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White Oak Sold

Received that email too, not sure what that means for the future of WOA, I know what the email says it means........but not sure what it will really mean, sad to see this happen.
 
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I also am concerned about WOA's future.

I wish WOA would show / post, more.. about the new owners "level" ( ? ) of commitment to quality.

Its hard, to not know what is gonna happen...,.
 
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I cant see the attached picture of the email, but some second hand info I got earlier this week is the new owner seems interested in PRS related stuff.
 
I dont know the owner of WOA (John) personally, but have talked with people who knew him from high power comps. All speak highly of him. As WOA is less than an hour from me I have dealt with them directly, and had brief helpful and enjoyable conversations with John. John is at an age he can retire and I hope comfortably.
Illinois PICA (Protect Illinois Communities Act, aka "assult weapon ban") may have a bit to do with his decision, but that's speculation on my part.
Best of luck to WOA employees/owners, both new and old.
 
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Received that email too, not sure what that means for the future of WOA, I know what the email says it means........but not sure what it will really mean, sad to see this happen.
Cue the stupid gnashing of teeth about quality, customer service, and everything else.

Oh no a business got sold whatever we will do now?
 
I spoke to one of the new Owners, Mary today. Her and her husband bought WOA from John and moved thr business to Nevada as its a more gun friendly state.

They moved all the WOA equipment from Illinois to the new bigger shop in NV in March and John has been coming out to Nevada and helping with the transition.

New Owners hired a 3rd generation gunsmith recently retired from the AMU.

They have been cranking out barrels with an emphasis on quality as top priority while trying to keep lead times down.

Nice people and looking forward to testing the 2 new barrels I have coming from them. Krieger just shipped and Shilen has to be machined, looking at 6-8 weeks
 
I spoke to one of the new Owners, Mary today. Her and her husband bought WOA from John and moved thr business to Nevada as its a more gun friendly state.

They moved all the WOA equipment from Illinois to the new bigger shop in NV in March and John has been coming out to Nevada and helping with the transition.

New Owners hired a 3rd generation gunsmith recently retired from the AMU.

They have been cranking out barrels with an emphasis on quality as top priority while trying to keep lead times down.

Nice people and looking forward to testing the 2 new barrels I have coming from them. Krieger just shipped and Shilen has to be machined, looking at 6-8 weeks
This is cool news. Gardnerville is in my neck of the woods.
 
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I spoke to one of the new Owners, Mary today. Her and her husband bought WOA from John and moved thr business to Nevada as its a more gun friendly state.

They moved all the WOA equipment from Illinois to the new bigger shop in NV in March and John has been coming out to Nevada and helping with the transition.

New Owners hired a 3rd generation gunsmith recently retired from the AMU.

They have been cranking out barrels with an emphasis on quality as top priority while trying to keep lead times down.

Nice people and looking forward to testing the 2 new barrels I have coming from them. Krieger just shipped and Shilen has to be machined, looking at 6-8 weeks
I knew John when he just started and out of his garage. I had him do some really easy mods on the uppers I took to Iraq as I was a contractor for various companies back in the day. He was really patriotic about all that. Years past and I dropped in for other custom stuff between deployments and personal hunting rigs. I grew up 15 mins from his shop. Ironic. I know I'm the last person locally to buy from them before the move. The new owners were busying about the office during the turnover. They seemed like cool folk.

John is a cool MF'r. Introverted and a mastercraft in his High power AR15 industry. I loved hearing his takes on things in the ever dynamic shooting sports. His responses aways made me chuckle as he kept to KISS!
 
I live in IL...I am sad to see but in a way glad they left, Craddock left several years ago as well as some others. I wouldn't be surprised of RRA and Springfield left as well.

IL is a horroble state, as my years get closer to retirement I won't be far behind them.
I left Illinois in 2008 and moved to south east Missouri. I am a journeyman electrician and I had to travel anyway , I bought a little 40 acre ranch and I retired in 2020 at the age of 60. Best thing I ever did . Life is very different in a free state .