Olympic Arms, Inc. was a manufacturer and marketer of AR-15 and M16 pattern rifles, carbines and pistols. The company manufactured Colt 1911 (M1911) series 70 style pistols under the name "Safari Arms" and the "Whitney" 22 caliber pistol.
Footnotes / references Purchased Safari Arms in 1987
History
Olympic Arms, Inc. was founded by Robert C. Schuetz and began as Schuetzen Gun Works (SGW) in 1956, manufacturing barrels in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Prior to that Mr. Schuetz had been partnered in business with well-known gunsmith P.O. Ackley. In 1975 the company moved to Olympia, Washington, and while its business in rifle barrels and barrel blanks thrived, it also began manufacturing complete custom bolt-action rifles. In 1982, Schuetzen Gun Works began to manufacture AR-15/M16 rifles and components under the trade name of Olympic Arms, Inc, while custom bolt-action rifles continued to be produced under the SGW brand.[1]
Olympic was the first to introduce features now seen as commonplace on AR-15 rifles. It was one of the first companies to produce free floating aluminum hand guards, pistol caliber conversions, and AR-15-based pistols. Olympic manufactured many AR-15s in calibers other than the standard 5.56×45mm. Olympic was the first in the industry to offer AR-15-style firearms in 9×19mm and .45 ACP, 10mm Auto, 7.62×39mm, and the Winchester Super Short Magnum cartridges.[1]
In late 1987, the company purchased Phoenix, Arizona-based M-S Safari Arms, adding the M1911 pistol to its lineup under the name Safari Arms. By January 2004, all 1911-style products were manufactured in the Olympic Arms facility in Olympia.[2]
In 2002, Olympic Arms revived the 1955 Whitney Wolverine pistol for the .22 Long Rifle cartridge, with a black polymer frame instead of the original Whitney's blue-finished aluminum alloy frame.[3][4][5]
In February 2013, Olympic Arms announced that the company would no longer sell its products to New York law enforcement officers or agencies, following the state's passage of an assault weapons ban.[6][verification needed] “After more than 40 years of business, it is with great sorrow that we announce that February 28th, 2017 will be the last day of operation for Olympic Arms, Inc,” noted the company on social media, January 26, 2017. Despite that announcement, they continued to sell parts and fill orders in a limited capacity until 2020, when they finally ceased all operations.
References
^ abGash, Steve (14 July 2010). "The ARs of Olympic Arms". In Dan Shideler (ed.). Gun Digest 2011. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications. pp. 44–47. ISBN978-1-4402-1561-2.
^"Olympic Arms, Inc". Blue Book of Gun Values. Blue Book Publications. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
^"Whitney Wolverine Owner's Manual" (PDF). Olympic Arms. July 2005. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
^Downey, Jim (20 February 2012). "Review: Olympic Arms Whitney Wolverine .22 LR". Guns.com. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
^Tartaro, Joe (5 August 2013). "Gun Review: At Long Last, the Whitney Wolverine". Bearing Arms. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
^"Olympic Arms Drops New York Law Enforcement Customers". POLICE Magazine. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2014. In an open letter, the company's president, Brian Schuetz, said the new law was unconstitutional and state lawmakers who passed the law should apologize.
External links
Olympic Arms Owners Association
This United States manufacturing company–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
olympic, arms, manufacturer, marketer, pattern, rifles, carbines, pistols, company, manufactured, colt, 1911, m1911, series, style, pistols, under, name, safari, arms, whitney, caliber, pistol, typeprivateindustryweaponspredecessorschuetzen, works, founded1956. Olympic Arms Inc was a manufacturer and marketer of AR 15 and M16 pattern rifles carbines and pistols The company manufactured Colt 1911 M1911 series 70 style pistols under the name Safari Arms and the Whitney 22 caliber pistol Olympic ArmsTypePrivateIndustryWeaponsPredecessorSchuetzen Gun Works SGW Founded1956 67 years ago 1956 in Colorado Springs Colorado United StatesFounderRobert SchuetzHeadquartersOlympia Washington United StatesArea servedUnited StatesKey peopleBrian Schuetz presidentDiane Haupert CFO Tom Spithaler Sales DirectorProductsRifles PistolsWebsitehttp www olyarms comFootnotes referencesPurchased Safari Arms in 1987History EditOlympic Arms Inc was founded by Robert C Schuetz and began as Schuetzen Gun Works SGW in 1956 manufacturing barrels in Colorado Springs Colorado Prior to that Mr Schuetz had been partnered in business with well known gunsmith P O Ackley In 1975 the company moved to Olympia Washington and while its business in rifle barrels and barrel blanks thrived it also began manufacturing complete custom bolt action rifles In 1982 Schuetzen Gun Works began to manufacture AR 15 M16 rifles and components under the trade name of Olympic Arms Inc while custom bolt action rifles continued to be produced under the SGW brand 1 Olympic was the first to introduce features now seen as commonplace on AR 15 rifles It was one of the first companies to produce free floating aluminum hand guards pistol caliber conversions and AR 15 based pistols Olympic manufactured many AR 15s in calibers other than the standard 5 56 45mm Olympic was the first in the industry to offer AR 15 style firearms in 9 19mm and 45 ACP 10mm Auto 7 62 39mm and the Winchester Super Short Magnum cartridges 1 In late 1987 the company purchased Phoenix Arizona based M S Safari Arms adding the M1911 pistol to its lineup under the name Safari Arms By January 2004 all 1911 style products were manufactured in the Olympic Arms facility in Olympia 2 In 2002 Olympic Arms revived the 1955 Whitney Wolverine pistol for the 22 Long Rifle cartridge with a black polymer frame instead of the original Whitney s blue finished aluminum alloy frame 3 4 5 In February 2013 Olympic Arms announced that the company would no longer sell its products to New York law enforcement officers or agencies following the state s passage of an assault weapons ban 6 verification needed After more than 40 years of business it is with great sorrow that we announce that February 28th 2017 will be the last day of operation for Olympic Arms Inc noted the company on social media January 26 2017 Despite that announcement they continued to sell parts and fill orders in a limited capacity until 2020 when they finally ceased all operations References Edit a b Gash Steve 14 July 2010 The ARs of Olympic Arms In Dan Shideler ed Gun Digest 2011 Iola Wisconsin Krause Publications pp 44 47 ISBN 978 1 4402 1561 2 Olympic Arms Inc Blue Book of Gun Values Blue Book Publications Retrieved 17 June 2014 Whitney Wolverine Owner s Manual PDF Olympic Arms July 2005 Retrieved 17 June 2014 Downey Jim 20 February 2012 Review Olympic Arms Whitney Wolverine 22 LR Guns com Retrieved 17 June 2014 Tartaro Joe 5 August 2013 Gun Review At Long Last the Whitney Wolverine Bearing Arms Retrieved 17 June 2014 Olympic Arms Drops New York Law Enforcement Customers POLICE Magazine 14 February 2013 Retrieved 17 June 2014 In an open letter the company s president Brian Schuetz said the new law was unconstitutional and state lawmakers who passed the law should apologize External links EditOlympic Arms Official Web Site Olympic Arms Owners Association This United States manufacturing company related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Olympic Arms amp oldid 1076497648, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
