Gun Makers Geography

[Tom Bri]

I am always surprized to read about gun makers in my home state of Illinois, given the political climate, but there seem to be plenty of them. Just wondering where the gun makers congregate in the US. Are there centers like Detroit was for cars?

 

[Texshooter]

It would appear that several still exist in the old gun valley regions of the Norteast. Sadly, so many of those states are now anti 2nd amendment areas.

But I am sure the good folks working for the weapons makers are still pro freedom and deserve our support.

In Georgia, we have Glock and soon HK will be down around Ft. Benning. It is a start. Wish we could get Colt to move here for a fresh start. Any billionairs willing to spring for the move?

 

[dfariswheel]

Connecticut and Massachusetts were the early centers of gun making, and these gunmaking centers were also where the American industrial revolution was born.

The same machines and processes that were used to make guns also served to make bicycles, sewing machines, farm equipment, and eventually cars.
It was the gun makers like Samuel Colt that provided the knowledge and people to start up all the other non-gun companies.

Most manufacturing of any sort was centered in New England up through the 1930's.

Today, many gun makers are still in New England, but of course, there are companies scattered all over America, and today there's less "clumping" of gun companies.

 

[Tom Bri]

So, which states have the biggest clumps today?

 

[Vodka7]

Germany

 

[PvtPyle]

According to the antis, the largest concentration is in the "Uzi Triangle". Utah, Nevada, and Arizona.

 

[Tom Bri]

Uzi triangle. Never heard that one before. Which companies are there?

 

[PvtPyle]

To name as few, Vector, Robinson Arms, LAR, FBMG, Cav Arms, Bobcat/Special Weapons, ASA, Arsenal. Those are the ones I can think of sitting here at breakfast.

 

[Tom Bri]

Heard of a few of those companies. I'm kinda old fashioned in my gun buying, so not much interest in hot new things. (Well, SOME hot new things...)

 

[jobu07]

We have 3 or 4 that I can think of here in New York.

 

[peteinct]

Surprisingly alot was in Ct

Hi, There used to be a lot of gunmakers in ct. Colt in Hartford. Marlin, Mossberg and Harrington+richardson in New haven. High Standard used to be in Connecticut north haven maybe? Ruger started in Southport. Remington was in Bridgeport and Winchester was in New Haven but they both made ammo. There is a high end shotgun maker called Connecticut valley but I don't know where they come from. Smith and Wesson is just up rt 91 in Springfield Mass. However they are all shadows of their former glory and many have moved away.
pete

 

[Moonclip]

I think the area arond S&W, Colt, Ruger used to be known as gun valley as quite a few gun makers are or were located in or around Conn. and Mass. Also include Charter Arms, Dan Wesson, Mossberg and others I can't remember.

Southern California had an area called the "ring of fire" by the media due to most of the cheap "SNS" handgun makers being located around there at one time. Raven/Phoenix arms, Lorcin, Bryco, Jennings, Davis, Sundance, were or are located in that area.

Florida seemed to have it's share of lower/mid level end gun manufacturers and importers too, FIE, Intratec, EAA, QFI, Heritage.

 

[jobu07]

Dan Wesson is in New York, is he not?

 

[Ala Dan]

Isn't Hartford, CT considered the birthplace of American firearms?

My state of Alabama has had Ranger FireArms, makers of the ill fated
American (stainless) Walther PPK's. There is another down around ole'
Prattville, AL but there name escapes my memory right now?

 

[KadicDeshi]

Arkansas has Wilson Combat. I think it's about a 30 minute drive from my new apartment. I still haven't been able to pin down it's exact location on Yahoo, Mapquest, or Google. Haven't given up though.

If I'm not mistaken, there was a manufacturer in Little Rock by the name of LaserAim. Made a funky 1911 "sorta-clone". I've only seen one in a gun store as I think the company went out of business several years ago.

Those are the only ones I can think of here.

Barrett

 

[Farnham]

You got me curious about my limited "arsenal", looks like the northeast is where the big boys are.

Ruger (x2) = Connecticut
Marlin = Connecticut
Savage = Massachusetts
Kimber = New York
Remington = New York
Rock River Arms = Illinois
Springfield Armory = Illinois
Mossberg = Texas
Glock (x2) = Georgia (sort of)

For some reason that seems kind of odd to me, with the current red state/blue state situation. Probably shouldn't, since like dfariswheel said, it's where industrialization began, but it still seems strange.

S/F

Farnham

 

[dzimmerm]

Ohio

Hi-point is made in Mansfield Ohio by Beemiller.

I am not sure if there are any other Ohio gun manufacturers.

dzimmerm

 

[Ala Dan]

Jacksonville, AR use to be the home of Iver Johnson (now defunk)

 

[foghornl]

Ala Dan beat me to it, but Iver Johnson used to be in Arkansas. Ruger has some facilities in Arizona...Prescott, IIRC.

I also don't understand why a lot of gunmakers are in such hostile, anti-states. Although, it does take A LOT of money to move a manufacturing company.

Not as unfriendly here as ILLinois, but I would really like to see Springfield Armory move to Cleveland. We desperately need some new manufacturing work...lot of empty facilites here.

 

[Werewolf]

Dan Wesson is in New York, is he not?

Yes... Somewhere around Syracuse I believe.

But even though the brand name will be retained Dan Wesson the company is now owned and operated by CZ.

 

[Dave R]

We missed a big one. Smith & Wesson is in Springfield, Mass.

 

[ckyllo]

KadicDeshi, this should help

Wilson Combat

2234 CR 719

Berryville, AR 72616

if you can take a tour we all expect a full report.

 

[Hugo]

I'm amazed Henry Rifle is still in Brooklyn, NY! Talk about being in the Lions Den!

They should move to the Dallas area, I'd work for them.

Anybody got a picture of their building and some surrounding buildings? I'm curious if they're next to some hippy store or something funny.

 

[George Hill]

Pvt Pyle - Don't forget NAA in Provo.

 

[toivo]

Mossberg still has a business address in Connecticut. I'm not sure where their guns are actually made. If you need one serviced, you send it to Texas.

No mystery about the Northeast Connection; that's where the Industrial Revolution started in America. Guns were one of the first industrial products in this country. The Northeast was also one of the first parts of the country to experience widespread suburban sprawl and urban decay, two of the biggest contributing factors to restrictions on gun ownership.

An area's gun ownership climate doesn't necessarily have much bearing on its gun industry these days. Japan has extremely strict controls on private ownership of guns, for example, yet they produce firearms for export.