press the company on its fiscal second-quarter call, expected in early December, about whether any of its capacity is being pointed at government buyers.