Kalashnikov USA explained
Kalashnikov USA |
Type: | Joint stock company |
Industry: | Defense |
Predecessor: | RWC Group LLC[1] |
Hq Location City: | Pompano Beach, Florida |
Hq Location Country: | United States |
Area Served: | Worldwide |
Key People: | Manager & Sr Vice Pres Michael Tiraturian (Tiraturyan) Manager Peter Viskovatykh
|
Products: | Firearms Weapons |
Parent: | RWC Group LLC[2] |
Homepage: | kalashnikov-usa.com |
RWC Group LLC, doing business as Kalashnikov USA (KUSA), is a privately-owned American company that designs, manufactures and markets Kalashnikov-styled firearms for law enforcement, military and commercial markets.[3] [4] Russian-made Kalashnikov rifles and other weapons cannot be imported to the U.S. due to sanctions.[2] KUSA was formed to create these weapons locally.[4]
Kalashnikov USA, headquartered in Pompano Beach, Florida, is a brand name owned by RWC Group (Russian Weapons Company) LLC.[5] [6] Kalashnikov USA has no ownership connection to Kalashnikov Concern.[2]
History
A sanction on the Russian defence sector was started by the United States in 2014, in response to the Russian military intervention in Ukraine. On June 30, 2015, Thomas McCrossin, CEO of Kalashnikov USA, announced that Kalashnikov USA would begin selling United States manufactured weapons.[7] [8] In May 2017, Kalashnikov USA started selling its KS-12 semi-automatic shotgun.[2] [9]
Products
- Saiga clones (2015): US132 rifle modelled after the 7.62mm Izhmash IZ132 and US109 shotgun modelled after the 12 gauge Izhmash IZ109.[10] [11] The letter suffix indicates the type of furniture: "S" is synthetic polymer, "L" is laminated fiberglass, and "W" is wood. "Z" is a model with an M16/M4-style CAA CBSCB six-position stock, CAA UPG16 textured pistol-grip, and a CAA RS47-SET polymer forend with accessory rails.
- Saiga-12 clones (2017): KS-12 & KS-12T semi-automatic shotguns. The T ("Tactical") model has an M16/M4-style CAA SBS A-frame skeleton buttstock, CAA UPG16 textured pistol grip, and forend with accessory rails on the sides and bottom. Its polymer furniture comes in black, FDE ("Flat Dark Earth", or Tan), or ODG ("Olive Drab Green", or Greenish Brown).
- KR-9 carbines (2018): 9mm carbines based on the Vityaz-SN. Available in pistol (stockless with 9.25-inch barrel), short-barreled rifle (9.25-inch barrel), and rifle (16.25-inch barrel) sizes.
- KR103 (2020): A 7.62x39 rifle that is a clone of the AK103.
Notes and References
- Web site: RWC Group LLC . . March 10, 2018 . April 27, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180427150127/https://www.bloomberg.com/profiles/companies/1045057D:US-rwc-group-llc . live .
- News: Smith . Michael . Baker . Stephania . This Florida Warehouse Is Producing 'Made in America' Kalashnikovs: Sanctions prevent the sale of Russian AK-47s in the U.S. One company found a workaround . Bloomberg News . March 8, 2018 . March 10, 2018 . March 10, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180310042715/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-08/this-florida-warehouse-is-producing-made-in-america-kalashnikovs . live .
- News: Smith . Aaron . AK-47s: Soon to be made in USA . CNN . January 30, 2015 . March 10, 2018 . August 2, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180802045155/https://money.cnn.com/2015/01/20/news/kalashnikov-made-in-usa/index.html?iid=EL . live .
- Web site: Russian Heritage — American Innovation . Kalashnikov USA . March 10, 2018 . March 8, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180308084015/http://www.kalashnikov-usa.com/about . live .
- News: Christensen . Dan . Despite U.S. sanctions on Russia, Gov. Scott offered tax breaks to manufacturer of AK-47 assault rifles . floridabulldog.org . February 2018 . March 13, 2018 . March 14, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180314174538/https://www.floridabulldog.org/2018/02/gov-scott-skirted-russia-sanctions-to-offer-tax-breaks-to-maker-of-ak-47-assault-rifle/ . live .
- Web site: Kalashnikov USA. 2018-05-17. 2018-04-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20180411124317/http://www.kalashnikovusa.com/. live.
- News: Xu . Daniel . New American-made Kalashnikov USA Firearms Now Available . Outdoor Hub . July 9, 2015 . March 10, 2018 . March 14, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180314174448/https://www.outdoorhub.com/news/2015/07/09/new-american-made-kalashnikov-firearms-now-available/ . live .
- News: Smith . Aaron . The first American-made Kalashnikovs are now for sale . CNN . June 30, 2015 . March 10, 2018 . March 8, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180308000600/http://money.cnn.com/2015/06/30/news/companies/kalashnikov-usa/ . live .
- Web site: Kalashnikov USA: Firearms . Kalashnikov USA . March 10, 2018 . March 15, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180315034700/http://www.kalashnikov-usa.com/firearms . live .
- News: Burgess . Laura . Kalashnikov USA Announces Move To South Florida: Kalashnikov USA to relocate facility to South Florida . Ammoland.com . April 30, 2015 . March 14, 2018 . March 15, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180315195935/https://www.ammoland.com/2015/04/kalashnikov-usa-announce-move/ . live .
- Web site: Russian Saiga AK Style Rifle by Kalashnikov USA IZ132Z - 7.62x39, 16" BBL, 30rd SYN Item #:LNGSAIGA-IZ132SU3 UPC:811777021033 MPN:US132Z . classicfirearms.com . March 16, 2018 . March 28, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190328230827/https://www.classicfirearms.com/saiga-rifle-us132z/ . live .