Rock River Arms
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{short description|Firearm parts manufacturer in Colona, Illinois, U.S.}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Rock River Arms Inc
| logo = Rock River Arms logo.png
| logo_size = 250px
| type = Private
| genre =
| fate =
| predecessor =
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| foundation = 1996
| founder = Mark Larson and Chuck Larson
| defunct =
| location_city = Colona, Illinois
| location_country = U.S
| location =
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| area_served = U.S
| key_people =
| industry = Manufacturing
| products = Firearms
| services =
| market cap =
| revenue = $22 Million{{Cite web|url=http://www.indeed.com/cmp/Rock-River-Arms-Inc|title=ROCK RIVER ARMS INC Careers and Employment}}
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| homepage = http://www.rockriverarms.com/
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}}
Rock River Arms, Incorporated is an American manufacturing company in Colona, Illinois, that manufactures parts and accessories for AR-15/M16 type rifles, as well as other firearms.
History
Rock River Arms is owned and operated by brothers Mark and Chuck Larson.{{cite journal|title=An Inside Look at the Rock River Arms AR-15 Factory|first=Philip|last= Bourjaily|year= 2009|journal=Field & Stream|volume=114|number=7|page=65}} Between 1981 and 1991, the Larsons worked at Springfield Armory, Inc., where Mark was the head armorer. From Springfield Armory, the Larsons went into partnership with Les Baer to form Les Baer Custom and build custom 1911 pistols.{{cite book|last=Ayoob|first=Massad |authorlink=Massad Ayoob|title=The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery|date=February 28, 2011|publisher=Gun Digest Books|location=Iola, Wisconsin|isbn=978-1-4402-2654-0|pages=7–8}} Parting ways with Les Baer in 1993, the Larsons began to build AR-15 type rifles for Eagle Arms in Coal Valley, Illinois. At around the same time, they began their own venture, Tolerance Plus (the name was later changed to Rock River Arms), producing custom 1911 pistols. The Larson brothers severed their connection with Eagle Arms in 1997 when that firm moved to Geneseo, Illinois.{{cite journal|editor=Second Amendment Foundation|title=Rock River Arms|journal=Women & Guns|volume=16|year=2005|publisher=Little River Press|pages=25–26}} At the same time, Rock River Arms began to build AR-15 style rifles.
Rock River Arms also produces M1911 pattern pistols, bolt-action rifles, and AR-15 style pistols in assorted calibers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=5|title=Pistols}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=2016|title=RBG Series}}
Law enforcement use
In December 2003, after outperforming 10 other manufacturers in rifle abuse tests, Rock River Arms was awarded a contract with the Drug Enforcement Administration for a minimum of 5,000 LAR-15 rifles to be purchased over five years.{{cite journal |last=Petty |first=Charles |date=October 2004 |title=And Then There Was One: Feds Select New Fighting Rifle, Rock River's DEA Carbine |journal=Guns Magazine |pages=56–74 |url=http://www.rockriverarms.com/images/pdfs/gm_oct04.pdf |accessdate=December 29, 2012}} As a result of Rock River Arms winning the DEA contract, other federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Marshals, have also obtained Rock River Arms weapons under piggyback contracts.{{cite journal |last=Oldham |first=Scott |date=January 2006 |title=Rock River Arms Entry Tactical |journal=Law and Order |url=http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/article_archive/results/details?id=4138 |accessdate=December 29, 2012}} In 2017, they exported and sold a few thousand rifles to the Lebanese Internal Security Forces and to the Lebanese General Security.
Military use
Rock River LAR-15 rifles were exported to Iraq, the Iraqi Special Forces received and used the rifles.{{cite web |title=ISOF Arms & Equipment Part 1 – Personal Equipment |work= Armament Research Services |date=November 27, 2016 |url=https://armamentresearch.com/isof-arms-equipment-part-1-personal-equipment/ |accessdate=August 2, 2020}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.rockriverarms.com Official site]