Most handguns made in the United States are now semi-automatic pistols. Yet some gun makers continue churning out thousands of revolvers each year. Nearly 1.2 million revolvers were manufactured in the U.S. in 2021. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) says 2021 far exceeds rifle manufacturing for any year since at least 1986. Even though 2022 numbers fell to just under one million, 2022 still ranks among the top five years for revolver production in the last 37 years of available data.
Using data from the ATF, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 13 companies making the best-selling American-made revolvers. We reviewed manufacturing figures for thousands of federally licensed gunmakers in the United States and ranked them on total revolver production in 2022. 24/7 Wall St. also independently verified that this data is the most up-to-date at this time.
Why It Matters
Firearm sales in the U.S. hit historic highs during and after the pandemic. Both directly and indirectly, the U.S. arms and ammunition industry generated over $90 billion in economic output in 2023 and employed over 384,000 Americans, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, an industry advocacy group. In recent years, surging demand for firearms has been a boon for American gunmakers.
Here are 13 of America’s top revolver manufacturers.
13. Belmont Firearms & Range
- Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2022: 592 (0.1% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
- Popular revolver model(s): N/A
- Belmont Firearms revolver production location(s): New Hampshire
- Belmont Firearms 2022 total domestic firearm production: 959 (61.7% revolvers)
12. Nighthawk Custom
- Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2022: 965 (0.1% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
- Popular revolver model(s): Super Sport, Korth Classic, Mongoose, Ranger
- Nighthawk revolver production location(s): Arkansas
- Nighthawk 2022 total domestic firearm production: 4,831 (20.0% revolvers)
11. Magnum Research
- Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2022: 2,304 (0.3% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
- Popular revolver model(s): BFR
- Magnum Research revolver production location(s): Minnesota
- Magnum Research 2022 total domestic firearm production: 18,512 (12.4% revolvers)
10. Automated Finishing Company
- Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2022: 2,487 (0.3% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
- Popular revolver model(s): N/A
- Automated Finishing Company revolver production location(s): Massachusetts
- Automated Finishing Company 2022 total domestic firearm production: 5,456 (45.6% revolvers)
9. Bearman Industries
- Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2022: 3,866 (0.5% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
- Popular revolver model(s): N/A
- Bearman revolver production location(s): Utah
- Bearman 2022 total domestic firearm production: 11,675 (33.1% revolvers)
8. Standard Manufacturing
- Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2022: 8,203 (1.0% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
- Popular revolver model(s): S333 Thunderstruck, Sheriff’s Model
- Standard Manufacturing revolver production location(s): Connecticut
- Standard Manufacturing 2022 total domestic firearm production: 14,585 (56.2% revolvers)
7. North American Arms
- Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2022: 10,765 (1.3% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
- Popular revolver model(s): TGH-M, PUG-D, 22M-R4
- North American Arms revolver production location(s): Utah
- North American Arms 2022 total domestic firearm production: 10,770 (100.0% revolvers)
6. Diamondback Firearms
- Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2022: 12,458 (1.5% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
- Popular revolver model(s): Sidekick, Sidekick Birdshead
- Diamondback revolver production location(s): Florida
- Diamondback 2022 total domestic firearm production: 123,025 (10.1% revolvers)
5. Kimber Manufacturing
- Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2022: 15,853 (1.9% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
- Popular revolver model(s): K6XS, K6S DASA, K6S DCR
- Kimber revolver production location(s): Alabama
- Kimber 2022 total domestic firearm production: 230,325 (6.9% revolvers)
4. Colt’s Manufacturing
- Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2022: 98,839 (11.9% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
- Popular revolver model(s): Kodiak, Python, Anaconda, King Cobra
- Colt revolver production location(s): Connecticut
- Colt 2022 total domestic firearm production: 158,797 (62.2% revolvers)
3. Sturm, Ruger & Company
- Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2022: 174,947 (21.1% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
- Popular revolver model(s): Bearcat, Wrangler, Redhawk, Super Blackhawk
- Ruger revolver production location(s): Arizona, Connecticut, and New Hampshire
- Ruger 2022 total domestic firearm production: 1,565,743 (11.2% revolvers)
2. Smith & Wesson
- Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2022: 208,737 (25.1% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
- Popular revolver model(s): Model 19, Model 29, Model 27
- S&W revolver production location(s): Massachusetts and Missouri
- S&W 2022 total domestic firearm production: 973,994 (21.4% revolvers)
1. Heritage Manufacturing
- Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2022: 287,283 (34.6% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
- Popular revolver model(s): Barkeep, Rough Rider, Roscoe
- Heritage revolver production location(s): Georgia
- Heritage 2022 total domestic firearm production: 308,040 (93.3% revolvers)
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