Many American companies are shifting their manufacturing overseas these days, but guns appear to be an exception. According to a recent report from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the number of firearms domestically manufactured annually increased 187% between 2000-2020. In fact, there’s never been a year since 2011 when the number of guns produced in the US for domestic consumption has dipped below 6,731,958. However, if you are planning to buy a firearm, check to ensure it was manufactured here because the number of guns imported into the United States rose 350% from 2000-2020.
Since our mission is to help consumers find goods that are as close to 100% made in the USA as possible, we did the work to find all the companies that make firearms domestically as well as the countries of origin for their raw materials. Keep reading to learn what we found during our research.
Complete List of Gun Manufacturers Made in the USA
This North Carolina company uses CNC machinery to produce AR rifles for hunters and competitive shooters. Bear Creek Arsenal products are designed for veteran shooters as well as first-timers.
Faxon Firearms, a family-owned and operated company, produces its rifles, pistols, and bolt-action firearms in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. This brand is so confident in the quality of its guns that it guarantees its firearms for a lifetime.
Palmetto State Armory has stayed true to its name by continuing to make its AR-15 rifles and pistols in South Carolina, which is known as the Palmetto State. A 100% lifetime warranty backs the company’s products.
American Gun Craft is a Minnesota-based manufacturer that does a lot of precision machinery work for firearms, but also offers one of their own – a 12-gauge shotgun pistol. Check out their website for all the info on this unique firearm.
Brand name: Smith & Wesson
Headquarters: Springfield, MA
States manufacturing in: CT, MA, ME, MO, TN,
Smith & Wesson has been a pioneer in the gun industry since its founding in the 1850s. During its earliest years, this company patented the first repeating US firearm using a fully contained cartridge. Today, Smith & Wesson has factories across America.
The iconic Colt Manufacturing Company, LLC, started in the United States during the 19th century. This innovative brand was the first to produce a revolver. The Czech company CZG purchased Colt in 2021, but its firearms are still made in the USA.
This 100-year-old business is still in the Mossberg family today and continues to make firearms in the USA. However, Mossberg also produces some of its guns in Turkey. Fortunately, the company has made it easy for consumers to determine which of its products it makes here. If the name of a weapon doesn’t include the word “International,” you can rest assured Mossberg made it in the United States. We love this transparency!
Adams Arms specializes in AR15/M16 rifles with a retrofit piston drive system that prevents malfunctioning. This brand also shows its commitment to quality by making its firearms from high-grade steel.
This company makes fiber barrels, precision steel barrels, complete rifle systems, and advanced composite materials. PROOF Research’s goal is to design lightweight firearms that are still accurate and long-lasting.
Nighthawk prides itself on making each of its pistols by hand. Although this brand manufactures firearms in the USA, it also imports some of the guns it sells, such as Korth revolvers.
This company, known as MRI for short, has only been around since 1979 but has gained worldwide fame from its guns appearing in movies, TV shows, and other media. MRI produces its firearms in the United States except for the Magnum Research 1911 and the Baby Eagle, which it manufactures in Israel. Fortunately, MRI is transparent on its website regarding the country of origin for each piece.
Wilson Combat had made it a mission to make its handguns and long guns in the United States. The company only uses components from the USA and produces everything at a manufacturing facility in Arkansas.
Shadow Systems’ pistols are designed for veterans, former police officers, and competitive shooters and made entirely in Texas. The parts for these firearms are machined in-house.
Seekins Precision was founded in Glen Seekins’ garage to create a scope ring lighter than tactical rings but still rugged enough to be used in the mountains of Idaho. Today, Seekins’ company has grown to a full-scale operation that makes 100% made in the USA rifles.
This company, whose full name is Sturm, Ruger & Co., is the largest firearms manufacturer in the USA. Therefore, we are pleased to report that Ruger’s guns are all made here. The extensive product line includes bolt-action, semi-automatic, and single-shot rifles, shotguns, semi-automatic pistols, and single and double-action revolvers.
Founded more than 200 years ago, Remington is one of the most legendary names in the firearms industry. But are these guns still being made in the USA now that RemArms has acquired the brand? RemArms did move its operations from New York State, but instead of moving overseas it chose to locate its new plant in Georgia.
This brand has a storied history as one of the biggest producers of machine guns for America and its Allies during World War I. Today, Marlin makes semi-automatic, lever-action, and bolt-action rifles. Ruger, another American firearms company we mentioned earlier, purchased Marlin in 2020.
Kimber makes sporting rimfire rifles, pistols, and revolvers in its plant in Alabama. Nearly all the components are manufactured there. The company provides guns to the USA Shooting Team, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the US Marines.
KelTec began more than 30 years ago as a concealed handgun manufacturer, but its product line has grown to include rifles and shotguns. This company makes all its firearms in the USA and provides jobs to many veterans.
This company takes pride in making affordable firearms 100% in the USA. Hi-Point Firearms products include semi-automatic handguns and carbines made for target shooters, hunters, and law enforcement officers.
Heritage Manufacturing, as the name suggests, is inspired by the Old West in the look of its firearms. However, the company also incorporates a contemporary feel for the revolvers that are its main focus. Heritage also produces rifles and level-action firearms. All of this brand’s products are made in the USA.
This company is one of the top long gun makers in America. All its rifles, shotguns, and pistols are manufactured domestically. Henry Repeating Arms stands by its slogan, “Made in America, Or Not Made At All.”
All FN handguns are made in South Carolina with the exception of the FN FiveseveN, which is produced in Belgium. The company is ramping up its US production with an upcoming expansion of its existing plant and a new factory that will also be located in the Palmetto State.
Desert Tech is the creator of the SRS rifle, which is lighter and shorter than other hunting firearms on the market. This company also prides itself on making everything in the United States. Desert Tech provides guns not only to private citizens but also to the members of the Armed Forces and law enforcement.
This family-owned operation makes its AR15-style rifles, pistols, bolt-action rifles, and accessories in-house at its Georgia plant. Daniel Defense is known for cold-hammer forging its products and its tool and die-making.
Roland Christensen founded ACT Aerospace in 1984 in Fayette, Utah, to give the small town an economic boost. In 1993, he created a rifle barrel with carbon fiber. This invention was so popular that Christensen Arms launched two years later and is still going strong today as a producer of USA-made firearms.
This American firearm manufacturer and distributor makes semi-automatic pistols and rifle variants of the M4/AR-15 design. As customers can see from the product pages of the Bushmaster Firearms website, these products are entirely made in the USA.
More than 40 years ago, Ronnie Barrett invented the first shoulder-fired .50 caliber rifle. Today the company he founded is a global leader in large-caliber rifle design and manufacturing. In 2023, the Australia-based NIAO group acquired Barrett Firearms, but honored the company’s American roots by allowing its operations to remain in Tennessee.
Armalite is famous as the originator of the AR-10 and AR-15 platform firearms. The company still manufactures those products at its facility in Arizona. You can tell which Armalite guns are made here from looking at the spec sheets available on the company’s website. Most of these sheets have “Made in the USA” stamped on them.
This company, run by a US veteran, has a team of experts that produces its rifles and pistols. All Vudoo products are made in the USA using domestic components.
GO2 Weapons’ claim to fame is its precision sniper rifles that are considered good enough to be used by members of the US military. This brand makes its guns in Florida.
This brand specializes in building handmade custom rifles entirely in the USA. Professional gunsmiths do all their work in Utah, using precision machining and carbon fiber.
Horizon Firearms is known for its custom long-range bolt-action rifles, which are guaranteed to shoot .5 MOA. This brand’s products are handcrafted with the highest-quality materials in a beautiful manner.
Zenith is redesigning the ZF-5 platform at its Virginia manufacturing facility. The company is committed to making its firearms in America and using USA-made steel to ensure the highest quality.
How to Find Guns Made in the USA
Although many companies make firearms in the United States, those same brands might import some of their products as well. That’s why we want to equip you with the knowledge to do your own research, in addition to our recommendations above. Keep reading for our suggestions for finding a 100% American made firearm.
What Does Made In The USA Mean?
Let’s start by defining “made in the USA.” The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says this phrase means “all or virtually all” of an item, including the materials, was made in the United States. In other words, products with a few minor components sourced or manufactured in other countries can still be classified as being made here.
To learn more about the FTC’s rules, see our guide on how to find “made in the USA” stuff.
Materials
Next, we will look at the materials used in gun manufacturing and the most likely countries of origin for those components.
Steel
Although China is the global leader in steel production, the United States plays a major role in this market. US steel is more durable than the Chinese version, so some brands -including those that make firearms – prefer to source the steel they use in their products from the USA.
Aluminum
The amount of aluminum made in the United States is a drop in the bucket compared to China, the world’s largest steel producer by far. So, if you buy an aluminum gun, it most likely wasn’t made here.
Plastic
Gun manufacturers often use plastic for grips and stocks. Most plastic comes from China and Europe, but the US produces one-fifth of the world’s supply. This allows companies to manufacture firearms with plastic components that are still 100% made in the USA.
Wood
Firearms brands that use wood for their gun stocks are even more likely to be produced domestically, especially if they choose solid hardwood. The United States is the world’s top producer of this type of wood, prized for its beauty and sturdiness. Some companies opt for fiberwood instead to reduce costs. This material, also called composite wood, engineered wood, or MDF wood, is produced from fresh or recycled wood pieces. Although fiberwood was first made in the US in the 1960s, production has spread overseas. Still, a few stateside brands still manufacture this type of wood.
Carbon Fiber
Carbon fiber is sometimes used as an alternative to stainless steel for gun barrels. Fortunately, the United States is a significant player in the carbon fiber global market. However, you should still check the country of origin for this material when shopping for firearms.
Labeling
One of the easiest ways to find a gun made in the USA is to shop in a brick-and-mortar store to examine labels. This is because Title 19 Chapter 4 Section 1304 of the US Code states all goods must be labeled according to their country of origin, i.e., “made in China” or “made in the USA.”
Still, this method isn’t foolproof; the FTC doesn’t have a pre-approval process for brands to use “made in the USA” label. Therefore, you should still do your own research to ensure what you are buying is 100% made here. Also, if you discover a company claims a product was made domestically when it wasn’t, be sure to report it, as that’s the only way to get the FTC to stop fraudulent labeling.
When shopping for a gun, keep in mind that some manufacturers will try to make consumers believe their goods were made in the USA through the use of one of the following phrases on a label:
- Made in America: This could mean the product was made in Canada or Mexico.
- Assembled/Designed in the USA: If you see this phrase, some production may have taken place overseas.
- Made in the USA with imported materials: At least this language is a bit more transparent. It means just what it says: the product contains parts made outside the USA.
Also, if you see the image of the American flag on a label, that’s a yellow light rather than a green light because the FTC doesn’t protect the use of the Stars and Stripes on labels.
Further Tips
Here’s more advice on finding made in the USA firearms.
Check The Website
Brands that make guns in the USA know many firearms buyers are specifically looking for domestically produced weapons, so they make this a prominent marketing point. Therefore, look at the company’s “About Us” or “Our Story” section of its website to see if it mentions where its products are made. Individual product pages are also a good source of information, especially if a brand makes some of its guns in the USA but imports others.
However, US manufacturers are not required to mention anything about the countries of origin for their goods on their websites. This means if you can’t find that information online, you should probably assume a product was made abroad.
Make a Phone Call
If all else fails, contact the company. A customer representative should be able to answer at least some of your questions.
Guns Not Made in the USA
Below are some popular firearms companies that make their guns overseas. Since we are continuously doing research on where brands make their products, we will add to this list as we find more information.
- Winchester – Imported from Japan, Portugal, Turkey, and Belgium.
- Heckler and Koch – Manufactured in Germany.
- Retay – Made in Turkey.
- Benelli – Made in Italy.
- Sig Sauer – Made in America from globally sourced components.
- Springfield Armory – Made in the USA, Turkey, or Croatia.
- Savage Arms – Made in the USA or Canada.
- Glock – Made in Austria and the United States.
- Beretta – Made in the USA or Italy.
