Springfield Armory, Inc.

This article is about the contemporary commercial manufacturer and importer of firearms. For the former US Government arsenal, see Springfield Armory.

Springfield Armory, Inc.

Type	Private
Industry	Defense
Founded	1974
Headquarters	Geneseo, Illinois, USA
Products	Firearms
Slogan	"The First Name In American Firearms"
Website	springfield-armory.com

Springfield Armory, Inc. is a firearms manufacturer and importer based in Geneseo, Illinois, founded in 1974. It is one of the largest firearm companies in the world. The company is a four-time recipient of the National Rifle Association (NRA) American Rifleman's Golden Bullseye award.

Formation

After Springfield Armory – the United States' first armory (established under authority of General George Washington as a major arsenal early in the Revolutionary War) – was closed by the federal government in 1968, Elmer C. Ballance began using the name "Springfield Armory" through his company (LH Manufacturing) dedicated to the first civilian production of the M14 rifle, calling it the M1A. Ballance began in San Antonio, Texas, and soon after moved to Devine, Texas, where the company gained momentum and popularity. In 1974, Ballance sold the company to the Reese family, who had a well-established production shop in Illinois and experience base. The company then expanded its market into pistols, notably the M1911. After further success, the company began to branch into other types of firearms. The company, now run by Dennis Reese and Tom Reese, manufactures and imports dozens of different firearms in many styles and models. A motto used by the company, "The First Name in American Firearms" (alternatively "The Oldest Name in American Firearms"), is a homage to the first U.S. national armory and namesake, the original Springfield Armory. There is no other connection between the company and defunct federal armory.

Products

The company's main products are M1911 pistols, and the M1A rifle series. It has been importing the Croatian HS2000 pistol as the XD ("X-Treme-Duty") series since 2002. Previously the company offered clones of the M1 Garand, Beretta BM59, FN FAL, HK 91, and M6 Scout. They have also imported Tanfoglio and Astra semi-automatic pistols under the Springfield name.

Springfield Armory also has a well-known custom shop, where full-custom M1911A1s and semi-custom XD pistols are built and modified. The custom shop's most famous product is the Professional Model (formerly known as the Bureau Model), an M1911 variant. The Professional Model was one of only two guns to pass the controversial trials set forth by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a new pistol for its Hostage Rescue Team and SWAT teams. The head gunsmith is David Williams. The first two directors of the custom shop were Les Baer and Jack Weigand.

Rob Leatham has been the captain of "Team Springfield", the practical shooting team, since its inception in 1985.

• Springfield Armory P9
• Springfield Armory M6 Scout
• Springfield Armory EMP
• Springfield Armory M1 Garand
• Springfield Armory SOCOM 16
• Springfield Armory XD and XD(M)

Political involvement

Springfield Armory, Inc. has played a major role in vocally opposing former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's proposed assault weapons ban that threatened to ban firearm manufacturing in Illinois.

On July 13, 2007, at the 100th anniversary of the National Matches held at Camp Perry in northern Ohio, Co-CEO Dennis Reese announced that the company would provide $1 million towards the NRA's "Competitive Shooting & National Championships Endowment" and challenged other firearms manufacturers to donate to the endowment.

External links

• Springfield Armory Official Web Site