Safariland

Safariland, LLC is an US-based major designer and manufacturer of equipment for sporting, military, law enforcement, investigation and public safety personnel, formerly a division of BAE Systems, Inc. a subsidiary of the United Kingdom-based defense and aerospace company BAE Systems PLC.

History

The company was founded in Sierra Madre, California in 1964 by Neale Perkins, following his father's request for a custom holster. He named his new company after the African safaris he and his father enjoyed together. From these humble beginnings, Safariland quickly went from making a few hundred holsters to more than 5,000 within a few months.[1]

In 1996, American Body Armor and its shareholders joined forces to form Armor Holdings, a diversified holding company with three manufacturing locations and plans for significant additional growth. Over the course of 11 years, Armor Holdings acquired many of the most-recognized equipment brands in the law enforcement industry, including Safariland.[2]

In July 2007, BAE Systems acquired Armor Holdings, forming the BAE Systems Products Group of which Safariland was a part. In August 2008, it was decided that BAE Systems Products Group would go to market under the name Safariland.[3]

In May 2012, BAE Systems announced that Safariland would be sold to an acquisition vehicle affiliated with Kanders & Co., Inc.; sale was finalized at the end of July 2012 for US$124 million.[4]

In December 2015, Safariland acquired Lawmen's Safety Supply Inc., which is distributor of law enforcement equipment and uniforms started out of Raleigh, North Carolina.[5]

Products

Safariland manufacturers a wide array of products in the law enforcement space, but only markets a small number of them under the Safariland brand name. The majority of products appear in the marketplace under other, well known law enforcement brands that were acquired when the company became a part of Armor Holdings.

Product offering includes holsters, duty gear and restraints under the Safariland and Bianchi brands. Body armor is offered under the American Body Armor, Second Chance, SAVVY and PROTECH brands. Firearms accessories and cleaning kits are manufactured under the B-Square, SpeedFeed, Kleen-Bore and BreakFree brands. Protective gear such as riot helmets and shields as well as protective police gloves under the Hatch and Monadnock brands.[6]

Less lethal munitions and chemical OC, CN and CS sprays and foams are sold under the Defense Technology brand. A field narcotics testing line of products is produced under the NIK Public Safety and ODV brands, as well as a line of equipment and consumable supplies targeted toward Forensics and Investigation personnel under the Forensics Source and Projectina brands.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Smith, K. (1966). "Safariland Holsters". American Rifleman (National Rifle Association): 101.
  2. ↑ Barnett, Cynthia (October 1, 2012). "Safariland". Florida Trend  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) .
  3. ↑ "Warren Kanders to Buy Safariland from BAE Systems". Manufacturing Close Up  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) . August 2, 2012.
  4. ↑ Clinton, Michael (July 30, 2012). "Safariland sale finalized for $124 million"". Jacksonville Business Journal. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  5. ↑ "Safariland makes major East Coast acquisition". Biz Journal. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
  6. ↑ Wagner, Scott W. (22 October 2009). Own the Night: Selection and Use of Tactical Lights and Laser Sights. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. p. 97. ISBN 1-4402-0371-7.
  7. ↑ Laska, Paul (April 1, 2008). "Shot Show 2008: a report for the forensic and technical investigator". Law Enforcement Technology  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) .

External links

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