Quarterly Financial Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Apr. 30, 2013		Jan. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Jul. 31, 2012	Apr. 30, 2014		Apr. 30, 2013		Apr. 30, 2012
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 170,425	$ 145,881	$ 139,294	$ 171,020	$ 178,717		$ 136,242	$ 136,560	$ 135,995	$ 626,620		$ 587,514		$ 411,997
Gross profit	69,744	58,651	57,937	72,773	68,445	[1]	49,932	48,468	51,227	259,105		218,072		127,906
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	24,899	20,057	17,145	26,526	28,630		17,506	16,401	18,869	88,627		81,406		26,433
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	157	728	(158)	(49)	(3,464)		(2,930)	4,784	(1,083)	678	[2]	(2,693)	[2]	(10,328)	[2]
Net income	$ 25,056	$ 20,785	$ 16,987	$ 26,477	$ 25,166		$ 14,576	$ 21,184	$ 17,787	$ 89,305		$ 78,713		$ 16,105
Per common share
Basic - continuing operations	$ 0.45	$ 0.36	$ 0.29	$ 0.41	$ 0.45		$ 0.27	$ 0.25	$ 0.29	$ 1.51		$ 1.25		$ 0.41
Diluted - continuing operations	$ 0.44	$ 0.35	$ 0.28	$ 0.40	$ 0.44		$ 0.26	$ 0.24	$ 0.28	$ 1.47	[3]	$ 1.22	[3]	$ 0.40	[3]
Basic - net income	$ 0.45	$ 0.37	$ 0.28	$ 0.41	$ 0.39		$ 0.22	$ 0.32	$ 0.27	$ 1.52		$ 1.21		$ 0.25
Diluted - net income	$ 0.44	$ 0.36	$ 0.28	$ 0.40	$ 0.38		$ 0.22	$ 0.31	$ 0.27	$ 1.49	[3]	$ 1.18	[3]	$ 0.25	[3]
Market price low	$ 11.31	$ 10.76	$ 10.25	$ 8.53	$ 8.25		$ 7.67	$ 7.40	$ 6.07	$ 8.53		$ 6.07
Market price high	$ 15.70	$ 15.56	$ 13.38	$ 11.96	$ 10.63		$ 11.25	$ 11.24	$ 10.25	$ 15.70		$ 11.25

[1] Gross profit for the fourth fiscal quarter included a $3.0 million adjustment for the recall of our Thompson/Center Arms bolt action rifles.

[2] The loss before income taxes for fiscal 2014 related primarily to legal fees associated with retained liabilities. The favorable income tax benefit in fiscal 2014 was a result of the reversal of an uncertain tax position whose statute of limitations had expired. Included in the results of operations for fiscal 2013 and 2012 are $1.2 million and $5.5 million, respectively, of non-cash charges related to the loss on sale from the divestiture of our discontinued security solutions division.

[3] Included in the calculation for diluted earnings per common share for the year ended April 30, 2012 is $499,000 of diluted earnings related to the effect of conversion of convertible debt.