[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Sabre (Page 1 of 4)
Posted: 2/8/2011 12:47:16 PM EDT
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OK,
I heard this first hand tonight and wasn't in any rush to post it, but it is now relevant. Guy Savage has been arrested and Sabre is closed as of today Here's a link to an online story, so no point keeping it to myself today. I feel for the employees that I know at Northolt http://www.tennessean.com/article/20110208/NEWS03/110208085/Federal-grand-jury-charges-gun-manufacturer-illegal-arms-trafficking Federal grand jury charges gun manufacturer with illegal arms trafficking 7:34 PM, Feb. 8, 2011 | A federal grand jury charged Nashville-based gun manufacturer and U.S. military supplier Sabre Defence Industries and five company officers with illegal international arms trafficking. Sabre owner Guy Savage, a United Kingdom citizen, and Middle Tennessee residents President Charles Shearon, Chief Financial Officer Elmer Hill, Director of Sales Michael Curlett and International Purchasing Manager Arnold See Jr., are the individuals charged. They also face charges of conspiracy, making false statements, smuggling, wire fraud and mail fraud in the 21-count indictment unsealed today. They and the company, located at 450 Allied Drive in Nashville, are accused of illegally importing and exporting regulated guns and gun components and technology to and from the United States. The indictment alleges that Savage directed the activity from his personal residences and from a related U.K. company of the same name. The indictment alleges that the defendants concealed their activities by falsifying shipping records and labels and concealing gun components in false bottoms of boxes. The indictment alleges that Sabre smuggled regulated firearms components overseas without required licenses or authorizations since at least 2003. “We recognize the role that weapons play in a sometimes violent world and we will vigorously enforce the laws to prevent the illegal importation of firearms and firearm components,” Jerry Martin, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee, said in a news release. Sabre was raided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in February 2010. At the time, Shearon said the raid concerned the “potential criminal misuse of certain non-saleable firearms” manufactured by Sabre and purchased by its employees. “Sabre has received information that employee(s) involved in inventory control may have obtained and re-sold some items without appropriate licenses,” the company’s statement last year read. “Sabre is and has been cooperating with federal agents in this investigation.” Before it shut down operations following the raid, Sabre’s largest customer was the U.S. military. Savage was arrested in London today. The other four defendants will be issued a summons to appear in the U.S. District Court in Nashville. Two civil cases also are pending against Sabre in the Middle District of Tennessee. In 2009, a supplier sued the company for breaching a $1 million sales agreement for machinegun parts. Late last year, Cadence Bank sued the company for not repaying a $1.9 million loan. In court documents, the bank alleges that the company has been attempting to remove proceeds from loan collateral such as inventory and equipment to accounts with other banks. A temporary restraining order has been issued to prevent Sabre from converting the loan collateral. The court also ordered Sabre to assist Cadence in its efforts to sell the assets of the company. That sale is scheduled for Feb. 15. Contact Brand |
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.... falsifying shipping records and labels and concealing gun components in false bottoms of boxes.....
.....Sabre smuggled regulated firearms components overseas without required licenses or authorizations since at least 2003........ Oh dear. This will not end well. As you say, I feel for the poor sods at Northolt. |
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Well I doubt I will be seeing my two VEPR 12s that were getting rechoked Sabre. He's only had them a week! More money down the bog! I wonder if the company's assets include my shotguns? ...so it starts..... They are apparently aware of your shotguns, so you will need to get in touch with the federali's to get them back |
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This is going to run & run.
US dept. of justice press release. "According to the indictment, Savage allegedly repeatedly urged the other defendants and SDI-US employees to ship firearms components located in the United States to SDI-UK, without first obtaining an export license or permission. In addition, Savage allegedly specifically directed the employees of SDI-US to mislabel and undervalue export shipments of firearms components from the United States to SDI-UK, in order to evade the prohibitions and licensing requirements of AECA and the ITAR" http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2011/February/11-crm-161.html |
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This saddens me. Not just because Savage was always a source of pride for the uk gun industry, but because if Savage have been operating outside the law then the dissapointment we will feel over the loss of trust and the impact on legit RFDs and will be significant, not to mention the employees who have lost their jobs.
I hope that the allegations are shown to be unfounded and our trust can be resumed without prejudice. I feel for Anyone relying on Savage for a source of income or as a business critical supplier. I hope this is a mistake. However, time will tell. |
I think there is a lot of people that would rely on SDI, who if these claims are found to be true and SDI ceases to trade, will feel the fallout in a big way. That's on top of the employees who now face uncertainty and have to worry about their next mortgage payment. 
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Wow. A bad day for all involved. The Fed really seems to be on the case at the moment. As far a the UK is concerned, who will take up the slack? Perhaps some employees will find work with them, but other than FB, how many other people producing machining uppers/ lowers here? |
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Wow. A bad day for all involved. The Fed really seems to be on the case at the moment. As far a the UK is concerned, who will take up the slack? Perhaps some employees will find work with them, but other than FB, how many other people producing machining uppers/ lowers here? Not many but that may be about to have to change |
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Wow. A bad day for all involved. The Fed really seems to be on the case at the moment. As far a the UK is concerned, who will take up the slack? Perhaps some employees will find work with them, but other than FB, how many other people producing machining uppers/ lowers here? Not many but that may be about to have to change Order in for 'Number 1', wholly BAR manufactured AR then.... 
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Wow. A bad day for all involved. The Fed really seems to be on the case at the moment. As far a the UK is concerned, who will take up the slack? Perhaps some employees will find work with them, but other than FB, how many other people producing machining uppers/ lowers here? Not many but that may be about to have to change Order in for 'Number 1', wholly BAR manufactured AR then.... Too late 
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Wow. A bad day for all involved. The Fed really seems to be on the case at the moment. As far a the UK is concerned, who will take up the slack? Perhaps some employees will find work with them, but other than FB, how many other people producing machining uppers/ lowers here? Not many but that may be about to have to change Order in for 'Number 1', wholly BAR manufactured AR then.... Too late Oh no I'm not.....
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| As far as I'm aware it was all produced here in the UK. The CNC machine alone was as big as a house. I thought that the idea of the UK SDI was because if the restrictions imposed by the US and ITAR. Last time I was in there the machine was making everything AR and pretty impressive it was |
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Just spoke to the police and they were actually rather helpful. Took my details and called me back within 10 minutes to say that it will take 2 days to catalogue 1000 or so items there but that I should expect a call from them on Monday... 1000 guns? 1000 Items - so I would guess parts as well... |
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All Sabre Sec5 guns are being pawed over by forensics and then are to be destroyed apparently. Ohh and York Guns just lost its Sec 5 Cert, guys in removing all Sec 5 weapons from there. 6 machine shop guys at Sabre all owed about £6k each, now with no work I just got told  |
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You could give them a job, save you importing AR bits from Europe.  One can only hope that Paul is in a position do actually do this one day. We're losing some pretty big firearms makers / importers currently. Like this country needs this at the moment.
The companies left who want to do it right need the support. |
| I guess the big lesson here is you don't mess with the most powerful agency in the US. What used to take 6 months for you to order from this country will now take a year - and I wouldn't rule out a further tightening of exports. Savage and the other halfwit who got arrested for illegal magazine imports haven't done you guys any favors. |
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Quoted: You could give them a job, save you importing AR bits from Europe. Its the machinery, tooling and bussiness setup costs that would be the problem, you'd need, at least..... Wire edm or broaching machine, (for magwells, bolts and barrel extensions) 4 axis cnc mill or Mill turn machine (for flashiders,barrel extensions, bolts & carrriers) cnc Grinding centre (to finish bolts, bolt carriers, barrel extensions) preferabley a 4 axis pallet loading cnc mill (to do both upper and lower recivers) cnc lathe (for barrels) although these could be done on the mill turn machine) then you need if your wanting to make it profitable.... forgings, or your own forging dies which you can get forgings made from in the UK all your heat treating, testing, inspection equipment, finishing, it's not that easy, or cheap! |
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I guess the big lesson here is you don't mess with the most powerful agency in the US. What used to take 6 months for you to order from this country will now take a year - and I wouldn't rule out a further tightening of exports. Savage and the other halfwit who got arrested for illegal magazine imports haven't done you guys any favors. 
More ! 
And todays specialist subject is
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The intel on the street is that Savage was arrested in his car outside his home, the ERT guys that showed up apparently shot out his tires. The authorities obviously wanted him pretty bad. I dont think that's credible if he was arrested in London, we don't do that sort of thing over here. 
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Quoted: so true, no armed policeman I know could actually hit a car tyre if they had to!Quoted: The intel on the street is that Savage was arrested in his car outside his home, the ERT guys that showed up apparently shot out his tires. The authorities obviously wanted him pretty bad. I dont think that's credible if he was arrested in London, we don't do that sort of thing over here. |
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The intel on the street is that Savage was arrested in his car outside his home, the ERT guys that showed up apparently shot out his tires. The authorities obviously wanted him pretty bad. I dont think that's credible if he was arrested in London, we don't do that sort of thing over here.
Ummm, actually................................ 
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