Have you ever wondered what it takes to make it in the firearms industry. Even beyond that, how about what it takes to really make an impact. We’re talking about the people who have taken the gun world and flipped it upside down.
In the latest episode of Sweat, Lead & Steel, we dive into the SIG Sauer Academy. The SIG SAUER Academy is a world class facility offering the most realistic, fundamentally sound training available today. In this episode of Sweat, Lead & Steel, we go behind the scenes to meet the team of next-level instructors and find out why The SIG SAUER Academy is unrivaled.
“Really in the 1980s, the talk of a SIG ACADEMY within SIG Sauer began. It wasn’t until 1990, though where the discussion really began and an academy was formed,” said Steve Gilcreast, director SIG Academy. “We needed to have outdoor ranges, indoor ranges, and the ability to train law enforcement and military personal that were using SIG Sauer products.”
Now, the academy trains law enforcement and military personal, and has opened its doors to responsible citizens – anyone that can legally own and carry a firearm. Take a dive with us into the SIG Academy, from its roots and development to current date.
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Through interviews with key executives/founders, archival images and footage, plus a modern look at products and the current manufacturing process, we’ll tell the story of each company and reveal their path to greatness and the people who have shaped them.
More information on each episode of Sweat, Lead & Steel:
FN America, LLC is a global leader in both development and manufacturing of high-quality, reliable firearms. FN firearms are used for military, law enforcement and commercial customers, worldwide. The company headquarters are located in McLean, VA, with manufacturing operations in Columbia, SC.
“At FN, we have a heritage of great engineers that design the most battle-proven, the most enduring systems in the firearms world.”
POF USA – Frank DeSomma, founder of Patriot Ordnance Factory (POF-USA), is just that — a patriot. He loves America, and that is evident in the products he builds.
“It’s all about freedom. What we build are symbols of freedom, what we manufacture,” DeSomma says. “And to preserve that freedom I want to build the friggin’ baddest-ass sh*t because if someone ever f*cks with our country, they’re gonna get f*cked up. Why? Because I give a sh*t.”
BARRETT – This episode of Sweat, Lead & Steel brings us the Barrett boys and their incredible innovation. Here, Ronnie and Chris take us much deeper into the foundations of Barrett, which is utterly remarkable.
For us, the episode peaks when Ronnie and Harry Watson, a long-time Barrett Maintenance Engineer, talk about original Barrett 50 Cal.
LMT DEFENSE – The first ever full feature history of Karl Lewis, Lewis Machine & Tool, and where we are headed. Starting in a 10X10 corner of an auto shop, to today in our state of the art machine shop, LMT Defense is poised to remain a prominent staple in weapon manufacturing for both the Defense and Commercial industry.
BLACK HILLS AMMUNITION – Over 30 years ago, Black Hills Ammo started with little more than borrowed money and an unwavering commitment to craft by our founders, former police officer Jeff Hoffman and Kristi Hoffman. That dedication follows us to where we are today, supplying all branches of the U.S. military, law enforcement agencies, dealers, and firearm manufacturers nationwide.
SCCY FIREARMS – In this Sweat, Lead & Steel, we spotlight SCCY Firearms, the brand known for its low cost, highly-vibrant spectrum of multi-colored compact pistols. Founder and CEO, Joe Roebuck, set out to determine if his production savvy and skill at manufacturing high-volume, quality products could satisfy the massive need for cost-effective, high quality carry guns, noting, “My mission is to make an affordable gun and put it in everybody’s pocket. By far, this gun project has tested my skills.”
About Sweat, Lead and Steel:
Sweat, Lead & Steel is an Athlon Outdoors original video series that profiles the history and passion of companies in the shooting sports industry. The series takes an intimate and cinematically powerful look into the history and current state of manufacturers. Sweat, Lead & Steel includes interviews with key executives and founders, archival images and footage. Plus, the series takes a modern look at products, the current manufacturing process, and tells the story of each company revealing their path to greatness and the people who have shaped them.
