Henry Repeating Arms moving full operation to northern Wisconsin – Outdoor News

Rice Lake, Wis. — With its announcement Tuesday, March 18, that the company is buying two more buildings in Ladysmith and moving in all of its remaining New Jersey manufacturing, Henry Repeating Arms firmly planted its flag in northern Wisconsin.

“We are putting all of our eggs in one basket – the Wisconsin basket – because it makes us more efficient, more productive, and allows for more collaboration amongst our design and engineering teams, all while sustaining and enhancing Henry’s solid reputation for quality,” said Anthony Imperato, founder and CEO of Henry Repeating Arms, in a press statement. “With about 400,000 square feet of cutting-edge manufacturing operations in four facilities within minutes of each other, Henry Repeating Arms is well positioned for its next chapter.”

That chapter and any others that follow will now be written within Barron and Rusk counties where the workforce is steeped in northern Wisconsin’s hunting tradition.

Dave Armstrong is the Barron County economic development director in Barron. He has worked with Henry for the last 10 years with the goal of increasing their manufacturing capacity in Wisconsin.

“I’m thrilled they have chosen Wisconsin to be their sole manufacturing location and was filled with pride when I saw their new moniker of, ‘Made in Wisconsin or Not Made at All.’ Henry is a stable company that manufacturers the finest lever guns in the world. This is due to the craftspeople they employ here in Wisconsin.

“I own a number of Henry lever guns and the Homesteader carbine is my latest,” Armstrong said.

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Dan Clayton-Luce is Henry’s vice-president of communications. He said Henry has been lining up this move and announcement for some time, with the news coming out as Henry is adding a second manufacturing facility to its Ladysmith site this month, then closing on a third – and almost adjacent facility – in Ladysmith later this summer.

As those real estate transactions fall into place, Henry will simultaneously be fitting those buildings for the rifle-making as equipment moves in from Bayonne, N.J.

“This transition allows us to double down on what we do best – making world-class rifles, shotguns, and revolvers right here in the heart of America,” said Andrew Wickstrom, president of Henry Repeating Arms, in a press statement. “Our Wisconsin operations have been essential to our success for a long time, and now it is the cornerstone of our bright future.”

This transition accommodates Henry’s need for increased production capacity and better supports the company’s future growth driven by new firearms design, Wickstrom said. Clayton-Luce added it’s no secret building firearms in Wisconsin has fewer regulatory restrictions and other hurdles than the company’s subjected to in New Jersey.

“The move solidifies Henry’s commitment to American craftsmanship in the heart of the Midwest and underscores the company’s relentless pursuit of enhancing the quality of its offerings, leading the industry in aesthetic and functional design engineering, and delivering unmatched value to its growing customer base,” Wickstrom said.

As this move came together, Imperato, Wickstrom, and other Henry staff worked with Armstrong and Ashley Heath, Rusk County’s administrative coordinator in Ladysmith.

“Rusk County is extremely proud of our outdoor heritage, especially the amazing recreational opportunities our county forest land provides,” Heath said. “It’s no surprise that Henry Repeating Arms decided to move all of their manufacturing operations to Wisconsin – it’s the perfect fit. The region’s strong hunting culture aligns so well with what Henry stands for, and their move is a great boost to our local economy and community spirit.”

Armstrong, Heath, and Clayton-Luce noted that filling Henry’s workforce in a lightly settled area can be a bit of an issue, but Henry has been able to hire skilled and willing employees since November 2006 when the company first started a presence in Rice Lake.

“Part of it is buildings became available in Ladysmith for a fraction of what it would have cost Henry to build new and that’s enabled them to increase their capacity here,” Armstrong said. “That, along with the addition of automation, is helping with any workforce challenges.

“I’ve even offered a concierge service to assist any New Jersey workers who would want to relocate.”

Heath doubled down, saying Henry’s commitment to northern Wisconsin will bring new career options while supporting local businesses and organizations.

Right now Henry has about 800 employees between Rice Lake and Ladysmith. That number will likely be closer to 1,000 in one to two years, said Clayton-Luce, with some people coming from New Jersey and others being new hires.

“How many from New Jersey we just don’t know yet. It’s a pretty big shift for some folks to move from New Jersey or New York to Ladysmith or Rice Lake,” he said, adding that even with a smaller workforce to draw from, Henry has found the employees needed to build firearms.

“We’re always in touch with trade schools and tech schools to make sure they’re aware of the needs we have. We have had interns come in for the summer, they get to know us and the area, and then they end up moving in and working,” he said.

U.S. Congressman Tom Tiffany is less concerned about where Henry finds new hires than the fact that Henry will need more employees. Rice Lake and Ladysmith sit in Tiffany’s Seventh District.

“Since 1996, Henry Repeating Arms has fought for Americans’ rights to bear arms, becoming one of the top five producers of firearms in the United States while simultaneously contributing to the Wisconsin economy. I am thrilled they decided to move their operations solely to the Seventh District, which will bring more local jobs, promote economic growth, and advance the Made in America cause,” Tiffany said.

Currently, Henry builds 200 to 210 models of rifles, shotguns, and revolvers, not including all the custom firearms Henry builds for various organizations. Historically, the Henry Golden Boy and Big Boy rifles were built in New Jersey; that work will move to Wisconsin.

Clayton-Luce said new Henry models are always in the works, so anything coming off the drawing board will now be built in Wisconsin.

“There are always a lot of new models on the drawing board, most of which I can’t talk about. I can talk about some new tribute editions – we have the 250th anniversary of U.S. Marine Corps edition. That just started shipping. It’s a lever action .22 Spirit of the Corps Tribute Edition. We also have a special edition for the construction industry, the American Construction Tribute Edition,” he said.

Henry’s next big release will occur during the National Rifle Association show in April  – the first series coming out under Henry’s relatively new Special Products Division that was announced at the SHOT Show.

Clayton-Luce described the first project as  “the ultimate suppressor host,” a lever-action rifle with a carbon fiber threaded barrel carrying lightweight furniture. They’re calling it the HUSH Series, Henry’s Ultimate Suppressor Host.

Clayton-Luce isn’t surprised Henry has jumped into Wisconsin with both feet.

“We’re proud of the fact we’re staking our claim in Wisconsin as our home for the foreseeable future. It’s a unique relationship. Let’s take a lever-action .30/30 for example. How many deer hunters here have carried that rifle, and carry one today. That rifle is being built in Wisconsin by deer hunters who are going to take it out into the woods themselves,” Clayton-Luce said.

Source: https://www.outdoornews.com/2025/03/28/henry-repeating-arms-moving-full-operation-to-northern-wis/