Private | |
Industry | Defense |
Founded | 1974 |
Headquarters | Geneseo, Illinois, USA |
Products | Firearms |
Website | springfield-armory.com |
Springfield Armory, Inc. is an American firearms manufacturer 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.
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.
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.