Biggest Texas gun makers

[benenglish]

How many Texas gun makers exist and who are the biggest?

2017 ATF data shows ~7800 FFLs of one sort or another in Texas, of which ~1300 are 07s. Not all those 07s are actually making anything. The latest report of actual production is for 2016 and shows

• 52 pistol,
• 1 revolver,
• 173 rifle, and
  
• 8 shotgun

manufacturers active in that year. A small handful of those licensees had no reported production volume but, for some reason, were still included in the report. Many, many of them had production numbers in the single digits.

The 3 biggest volume makers in each category were:

• Pistol

1. Bond Arms
   • total production - 20,112
2. STI (has two licenses for two separate entities)
   
   • total production for both licensees - 7786
3. Radical Firearms
   • total production - 2488

• Revolver -

1. Grover Glen Riddle of Granview
   • total production - 2

• Rifle -

1. Maverick Arms
   • total production - 121,611
2. Chazkat LLC
   • total production - 40,892
3. Radical Firearms
   • total production - 12768

• Shotgun -

1. Maverick Arms
   • total production - 367,542
2. Talion LLC
   • total production - 4
3. 6-way tie
   • total production - 1 each or unreported

I posted this just because I found it interesting. If anyone else feels the same, thoughts are welcome.

 

[Vaquero]

The revolver production intrigues me.

 

[Brains]

I'd love to see those numbers go up. A lot.

 

[benenglish]

The revolver production intrigues me.

One guy in Granview, Texas, built two revolvers in 2016. Musta been a labor of love.

Normally, he's a 1911 'smith dba GSquareCustom.

 

[benenglish]

The revolver production intrigues me.

Another thought - Part of the impetus for me starting this thread was the other thread about the defunct rifle maker, Ranger Arms, in Gainesville. That got me to thinking about Texas Longhorn, who were making beautiful revolvers in Richmond, Texas, when I lived there. To my shame, I didn't know anything about them until they were already out of business.

I think people who make stuff like this:

...in Texas should stay in business. So, I got to wondering about Texas gun makers, thus the thread.

 

[Moonpie]

http://www.texascenterforregionalstudies.com/dance-brothers-pistols.html

Dance Brothers originally set up their shop in what was then known as Columbia, Texas. During the turn of the century oil boom another community known as West Columbia grew up nearer to the oilfields.
Columbia became known as East Columbia.
West Columbia continued to grow and East Columbia declined.
The village still exists just south of Highway 36 a couple of miles east of the present day West Columbia.
About 20 years ago I got to do some minor archeaology work with a team on the Dance factory site. We found a few small items as much of the original site had eroded off into the river.
I did get to see and hold an original Dance revolver.
They are instantly recognizable as they lack the recoil shield of the Colt gun.
There is a hard cover book out there about them.
There is also a replica available.
https://www.dixiegunworks.com/index...0344+Dixie+Pietta+Dance+and+Brothers+Revolver

 

[TxStetson]

This whole thread is informative, and interesting.

 

[oldag]

Did not realize Maverick was cranking out that many.

Is American Derringer still in business?

 

[benenglish]

Is American Derringer still in business?

I don't know about now. However, ATF records show they produced 52 pistols in 2016.

 

[benenglish]

Did not realize Maverick was cranking out that many.

Yeah, that's a whole lotta Mossbergs.

 

[oldag]

I don't know about now. However, ATF records show they produced 52 pistols in 2016.

Probably are then, just not selling much these days.

Thanks.

 

[Moonpie]

Hill Country Rifles in New Braunfels?

Briley in Houston?

Wasn't there a shop in Conroe area building Remington Rolling Block rifles? Lone Star Rifles or something like that?

 

[benenglish]

Hill Country Rifles in New Braunfels?

They made 117 rifles in 2016.

Briley in Houston?

Jess Briley Manufacturing made 5 pistols, 2 misc firearms in 2016. No, I don't know what a "miscellaneous firearm" is.

Wasn't there a shop in Conroe area building Remington Rolling Block rifles? Lone Star Rifles or something like that?

Lonestar Innovations made 21 pistols in 2016. Somehow, I don't think that's what you're thinking of.

There are only 3 manufacturer listed in Conroe. 2 of them produced just 1 firearm, each, in 2016. An 07FFL holder named Richard Hackett produced 13 rifles that year.

There's every chance I'm misremembering this but I think I remember a rolling block maker, fairly local, who I talked to at a couple of gun shows. He accidentally killed himself when he pulled one of his rifles out of the back of his SUV, barrel first. He was shot right in the chest. Does that ring a bell with anyone?

ETA - Lone Star in Conroe was run by Dave Higgenbotham. My memory above was correct. Obit here. That's awfully sad; his rifles were works of art.

 

[ZX9RCAM]

They made 117 rifles in 2016.
Jess Briley Manufacturing made 5 pistols, 2 misc firearms in 2016. No, I don't know what a "miscellaneous firearm" is.

Lonestar Innovations made 21 pistols in 2016. Somehow, I don't think that's what you're thinking of.

There are only 3 manufacturer listed in Conroe. 2 of them produced just 1 firearm, each, in 2016. An 07FFL holder named Richard Hackett produced 13 rifles that year.

There's every chance I'm misremembering this but I think I remember a rolling block maker, fairly local, who I talked to at a couple of gun shows. He accidentally killed himself when he pulled one of his rifles out of the back of his SUV, barrel first. He was shot right in the chest. Does that ring a bell with anyone?
.

I remember the story, not the name.

 

[Moonpie]

How sad. I hadn't heard of his death.
His rifles were superb.

 

[TX OMFS]

Helotes Tactical Firearms makes NFA stuff and regular AR's. I don't know their volume other than to say it is low.

 

[BillFairbanks]

I think Lone Star Armory in Fort Worth is doing pretty well.

I can’t afford any of their rifles yet, but I’d like to.

I’ve met one of the owners. His Dad and my Dad used to drag race together.


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[Gummi Bear]

What happened to the Colt custom shop over in Breckenridge?



I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

 

[Bozz10mm]

Doesn't La Rue tactical manufacture ARs in Leander?

 

[Vaquero]

What happened to the Colt custom shop over in Breckenridge?



I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

I believe they shut down.