For years, our industry’s spotlight has been fixed on the field, the trophies, the hunts, the heroes. Those stories matter. They always will. But let’s be honest: that’s only half of who we are.
The other half lives in the hum of a CNC machine, the scent of cutting oil, and the quiet pride of a machinist who still believes in measuring twice and cutting once.
So, in 2026, we’re shifting our focus back to where every hunt, every arrow, and every trigger pull truly begins: the workbench.
The Hunting Wire and Archery Wire exist for the people who make this industry work. We don’t just cover the outdoors; we serve the professionals who shape it. This year, we’re not just reporting, we’re celebrating.
It’s time we honor the backbone of our heritage: the builders, innovators, and craftspeople who make our traditions possible.
Every firearm, bow, bullet, broadhead, and optic has a story, and behind each one stands someone who believed they could make it better. These aren’t influencers or celebrities. They’re the quiet professionals, the welders, engineers, machinists, and dreamers who power our entire way of life through skill, grit, and an unshakable belief in doing things right.
John Moses Browning didn’t just build guns; he built possibility. Fred Bear didn’t just carve bows; he carved belief. Today, across shop floors big and small, that same spirit of craftsmanship and courage is alive and well.
Innovation isn’t just about what’s new for 2026. It’s about remembering that creativity and craftsmanship aren’t opposites; they’re teammates. Whether it’s a family-run sight shop in Montana or a massive production line in Missouri, we’ll tell those stories with the depth and respect they deserve.
“Manufacturing is the core of the firearm industry, it’s where and how innovative ideas become reality,” said Chris Dolnack, Senior Vice President & Chief Customer Officer for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. “I’m looking forward to this series as Jay pulls the curtain back to reveal the talent and technology that goes into the products that are enjoyed by millions of Americans.”
This year, we’ll be at the benches, on the factory floors, and inside the welding bays. We’ll watch sparks fly, smell the steel, and hear the stories that never make it to social media, stories about failure, perseverance, and pride.
Because if there’s one thing this industry still does better than most, it’s build. Not just products, but legacy.
If you’re a manufacturer, 2026 is your year. Open the doors. Show the process. Introduce your people.
Hunters and archers don’t just want to buy great products anymore; they want to understand them. They want to connect the shots they take in the field with the hands that built the tools that made it all possible.
We’re here to help tell that story.
As someone who’s watched this industry evolve, I see it as both a privilege and a responsibility to champion the values that make us strong.
American manufacturing has always proven Thomas Edison right: genius really is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.
Here at The Hunting Wire and The Archery Wire, we believe the future of our industry depends on one thing above all else: the makers.
The folks who still believe precision matters. That innovation is a responsibility. And that every tool tells a story.
2026 belongs to you, the builders, the dreamers, the doers.
Let’s tell your story together.
— Jay Pinsky
jay@theoutdoorwire.com