Knight's Armament Company
{{short description|American firearms and firearms parts manufacturer}}
{{Advert|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Knight's Armament Company
| logo = File:Knight's Armament Company logo.jpg
| type = Private
| foundation = {{start date and age|1982}}
| location = Titusville, Florida, U.S.
| industry = Defense
| products = Firearms, weapons, firearm accessories
| revenue =
| num_employees =
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.knightarmco.com/|www.KnightArmCo.com}}
}}
Knight's Armament Company (KAC) is an American firearms and firearms parts manufacturer, known for producing the Rail Interface System (RIS) and the Rail Adapter System (RAS) grips for firearms use. The company produces a variety of firearms, including AR-15-style rifles.
KAC is owned by C. Reed Knight{{Cite web |url=https://smallarmsreview.com/the-interview-c-reed-knight-jr-trey-knight-and-doug-olson-of-knights-armament-company/ |title=The Interview: C. Reed Knight, Jr., Trey Knight, and Doug Olson of Knights Armament Company - Small Arms Review February 2000}}{{Cite web |url=https://smallarmsreview.com/interview-with-c-reed-knight-jr-part-1 |title=INTERVIEW WITH C. REED KNIGHT, JR.: PART 1 - Small Arms Review February 2009}}{{Cite web |url=https://smallarmsreview.com/interview-with-c-reed-knight-jr-part-2 |title=INTERVIEW WITH C. REED KNIGHT, JR.: PART 2 - Small Arms Review March 2009}} and is based in Titusville, Florida. Knight's Manufacturing Company (KMC) is the division of KAC responsible for producing products for the civilian market.
History
The United States military, as well as other special forces and police around the world, use KAC RIS/RAS conversions for many popular firearms, including the American M16/M4 rifles and Heckler & Koch MP5 series submachine guns. The RIS/RAS system allows for the mounting of accessories to firearms without additional tools or modifications. The system is utilized alongside a KAC suppressor and forward grip on the "Special Operations Peculiar MODification" (SOPMOD) M4 carbine package in use by United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).[http://www.quarterbore.com/kac/sopmod.html SOPMOD M4 Carbine][http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3723/is_199704/ai_n8769296 M4A1 SOPMOD, The | Army | Find Articles at BNET.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223224855/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3723/is_199704/ai_n8769296 |date=2007-12-23 }} The mounted accessories can include tactical flashlights, laser targeting units, bipods, and vertical foregrips.
KAC produces sound suppressors for the Heckler & Koch Mark 23 SOCOM pistol.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gunslot.com/guns/hk-mk23-mod-0 |title=HK MK23 Mod 0 {{!}} Guns Lot |access-date=2008-01-15 |archive-date=2008-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080113135606/http://www.gunslot.com/guns/hk-mk23-mod-0 |url-status=dead }} KAC also produces a line of clip-on night vision and thermal weapon sights, including the AN/PVS-22 Universal Night Sight.[http://www.knightarmco.com/uns_pg.html KAC UNS, Universal Night Vision, Knight Vision, AN/PVS-22, AN/PVS-26] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019025443/http://www.knightarmco.com/uns_pg.html |date=2007-10-19 }} KAC produces mounts for optics and grenade launchers, as well as backup iron sights.
Knight's Armament produces a line of firearms including the semi-automatic SR-15 line of rifles, the fully automatic SR-16 carbine, the semi-automatic SR-25 sniper rifle, the SR-25 based Mark 11 Mod 0 Sniper Weapon System, and the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System.{{Cite web |url=http://www.defensereview.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1004 |title=Defense Review - KAC Introduces Truly Ambidextrous SOPMOD M4/M4A1 Carbine-Config 5.56 Weapons |access-date=2008-01-15 |archive-date=2007-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070723130216/http://www.defensereview.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1004 |url-status=dead }} KAC designed and produces the Knight's Armament Company PDW and also produces the Stoner LMG in limited quantities. In 2011, KAC released the SR15/SR16 E3 line of rifles.{{cite web |url=http://www.knightarmco.com/guns.html |title=Knight's Armament Company |access-date=2011-05-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507082107/http://www.knightarmco.com/guns.html |archive-date=2011-05-07 }}
In September 2023, the company was selected to provide the Knight's Stoner 1 variant of its SR-16 rifle to the British Army Special Operations Brigade and to the Royal Marines.{{cite web |title=New advanced rifle for Ranger Regiment |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2023/09/newadvancedrifle/ |publisher=British Army |access-date=7 September 2023 |date=7 September 2023}}{{cite web |title=Britain's Commandos to get new assault rifles |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2023/september/07/230907-royal-marines-new-rifle |publisher=Royal Navy |access-date=7 September 2023 |date=7 September 2023}}{{cite web |title=Knight's Stoner 1: British troops getting new assault rifle |url=https://www.forces.net/technology/weapons-and-kit/british-soldiers-getting-new-assault-rifle-thanks-ps90m-deal |publisher=Forces Network |access-date=7 September 2023 |date=7 September 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.knightarmco.com/}}
{{Knight's Armament Company}}
Category:Companies based in Brevard County, Florida
Category:Firearm manufacturers of the United States
Category:1982 establishments in Florida