Century International Arms

Century International Arms
Industry Arms industry
Genre firearms
Founded 1961
Founder William Sucher
Headquarters Delray Beach, Florida, United States
Products ammunition, Firearms
Revenue $40,000,000
Number of employees
200
Website http://www.centuryarms.biz

Century International Arms is an importer and manufacturer of firearms that is based in the United States. The company was founded in 1961 in St. Albans, Vermont, with offices in Montreal. In 1995 the company headquarters and sales staff moved to Boca Raton, Florida and to Delray Beach, Florida in 2004.

History

The company was started after William Sucher, a typewriter repairman, took a Lee–Enfield rifle in trade against a typewriter he had repaired for a customer. Having no need for the rifle, he posted a newspaper classified ad to sell it and received more queries about the rifle than he had for typewriters. He then sought sources of surplus rifles that he could sell for a profit.[1]

With his brother-in-law, Manny Weigensberg, Sucher made contacts in foreign countries for the importation of military surplus rifles and handguns and by the 1970s Century became the single largest importer of firearms in the United States and Canada.[2][3]

When sources of importable surplus firearms have become scarce, Century has manufactured their own firearms. The company has manufactured versions of the G3, L1A1, AK-47 and sporterized Mausers among others.[4]

Firearms

Ammunition

In addition to importing bulk surplus ammunition, Century is the US importer and distributor for Red Army Standard Ammunition.[5]

References

  1. Edwards, Bruce (7 February 2013). "CIA corners the market on surplus weapons". Times Argus.
  2. "Georgia, Vt. Century International Arms". PBS: Frontline. 1 February 2011.
  3. Picard, Ken (23 January 2013). "In Franklin County, a Global Arms Dealer Quietly Makes a Killing". Seven Days.
  4. Peterson, Phillip (30 September 2008). "Century International Arms". Gun Digest Buyer's Guide To Assault Weapons. Iola, Wisconsin: Gun Digest Books. pp. 60–69. ISBN 1-4402-2672-5.
  5. "Red Army Standard Website - About page". Retrieved 21 May 2014.
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