What happened to the Red Jacket Firearms?

Red Jacket Firearms has an interesting history. What started as a hobby quickly turned into a successful business venture thanks to hard work and dedication from Will Hayden.

Will Hayden was passionate about firearms and started his business journey in 1999. He was born and raised in Louisiana, where he spent much of his time with firearms. 

Initially, he started with a refrigeration and construction company while developing a gun business in his spare time. 

What is Red Jacket Firearms?

Red Jacket Firearms, LLC is a firearm manufacturing company based in Louisiana, most commonly known for its television show Sons of Guns.

Will Hayden was originally a general contractor who began dabbling in firearms as a hobby. After serving in the marines and becoming acquainted with guns from age 12, Will Hayden was all about firearms.

In 1999, he started to sell firearms out of the back of a truck. From there, the business took off, and he eventually opened a shop in 2006. The company was started in 2007 by him and his daughter Stephanie Hayden-Ford.

The shop was a great success, focusing on manufacturing firearms. They’d create custom firearms for clients, which include people in the police and military. In addition to this, Red Jacket Firearms has historical weapons which attract a lot of people.

Over the years, the Red Jacket Firearms store gained popularity and eventually fame. Will Hayden used to upload YouTube videos about his business, and Hollywood quickly caught onto it. 

In 2011, Discovery Channel came calling, and the hit TV show “Sons of Guns” was born. The show ran for five seasons and followed the day-to-day operations of the gun shop. It was a rating success, and as soon as this show began airing, people interested in guns were immediately wrapped up in what they were watching.

There were many controversies from Will Hayden’s personal life that ultimately led to the downfall of the Red Jacket Firearms store and ended the “Sons of Guns” TV show. What made the show stand out wasn’t just Will’s knowledge and passion for firearms. It was also the fact that it didn’t shy away from delving into his personal life. 

The Controversies of Red Jacket Firearms

One of the biggest controversies about Will Hayden is that he was found guilty of raping several girls. As if that wasn’t bad enough, one of his victims was his own daughter, Stephanie. She allegedly stood trial and testified about what had happened to her. 

The controversies came to light after Will’s assistant at the time witnessed him assaulting a young girl at his home. It turned out that the girl his assistant had seen being abused was Stephanie, his daughter. 

She reported what she had seen to the police, and the investigations began.

What Happened to Red Jacket Firearms?

The Red Jacket Firearms store is now closed for good. The co-owner of the store at the time, Joe Meaux, attempted to keep the store going and cut ties with Will Hayden. He was unsuccessful, as the controversies involving Will Hayden were too damaging for people to get over. 

Joe had no choice but to close the business for good. However, he went on to have a successful career by pursuing other ventures in Louisiana. 

What Happened to the Owner of Red Jacket, Will Hayden and His Daughter?

When the case was first put forward against Will Hayden, his daughter initially stepped up to defend her father. However, it wasn’t long before she took a U-turn and gave reports of how he had been abusing her. 

She later said that she took the brunt of the molestation from her father to protect her younger sister. 

Will Hayden was arrested in August 2014 by the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s department. They arrested him for aggravated crimes against nature and molesting children. 

When the trial began, Will Hayden didn’t plead guilty as he argued that his ex-girlfriend created the allegations out of vengeance. His ex-girlfriend was the mother of his daughter, who was being abused. 

Despite Will Hayden trying to defend himself, he was charged with rape based on accounts given by the children.  

Will Hayden’s Trial

The trial against Will Hayden began in January 2015. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. However, his lawyers withdrew and left the case later that year for reasons that weren’t reported. 

A public defender then represented Will Hayden, but he was found guilty on all counts in April 2017. In May 2017, Will Hayden was given two life sentences and 40 years in prison without the possibility of parole, suspension of punishment, or probation.

Later in 2017, he was given an additional life sentence for additional rape charges. Will Hayden was then transferred to Louisiana State Penitentiary. 

Where are They Now, Red Jacket Firearms?

The entire brand of Red Jacket Firearms was disgraced after Will Hayden was charged with his crimes. He quickly lost control of the business and has since shut down without any real prospect of opening again. 

His store began suffering before he was charged. Once he was charged, it was already the nail in the coffin. 

Glenn Flemming, the gunsmith in the Red Jacket Firearms store, made his own YouTube channel. He creates content that informs people about firearms. 

What Happened to the TV Show “Sons of Guns”?

While the “Sons of Guns” show was popular amongst firearm enthusiasts, it quickly lost traction once controversies about Will Hayden emerged. 

So much of the show was built around him that they saw no possible way to continue. After his daughter had provided testimony about Will Hayden abusing her and threatening her, the producers axed the show. 

The show ended for god in August 2014. This is the same month that Will Hayden was arrested. They were five seasons in, and the show was canceled almost immediately. 

The rest of the people involved with the show, including Stephanie and her husband, went on to pursue other business ventures. They preferred to be left out of the spotlight after all the media attention they caught during the trials. 

Tragic story

Will Hayden experienced a lot of troubles while setting up his firearms business. He achieved some great success and even went on to be on TV. However, all of this vanished almost instantly as soon as details about his private life came to light. 

It’s a tragic story that bought about the end of Red Jacket Firearms and the “Sons of Guns” TV show for good.