Nu-line Guns: Crafted Through Generations
A Tradition of Craftsmanship Since 1949
Nu-line Guns History
Founding of Nu-line Sporting Goods (1949)
Roy and Victoria Stevens opened Nu-line Sporting Goods in 1949 in the living room of their home. At the time, Roy was working in the parts department at General Motors, and Victoria was a housewife who also worked part-time for Western Auto. They had three children: Jerome (Jerry), Jeanneane, and Raymond.
Roy initially planned to carry every new product line that entered the sporting goods market. Shortly thereafter, all branches of sporting goods—including hunting, fishing, and athletic goods—began rapidly expanding their product offerings.
Early Expansion and Business Focus (1954–1960)
As the business grew, it quickly outgrew the available floor space. In 1954, Roy added a 700-square-foot building extension to their home to accommodate the expanding inventory.
Eventually, the product line became too large to manage, and Roy made the decision to eliminate athletic goods in order to focus on hunting and fishing supplies.
Transition to Nu Line Guns, Inc (1962)
After returning home, Jerry recognized that Nu-line Sporting Goods could not adequately maintain inventory across both hunting and fishing categories. He suggested to his father that they discontinue fishing supplies and focus exclusively on gun sales and gunsmithing.
Roy agreed, and the business was renamed Nu Line Guns.
Growth of Gunsmithing Operations (1963–1966)
The gunsmithing operation proved highly successful. In 1963, 1200 square feet was added to house expanded gunsmithing facilities.
In 1966, Jerry purchased Nu Line Guns from his parents. That same year, he relocated the business to Pine Lawn, Missouri, into a 2,000-square-foot building.
Continued Expansion and Relocations (1978–Present)
By 1978, the Pine Lawn location was no longer sufficient, and the business moved to Harvester, Missouri, into a 4,000-square-foot facility.
As growth continued, the company eventually expanded again into a 5,000-square-foot building, along with three warehouses and 84 acres in a rural area known as Rhineland, Missouri.
Today, the business is once again bursting at the seams—but there are no plans to move again.
The rest is history.