This Gun Manufacturer Produced Nearly a Quarter Million Revolvers in One Year

In March 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court signaled its readiness to oppose a lawsuit levied by Mexico against U.S. gun manufacturers. The lawsuit claimed that U.S. gun manufacturers were willfully and deliberately turning an eye to gun sales that were being trafficked over the border and into the hands of Mexican cartels. In the lawsuit, several gun manufacturers were named, including (but not nearly limited to) Colt and Smith & Wesson. Cate Stetson, a lawyer representing Mexico, argued that certain gun manufacturers “supply dealers with all the guns they can pay for, without any public safety conditions, even if a gun dealer has been repeatedly found to have violated gun laws, been indicted.” At this time, the case is still in relatively early stages and will most likely have to make it through the lower courts before it ever gets the chance to be heard by the Supreme Court — if it even makes it that far.

Despite these gun manufacturers being involved in the lawsuit, many of those same manufacturers still have a strong U.S. customer base — and for good reason. These gun manufacturers tend to produce a wide variety of weapons, from pistols and rifles to revolvers, that are known for their efficacy, quality, and accuracy. Although gun production numbers have fallen since the pandemic, people are increasingly reaching for revolvers as a new gun acquisition. Here, 24/7 Wall St. set out to identify the best-selling American revolvers. To do so, we sourced data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)’s 2023 Annual Firearms Manufacturers and Exports report. This comprehensive report, which is the most current at this time, ranks thousands of federally licensed gunmakers on total pistol, revolver, rifle, and shotgun production, as well as miscellaneous firearms. The report includes both guns produced and guns exported, but we focused solely on production numbers for the purpose of this article. Additional information on production location and popular revolver models was sourced from company websites.

This previously published article was updated in May 2025 to provide adjusted 2023 manufacturing and production data. 

Why We’re Covering This

Major American revolver manufacturers have built their reputations through creating reliable, high-quality, and consistent firearms. Many of these companies have spent decades perfecting their craft — and that’s the reason why consumers keep coming back. Of course, not every revolver manufacturer is the same: some focus on competition shooting, others on hunting or personal protection. Regardless, each brings something unique to the market — and sometimes a fun incentive, too. Heritage Manufacturing, until the end of May 2025, is actually offering a free magnum cylinder to anybody who buys a rimfire revolver.

For buyers, remaining informed on each company’s strengths leads to smarter purchasing choices that fit your needs. Knowing which companies are most popular also gives you a starting off point — and tells you who the market trusts, and who they don’t.

Read on to learn about America’s top revolver manufacturers:

14. Outpost Armory

• Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2023: 656 (0.08% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
• Popular revolver model(s): N/A
• Outpost Armory revolver production location(s): Murfreesboro, Tennessee
• Outpost Armory 2023 total domestic firearm production: 8,770 (7.5% revolvers)

13. Nighthawk Custom

• Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2023: 1,178 (0.1% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
• Popular revolver model(s): Super Sport, Korth Classic, Mongoose, Ranger
• Nighthawk revolver production location(s): Berryville, Arkansas
• Nighthawk 2023 total domestic firearm production: 5,154 (22.8% revolvers)

12. Magnum Research

• Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2023: 2,254 (0.28% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
• Popular revolver model(s): BFR
• Magnum Research revolver production location(s): Pillager, Minnesota
• Magnum Research 2023 total domestic firearm production: 19,602 (11.5% revolvers)

11. Standard Manufacturing

• Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2023: 4,439 (0.55% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
• Popular revolver model(s): S333 Thunderstruck, Switch Gun, Single Action Revolver
• Standard Manufacturing revolver production location(s): New Britain, Connecticut
• Standard Manufacturing 2023 total domestic firearm production: 6,222 (71.3% revolvers)

10. Henry Repeating Arms Company

• Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2023: 5,222 (0.64% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
• Popular revolver model(s): Big Boy, Golden Boy
• Henry RAC revolver production location(s): Rice Lake, Wisconsin
• Henry RAC 2023 total domestic firearm production: 151,716 (3.4% revolvers)

9. Automated Finishing Company

• Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2023: 5,250 (0.65% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
• Popular revolver model(s): N/A
• Automated Finishing Company revolver production location(s): Attleboro, Massachusetts
• Automated Finishing Company 2023 total domestic firearm production: 15,022 (34.9% revolvers)

8. Diamondback Firearms

• Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2022: 12,799 (1.58% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
• Popular revolver model(s): Sidekick, Sidekick Birdshead
• Diamondback revolver production location(s): Cocoa, Florida
• Diamondback 2023 total domestic firearm production: 93,945 (13.6% revolvers)

7. Kimber Manufacturing

• Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2023: 14,109 (1.75% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
• Popular revolver model(s): K6XS, K6S DASA, K6S DCR
• Kimber revolver production location(s): Troy, Alabama
• Kimber 2023 total domestic firearm production: 143,726 (9.8% revolvers)

6. Armscor Precision International

• Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2023: 28,086 (3.5% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
• Popular revolver model(s): M200 38Spl 6RD
• Armscor revolver production location(s): Pahrump, Nevada
• Armscor 2023 total domestic firearm production: 28,098 (99.9% revolvers)

5. North American Arms

• Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2023: 60,215 (7.48% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
• Popular revolver model(s): Ranger II, Black Widow, TGH-M, PUG-D, 22M-R4
• North American Arms revolver production location(s): Provo, Utah
• North American Arms 2023 total domestic firearm production: 60,343 (99.7% revolvers)

4. Colt’s Manufacturing

• Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2023: 112,858 (14.0% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
• Popular revolver model(s): Kodiak, Python, Anaconda, King Cobra
• Colt revolver production location(s): West Hartford, Connecticut
• Colt 2023 total domestic firearm production: 193,057 (58.4% revolvers)

3. Sturm, Ruger & Company

• Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2023: 177,364 (22.0% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
• Popular revolver model(s): Bearcat, Wrangler, Redhawk, Super Blackhawk
• Ruger revolver production location(s): Newport, New Hampshire; Prescott, Arizona; Southport, Connecticut
• Ruger 2023 total domestic firearm production: 786,749 (22.5% revolvers)

2. Heritage Manufacturing

• Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2023: 178,743 (22.2% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
• Popular revolver model(s): Barkeep, Rough Rider, Roscoe
• Heritage revolver production location(s): Bainbridge, Georgia
• Heritage 2023 total domestic firearm production: 199,460 (89.6% revolvers)

1. Smith & Wesson

• Revolvers manufactured domestically in 2022: 196,369 (24.4% of all U.S.-made revolvers)
• Popular revolver model(s): Model 19, Model 29, Model 27
• S&W revolver production location(s): Columbia, Missouri; Maryville, Tennessee; Springfield, Massachusetts
• S&W 2023 total domestic firearm production: 991,937 (19.8% revolvers)

The post This Gun Manufacturer Produced Nearly a Quarter Million Revolvers in One Year appeared first on 24/7 Wall St..