Olympic Arms
Encyclopedia
Olympic Arms, Inc. manufactures and markets AR-15
and M16 pattern rifles, carbines and pistols. Olympic also manufactures Colt 1911 (M1911) series 70 style pistols. All products currently manufactured by Olympic are sold under the Olympic Arms brand name.
in Colorado Springs, Colorado
. Prior to that Mr. Schuetz had been partnered in business with well known gunsmith P.O. Akley. 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 AR15/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. In 1987 the company purchased Arizona-based M.S. Safari, adding the M1911 pistol to its lineup under the name Safari Arms.
Olympic was the first to introduce features now seen as commonplace on the AR15 platform. It was the first company to produce flat-top upper receivers
, free floating aluminum hand guards, pistol caliber conversions, and AR-15 based pistols. Olympic also manufactures many AR-15s in calibers other than the standard 5.55x45mm. Olympic was the first in the industry to offer AR15 style firearms in 9x19mm and .45 ACP
, 10mm, 7.62x39, and the Winchester Super Short Magnum cartridges.
Olympic Arms is one of the few AR15 manufacturers to make every major component part in-house. They have been found to constantly meet the rigid specifications of military, government and law enforcement agency contracts. Olympic Arms has provided firearms for Law Enforcement and Government agencies around the globe, including every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
AR-15
The AR-15 is a lightweight, 5.56 mm, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed semi-automatic rifle, with a rotating-lock bolt, actuated by direct impingement gas operation. It is manufactured with the extensive use of aluminum alloys and synthetic materials....
and M16 pattern rifles, carbines and pistols. Olympic also manufactures Colt 1911 (M1911) series 70 style pistols. All products currently manufactured by Olympic are sold under the Olympic Arms brand name.
History
Olympic Arms, Inc. was founded by Robert C. Schuetz, and began as Schuetzen Gun Works (SGW) in 1956, manufacturing barrelsGun barrel
A gun barrel is the tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion or rapid expansion of gases are released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at a high velocity....
in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
. Prior to that Mr. Schuetz had been partnered in business with well known gunsmith P.O. Akley. In 1975 the company moved to Olympia, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
, 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 AR15/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. In 1987 the company purchased Arizona-based M.S. Safari, adding the M1911 pistol to its lineup under the name Safari Arms.
Olympic was the first to introduce features now seen as commonplace on the AR15 platform. It was the first company to produce flat-top upper receivers
Receiver (firearms)
In firearms terminology, the receiver is the part of a firearm that houses the operating parts. The receiver usually contains the bolt carrier group, trigger group, and magazine port. In most handguns, the receiver, or frame, holds the magazine well or rotary magazine as well as the trigger mechanism...
, free floating aluminum hand guards, pistol caliber conversions, and AR-15 based pistols. Olympic also manufactures many AR-15s in calibers other than the standard 5.55x45mm. Olympic was the first in the industry to offer AR15 style firearms in 9x19mm and .45 ACP
.45 ACP
The .45 ACP , also known as the .45 Auto by C.I.P., is a cartridge designed by John Browning in 1904, for use in his prototype Colt semi-automatic .45 pistol and eventually the M1911 pistol adopted by the United States Army in 1911.-Design and history:The U.S...
, 10mm, 7.62x39, and the Winchester Super Short Magnum cartridges.
Olympic Arms is one of the few AR15 manufacturers to make every major component part in-house. They have been found to constantly meet the rigid specifications of military, government and law enforcement agency contracts. Olympic Arms has provided firearms for Law Enforcement and Government agencies around the globe, including every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.