Rock River Arms

Rock River Arms, Incorporated is a manufacturing company in Colona, Illinois, that manufacturers parts and accessories for AR-15/M16 type rifles, as well as other firearms.

Rock River Arms Inc
TypePrivate
IndustryManufacturing
Founded1996
FounderMark Larson and Chuck Larson
Headquarters
Colona, Illinois
,
U.S
Area served
U.S
ProductsFirearms
Revenue$22 Million[1]
Number of employees
51-200[1]
Websitehttp://www.rockriverarms.com/
Nikon Buckmasters Rifle Scope 6-18x 40mm SF Mil-Dot mounted on a 24" Rock River Arms Varmint A4 AR-15
The RUK-9BT 9MM AR-15 style pistol was released in 2019.

History

Rock River Arms is owned and operated by brothers Mark and Chuck Larson.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5][6]

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.[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]

References
  1. "ROCK RIVER ARMS INC Careers and Employment".
  2. Bourjaily, Philip (2009). "An Inside Look at the Rock River Arms AR-15 Factory". Field & Stream. 114 (7): 65.
  3. Ayoob, Massad (February 28, 2011). The Gun Digest Book of Combat Handgunnery. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. pp. 7–8. ISBN 978-1-4402-2654-0.
  4. Second Amendment Foundation, ed. (2005). "Rock River Arms". Women & Guns. Little River Press. 16: 25–26.
  5. "Pistols".
  6. "RBG Series".
  7. Petty, Charles (October 2004). "And Then There Was One: Feds Select New Fighting Rifle, Rock River's DEA Carbine" (PDF). Guns Magazine: 56–74. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  8. Oldham, Scott (January 2006). "Rock River Arms Entry Tactical". Law and Order. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  9. "ISOF Arms & Equipment Part 1 – Personal Equipment – Armament Research Services". November 27, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
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