The United States supports a thriving gun industry and is the largest civilian firearm market globally. Government statistics show that the operation of over 3,000 federally licensed gun manufacturers nationwide contributes to an annual industry revenue of $32 billion, as reported by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
As the only country in the world with more guns than people, the U.S. also has the highest number of civilian guns per person. A University of Chicago study found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately one in five U.S. households bought a firearm, with one in every 20 adults making their first firearm purchase.
According to government data, there are more than 3,000 federally licensed gun manufacturers currently operating in the United States. And, while many firearm manufacturers in the U.S. operate on a smaller scale, the industry leaders have expanded into both domestic and international markets.
Using data sourced from the ATF, 24/7 Wall St. compiled a list of the top companies in global firearm exports. Rankings were based on the total number of domestically manufactured firearms exported in 2021. We considered both U.S. based companies as well as foreign companies with production facilities based in the United States.
During 2021, every one of the 24 companies on the list shipped more than 1,000 firearms abroad. The percentage of foreign sales varied among these companies, ranging from approximately 1% to almost 90% of their American firearm production. Collectively, these 24 companies represented over 96% of U.S. firearm exports for that year.
Similar to the domestic market, pistols are the preferred firearm type for international buyers of American-made guns. Revolvers excluded, pistols, mainly semi-automatic ones, represented more than half of all exported firearms in 2021. Notably, for key gun manufacturers like Sig Sauer, Glock, and Taurus, pistols accounted for the majority or almost all of their foreign firearm sales in 2021.
Why This Matters
24/7 is covering the global firearm industry because it is multi-million industry that affects the United States economy, as well as conflicts in other parts of the world. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, U.S. gun manufacturers exported almost half a million firearms in 2021. The firearm industry in the United States stimulates the economy not only through sales and tax revenue, it also creates a myriad of jobs in manufacturing, research, development, retail, etc. Furthermore, when a gun is sold in a foreign country – whether to a civilian or to a military – it has the potential to become a factor in the balance of power in that nation.
Here are the most popular US-made guns that are sold abroad:
24. Barrett Firearms Mfg. Inc.
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 1,010 firearms (17.3% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 4.4% pistols; 95.6% rifles
- Popular firearm model(s): REC10 rifle, Model 95 rifle, M107A1 rifle
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Murfreesboro, TN
23. Daniel Defense LLC
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 1,118 firearms (1.5% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 100% rifles
- Popular firearm model(s): M4A1 rifle, DD5 SBR rifle, MK18 rifle, Delta 5 rifle
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Black Creek, GA
22. Aero Precision LLC
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 1,318 firearms (0.7% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 0.8% pistols; 30.4% rifles; 68.8% misc.
- Popular firearm model(s): AR-15 barrels, upper receivers, and lower receivers
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Tacoma and Lakewood, WA
21. North American Arms Inc.
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 1,359 firearms (2.3% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 2.9% pistols; 97.1% revolvers
- Popular firearm model(s): Guardian pistol, Companion revolver, Sidewinder revolver, Hogleg revolver
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Provo, UT
20. M+M Inc.
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 1,512 firearms (88.3% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 98.9% rifles; 1.1% misc.
- Popular firearm model(s): M10X rifle, M10-762P rifle
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Northglenn, CO
19. American Tactical Inc.
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 2,275 firearms (4.3% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 14.1% pistols; 85.9% rifles
- Popular firearm model(s): GSG Firefly pistol, ATI Omni rifle
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Summerville, SC
18. Kimber Mfg. Inc.
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 2,701 firearms (0.9% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 69.5% pistols; 30.4% revolvers; 0.1% rifles
- Popular firearm model(s): Hunter rifle, K6XS revolver, K6S DASA revolver, AEGIS 1911 pistol
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Troy, AL, Yonkers, NY
17. Legacy Sports International Inc.
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 2,959 firearms (1.4% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 100% rifles
- Popular firearm model(s): Pointer shotgun, Citadel Coach shotgun, Howa H7 rifle
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Reno, NV
16. ZEV Technologies Inc.
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 3,015 firearms (13.0% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 82.7% pistols; 16.9% rifles; 0.4% misc.
- Popular firearm model(s): OZ9 pistol, Core rifle
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Centralia, WA
15. Tippmann Arms Company LLC
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 3,132 firearms (20.7% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 10.7% pistols; 89.3% rifles
- Popular firearm model(s): M4-22 rifle, MICRO Elite Pistol
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Fort Wayne, IN
14. KRISS USA, Inc.
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 3,217 firearms (25.1% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 4.4% pistols; 95.5% rifles; 0.1% misc.
- Popular firearm model(s): Vector rifle, DMK22C rifle, SPHINX SDP pistol
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Chesapeake, VA
13. Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 4,889 firearms (3.2% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 44.7% pistols; 44.0% revolvers; 10.2% rifles; 1.0% misc.
- Popular firearm model(s): Python revolver, King Cobra revolver, 1911 pistol, M4 Carbine
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): West Hartford, CT
12. Diamondback Firearms LLC
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 5,157 firearms (3.2% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 71.6% pistols; 18.7% rifles; 9.7% misc.
- Popular firearm model(s): Sidekick revolver, DB15 rifle, DB10 rifle
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Cocoa, FL
11. Springfield Inc.
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 5,992 firearms (1.0% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 59.8% pistols; 40.2% rifles
- Popular firearm model(s): Saint AR-15 rifle, Hellcat pistol, 1911 pistol
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Geneseo, IL
10. Kel Tec CNC Industries Inc.
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 7,179 firearms (3.3% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 15.0% pistols; 66.0% rifles; 19.0% shotguns; 0.1% misc.
- Popular firearm model(s): P15 pistol, PLR22 pistol, SU16 rifle, KS7 shotgun
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Cocoa, FL
9. Beretta USA Corp.
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 8,015 firearms (5.2% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 90.4% pistols; 0.6% rifles; 9.0% shotguns
- Popular firearm model(s): 92X pistol, A300 Ultima shotgun, Ultraleggero shotgun
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Gallatin, TN
8. Henry RAC Holding Corp.
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 8,768 firearms (2.7% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 0.9% pistols; 96.2% rifles; 1.6% shotguns; 1.3% misc.
- Popular firearm model(s): Golden Boy rifle, Big Boy Carbine, Long Ranger rifle
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Bayonne, NJ, Rice Lake, WI
7. Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc.
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 15,187 firearms (5.2% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 100% pistols
- Popular firearm model(s): G3 pistol, 605 revolver, 44 revolver, GX4 pistol
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Bainbridge, GA
6. Maverick Arms (incl. Mossberg)
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 35,540 firearms (7.2% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 2.2% pistols; 18.1% rifles; 65.5% shotguns; 14.1% misc.
- Popular firearm model(s): Mossberg 500 shotgun, Mossberg Patriot rifle, MC2C pistol
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Eagle Pass, TX, North Haven, CT
5. Smith & Wesson
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 36,928 firearms (1.6% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 50.0% pistols; 36.3% revolvers; 13.4% rifles; 0.3% misc.
- Popular firearm model(s): Model 60 revolver, M&P Shield pistol, M&P 15 rifle
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Columbia, MO, Springfield, MA
4. Savage Arms, Inc.
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 43,094 firearms (10.6% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 96.2% rifles; 3.8% shotguns
- Popular firearm model(s): 110 rifle, 63 rifle, 320 shotgun
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Westfield, MA
3. Glock Inc.
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 67,106 firearms (11.5% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 100% pistols
- Popular firearm model(s): G19 pistol, G17 pistol, G27 pistol
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Smyrna, GA
2. Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 78,232 firearms (3.8% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 9.5% pistols; 9.7% revolvers; 80.7% rifles
- Popular firearm model(s): Mark IV pistol, 10/22 rifle, Bearcat pistol, American rifle
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Newport, NH, Prescott, AZ, Mayodan, NC, Southport, CT
1. Sig Sauer Inc.
- U.S. made exports, 2021: 102,515 firearms (7.9% of total domestic production)
- 2021 exports by firearm type: 97.3% pistols; 2.7% rifles
- Popular firearm model(s): MCX-Spear rifle, P320 pistol
- U.S. manufacturing location(s): Newington and Exeter, NH
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