founded in 1976
- 1976-1987 Detonics Manufacturing Company – Seattle, Washington
- 1987-1992 New Detonics – Arizona
- 2004-2007 Detonics USA – Georgia
Tag Archives: Pistol
Bauer Automatic
1972–1984
in Fraser, Michigan
- R.B. Industries (Robert Bauer)
- imported the Mauser 3000 rifles
- highest quality, finest hand fitted, semi-automatic,stainless steel pistols
- 1984 Robert Bauer Sr. died
- 1984 became Fraser Firearms
- 1986 Fraser Firearms closed
Raven Arms
1970 – 1991
Irvine, California
- 1970 established by George Jennings
- 1978 his son Bruce Jennings founded Jennings Firearms in Irvine, California
- 1982 his daughter & Jim Davis established Davis Industries in Chino, California
- 1989 his nephew Steven Jennings established Sundance Industries in Valencia, California
- one of the “Ring of Fire” Manufacturers
- November 1991, a fire destroyed the Raven Arms factory
- 1991 sold designs to Phoenix Arms
Raven Arms
Auto Mag
1970 – 1971
Pasadena, California
- 1966 designed the Auto Mag pistol
– designed by Harry Sanford & Max Gera
– short-recoil operated pistol
– rotary bolt with locking lugs
– similar to the M16/AR-15 rifle - 1970 Harry Sanford opened Auto Mag Corporation in Pasadena, California
- 1971 .44 Auto Mag caliber
– formed by trimming the .308 Winchester or .30-06 case down to 1.30 inches - 1972 .357 AMP (.44 AMP, but is necked down)
- August 8, 1971 first pistol was shipped
– less than 3,000 pistols made - May 3, 1972 declared bankruptcy
- 1973 – 1983 company opened & closed multiple times
- 1996 Harry Sanford died
- August 2015 Walter Sanford the company & trademark to AutoMag Ltd. Corp
– in South Carolina
Thompson Center Arms
since 1967
New Hampshire, Massachusetts
- Warren Center developed an unusual break-action, single-shot pistol
– in his basement workshop in Rochester, New Hampshire - 1965 Warren Center joined the K.W. Thompson Tool Company
- 1967 Warren Center’s Contender pistol introduced
- 1968 name was changed to Thompson/Center Arms Company
- 1970 introduced Warren Center’s Hawken-styled black powder muzzle-loader rifle
- 1983 Encore was released
– uses a different trigger mechanism
– larger and stronger frame
– over 86 cartridges - 1992 United States v. Thompson/Center Arms Co
– Court ruled in the the rifle conversion kit did not constitute a short-barreled rifle under the National Firearms Act of 1934 - 1996 major factory fire at the Thompson/Center factory
– destroyed all tooling and parts for Scout & Patriot pistols & the Seneca rifle
– they were all discontinued - January 4, 2007, Thompson/Center was purchased by Smith & Wesson
- December 8, 2010 manufacturing was moved to Springfield, Massachusetts
Thompson Center Arms
2100 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
(866) 730-1614
tcarms.com
NMRA
The National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association exists to promote, support, nurture, and preserve our Nation’s rich historical heritage in the sport of muzzleloading through recreational, educational, historical, and cultural venues such as match competition, hunting, gun making and safety, historical re-enactments, exhibits, museums, libraries, and other related programs.
- 1933 founded
- home range in Friendship, Indiana
- 2010 NMLRA Education Building opened
National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association is the National Governing Body for most black powder shooting competitions in the USA. They hold a Spring National and Fall National at their home range in Friendship, Indiana, plus a Winter National in Phoenix, Arizona. They sanction events for black powder rifles, pistols, shotguns including primitive events.
leading the effort to preserve the history of the United States through muzzleloading shooting sports & living history events.
Colt’s Manufacturing
founded in 1855
- 1836
- founded by Samuel Colt
- 1847 Colt Walker
- Single Action Army
- Peacemaker
- Colt Python
- Colt M1911
- 2002, Colt Defense was split off from Colt’s Manufacturing Company
– Colt’s Manufacturing Company served the civilian market
– Colt Defense served the law enforcement - 2013 two companies reunited
- lost the US Army M4 contract
- 2015-2016 Chapter 11 bankruptcy
- owned by Cannae Holdings Inc
West Hartford, Connecticut