Gun Manufacturers A to Z: Who Makes What

There are a lot of gun makers, and some of the names on the shelf are older than the companies that own them today. This list covers the makers shoppers see most often, where they are based and what each one is known for. Every name links to its live listings, and the full brand directory has the rest.

The chart at the top shows how in-stock handgun, rifle and shotgun listings on Gun Search Engine split across the most-listed brands right now.

“Some makers own the handgun case. Others live in the rifle rack.”

A to Z: well-known gun makers

• **Benelli:** from Italy. Best known for semi-auto shotguns. Part of the same group that owns Beretta.
• **Beretta:** from Italy, one of the oldest gun makers in the world, with a US plant in Tennessee. Known for pistols and shotguns.
• **Browning:** based in Utah and named for gun designer John Moses Browning. Makes rifles, shotguns and pistols. Part of the Belgian FN group.
• **Christensen Arms:** based in Utah. Known for lightweight hunting rifles with carbon fiber barrels.
• **Colt:** based in Connecticut. Known for revolvers, classic single-action designs and AR-style rifles.
• **CZ:** from the Czech Republic, with a US arm in Kansas. Known for steel-frame pistols and rimfire rifles.
• **Glock:** from Austria, with US headquarters in Georgia. Known for polymer striker-fired pistols.
• **Heckler & Koch:** from Germany. Known for pistols and rifles used by police and militaries.
• **Henry Repeating Arms:** an American maker known for lever-action rifles.
• **Mossberg:** based in Connecticut. Best known for pump-action shotguns, and it makes rifles too.
• **Ruger:** an American maker with plants in several states. Makes rimfire rifles, revolvers, pistols and hunting rifles.
• **Savage:** based in Massachusetts. Best known for bolt-action rifles.
• **Sig Sauer:** based in New Hampshire, with roots in Switzerland and Germany. Known for pistols, and the US Army's current service pistol is based on a Sig Sauer design.
• **Smith & Wesson:** long tied to Massachusetts and now based in Tennessee. Known for revolvers and M&P pistols.
• **Springfield Armory:** a private company in Illinois that took the name of the old US government armory. Known for Hellcat and XD pistols.
• **Taurus:** from Brazil, with US headquarters in Georgia. Known for low-cost revolvers and pistols.
• **Tristar Arms:** based in Missouri. Imports shotguns made overseas.
• **Weatherby:** based in Wyoming. Known for magnum bolt-action rifles.
• **Winchester:** known for lever-action rifles and shotguns. Winchester guns are made under license today, separate from Winchester ammo.

One brand, many factories

The name on the slide is not always where the gun was made. Some brands build in the US and overseas. Some license their name to another company. Others belong to a bigger group that owns several brands. This matters less than it seems when you shop. What counts is the model, how it fits you and what it is built to do.

“The name on the slide is not always where the gun was made.”

How to read a model name

Gun listings pack a lot into one line. Most follow the same order.

• Brand: the maker, like Glock or Ruger.
• Model: the product name or number. One model can come in several sizes.
• Generation or version: words like Gen, Mark or a version tag mean the maker updated the design. Parts and mags do not always swap between versions.
• Caliber: the cartridge the gun fires. Always match your ammo to the caliber stamped on the gun.
• Extras: barrel length, sights, finish or a state-compliant tag often come last.

“Read a listing left to right: brand, model, generation, caliber.”

How to use this list

• Start with the type of gun you want: handguns, rifles or shotguns.
• Open a brand page to see every model that brand has in stock today.
• Already know the model? Browse by model to compare live listings side by side.

Looking for a maker that is not on this list? Browse all gun and ammo brands to see every maker with live listings on Gun Search Engine.