| Industry | Arms industry |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Tony Knight |
| Headquarters | Athens, Tennessee, United States |
| Products | Muzzleloading rifles |
| Website | www |
Knight Rifles is an American manufacturer of modern muzzleloading rifles and shotguns that pioneered the in-line muzzleloader in the mid-1980s. The company was founded in 1985 by Tony Knight, a gunsmith from rural Worthington, Missouri, and is now owned by PI, Inc. Originally, Tony built the guns by hand one at a time in his garage, and as demand increased, their first factory was built in 1987 in Lancaster, Missouri. Over the next few years, demand increased dramatically, and a new, larger factory was built in Centerville, Iowa. The company was sold to father/son duo Dale and Bruce Watley in 1991, and then to Pradco in 1999. Under Pradco’s ownership, Knight Rifles sales decreased and in 2009, the Knight Rifles product line was closed. In 2011, Knight Rifles was purchased by Plastic Industries, Inc. and is now headquarters in Athens, Tennessee, although the warranty center remains in Centerville, IA.
References
- Jim Braaten (3 June 2009), "Knight Muzzleloading Rifles looks to close production", Minneapolis Star Tribune, archived from the original on 11 May 2015, retrieved 16 February 2012
- Doug Howlett (9 May 2011). "The Return of Knight Rifles". American Hunter. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- "Knight Rifles Revived, Moving to Athens, Tenn". Chattanoogan.com. 30 March 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2012.