Stag Arms

Lore & Background

Stag Arms was founded in May 2003 and initially manufactured AR-15 type rifles marketed as Stag-15. The company gained recognition for producing left-handed variants of the AR-15, featuring a mirror-imaged upper receiver and reversed ejection port, with the safety selector on the right side of the lower receiver. In February 2016, private equity firm White Wolf Capital acquired Stag Arms, with a press release stating the company would continue manufacturing in New Britain, Connecticut. At the 2017 Shot Show in Las Vegas, Stag Arms announced its first AR-10 type rifle, the Stag-10, chambered in .308 caliber, with a left-handed variant and a 6.5 Creedmoor version planned for July 2017.

On June 7, 2019, Stag Arms announced relocation to Cheyenne, Wyoming, completing the move on December 17, 2019. The company also produces the Pursuit series of bolt action rifles, built on a Remington Model 700-style action with a 7075 aluminum alloy receiver, a 3-lug bolt, and a TriggerTech flat-faced trigger. The Pursuit is chambered in .308 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 6.5 PRC, and features a modular hybrid hunter stock with adjustable cheek riser and length of pull.

Stag Arms manufactures Title II firearms including machine guns, short-barrel rifles, short-barrel shotguns, and suppressors. The STAG-15 is a semi-automatic AR-15 for civilian use, chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO, 6.8mm Remington SPC, and .300 Blackout, available in standard and SBR barrel lengths. The STAG-16 is a select-fire version with semi-auto, burst, and full-auto modes, marketed only to law enforcement and military. In December 2015, CEO Mark Malkowski pleaded guilty to manufacturing hundreds of unserialized firearms, including dozens of rifles, and was required to divest all interest in Stag Arms.

Reader's Guide

Stag Arms occupies a distinct niche in the firearms industry as a manufacturer that specifically caters to left-handed shooters with its mirror-imaged AR-15 platform. This specialization, combined with its production of standard AR-15 and AR-10 rifles, bolt action rifles, and Title II firearms, gives the company a broad but focused product line. The company's relocation from Connecticut to Wyoming in 2019 reflects a shift in its operational base. The Pursuit bolt action rifle demonstrates Stag's ability to produce a highly customized rifle compatible with the extensive aftermarket for Remington Model 700 parts, using a 7075 aluminum alloy receiver and a 3-lug bolt design.

The company's history includes a significant controversy: in December 2015, its CEO pleaded guilty to manufacturing hundreds of unserialized firearms, leading to his required divestment from the company. Despite this, Stag Arms continues to produce firearms for civilian, law enforcement, and military markets, including select-fire variants restricted to the latter two groups. The company's emphasis on American manufacturing and left-handed configurations remains its most notable characteristic.