U.S. Fire Arms Manufacturing Company

United States Fire-Arms Manufacturing Company, Inc. (U.S. Fire Arms Mfg. Co., USFA) was a privately held firearms-manufacturing firm based in Hartford, Connecticut. Until 2011, United States Fire-Arms Manufacturing Company, Inc. was known for producing single action revolvers, which were clones of the Colt Single Action Army revolver.[5] The factory was located "Under the Blue Dome", in the East Armory building of the former Colt Armory complex, where Colt's Manufacturing Company produced many of their classic firearms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

U.S. Fire-Arms Manufacturing Co, Inc.
TypePrivate
IndustryFirearms
Founded1993 (1993)[1]
FounderDouglas Donnelly
Defunct2017 (2017)
FateDefunct
Headquarters
Hartford, Connecticut[1][2]
,
United States
Key people
Douglas Donnelly (CEO, owner)[3][4]
ProductsFirearms
Number of employees
23[1]

In 2011, the company ceased production of replica colt revolvers, and publicly rebranded itself as ZiPFactory.com, based on its titular USFA ZiP .22 firearm. The company formally dissolved in January 2017,[6] and the company was the last firearms maker in the Colt's Armory Complex. The site is now seeking National Historic Landmark status.

History

The company used to maintain an "Old Armory Custom Shop" which produced custom firearms to order. These firearms featured expensive traditional materials and techniques such as engraving or hand engraving, gold inlay, damascening, case hardening, polishing, and fine metal plating, or other finish.

USFA was the only firearm company still manufacturing in the city of Hartford, Connecticut, when it closed in 2011.[4] Due to space limitations, the company built an additional production location outside of the Blue Dome in order to accommodate their CNC machinery.

USFA had an active role in firearms politics in the United States, and issued a statement on the District of Columbia v. Heller court decision on the interpretation of the Second Amendment.[2]

In 2011, USFA abandoned their production of Colt revolver replicas and went to the exclusive manufacturing of their ZiP .22 pistol.[7] The ZiP .22 proved to be an unreliable firearm and lacked consumer interest. As a result, USFA is now out of business.[6]

Products
USFA Single Action Army cocked and ready to fire

USFA was best known for producing firearms based on the Colt Single Action Army revolver, Colt M1911 semi-automatic pistol, and rifles such as the Colt Lightning Carbine.[8]

Exhibitions

Through January 1, 2009, USFA guns were displayed in the exhibit Guns West! at the National Firearms Museum.[9] A USFA Single Action Army revolver was given by United States Vice President Dick Cheney to the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming.[10]

USFA's 2007 SHOT Show exhibit in Orlando, Florida recalled an exhibit displayed at the 1876 Philadelphia, PA Centennial Exhibition in the same month George Armstrong Custer perished at Little Bighorn.[11]

Use in film

Hollywood firearms expert Thell Reed selected USFA to provide revolvers for several films for which he served as key armorer:

See also

References
  1. "United States Fire Arms Manufacturing Company". manta.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  2. "U.S. Fire Arms Mfg. Co., Inc. (USFA) Hartford's Largest Gunmaker — Supports Landmark Supreme Court Decision in Federal D.C. Heller Gun Ban Case" (PDF). usfirearms.com. 26 June 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 February 2012.
  3. "An index of patents with Douglas Donnelly listed as inventor". radaris.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
  4. Clapp, Wiley (July 2003). "The High-Tech Peacemaker: U.S. Fire Arms applies modern gunmaking to a classic" (PDF). Shooting Illustrated (reproduced at USFirearms.com). p. 39. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  5. Rees, Clair (May 1, 1999). "Swords and Plowshares". Guns: 56.
  6. USFA Zip 22: How a Garbage Gun Destroyed A Good Company (YouTube). Forgotten Weapons. 14 September 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  7. "The Truth About Guns GUN REVIEWS GEAR REVIEWS GUNS FOR BEGINNERS FACTS ABOUT GUNS OPEN SEARCH FORM Search for: Search … Search Gun Review: USFA ZiP .22LR". The Truth About Guns. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  8. Taffin, John. Auto Retro: USFA, the Leader in "Cowboy" Guns, Steps into the 20th Century, Guns Magazine, May, 2007, p. 58-61
  9. "GUNS WEST! New exhibit at the National Firearms Museum opens May 2008". www.nra.org. Archived from the original on 2008-04-10.
  10. "Custom Shop Guns". usfirearms.com. Archived from the original on 17 May 2012.
  11. Eifling, Sam. Exhibitors in an "Arms Race, ESPNOutdoors.com. 12 January 2007, retrieved 10 July 2008
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