Wilson Combat
Wilson Combat is a privately held American firearms manufacturer founded in 1977 by Bill Wilson, specializing in custom-built 1911-pattern pistols, AR-15-style rifles, and tactical accessories using 100% American-made components.[1][2] Headquartered in Berryville, Arkansas, the company originated as a one-man gunsmithing operation in the back of Wilson's family jewelry store, focusing initially on enhancing M1911 pistols for competitive shooting.[3][4] Leveraging Wilson's expertise as a champion competitive shooter, jeweler, and watchmaker, Wilson Combat rapidly expanded into a global leader in custom handgun development, prioritizing precision reliability, ergonomic design, and unmatched craftsmanship for professional and enthusiast markets.[3][5] Notable innovations include high-performance models like the EDC X9 and collaborations such as the WCP365, alongside a commitment to customer satisfaction through rigorous quality control and lifetime service guarantees.[6][1] The company's enduring reputation stems from its role in advancing practical shooting disciplines and producing firearms favored in competitions, self-defense, and law enforcement applications, as evidenced by Bill Wilson's 2023 Golden Bullseye Pioneer Award from the NRA.[5][7]History
Founding and Early Development
Wilson Combat was founded in 1977 by Bill Wilson in Berryville, Arkansas, initially operating as a custom gunsmithing business specializing in Colt Government Model 1911 pistols.[1] [8] Wilson, trained as a watchmaker, had entered the firearms trade in 1974 by opening a retail store named Sportsman's Headquarters in the same location, which served as a precursor to his focused customization work.[1] His background in precision mechanics and early involvement in competitive pistol shooting, including police practical combat events starting around 1973, drove the company's emphasis on improving handgun accuracy, reliability, and ergonomics through aftermarket modifications.[3] The early operation began as a one-man endeavor in modest facilities, often described as starting from the back of Wilson's family jewelry store, where he hand-fitted parts and performed bespoke alterations for fellow shooters and enthusiasts.[2] [9] By providing superior triggers, barrels, and other components sourced or modified for enhanced performance, Wilson Combat rapidly built a reputation among top competitors in disciplines like bowling pin shooting and International Practical Shooting Confederation events.[3] This grassroots growth was fueled by Wilson's hands-on approach, leveraging his technical skills to address common 1911 deficiencies such as feeding issues and wear under high-round counts. Through the late 1970s and into the 1980s, the company expanded its capabilities, transitioning from pure gunsmithing services to manufacturing proprietary parts like beveled magazine wells and extended controls, which became staples in custom builds.[10] This period marked Wilson Combat's establishment as an innovator in high-performance pistols, with early adopters including law enforcement and competitive circuits praising the durability and precision of its work, setting the stage for broader market penetration without relying on mass production.[5]Growth and Expansion
In 2020, Wilson Combat initiated a major expansion of its Berryville, Arkansas facilities to address surging demand for custom firearms and components, adding a 16,000-square-foot building dedicated to machining and warehousing at a cost of $10 million.[11][12] This project, which began in May 2020 and concluded in 2021, increased the company's total facility footprint from 77,200 square feet to 93,200 square feet.[13][14] The expansion significantly boosted production capabilities, more than doubling output for rifle and pistol parts while enabling up to 600% greater rifle manufacturing volume to meet market needs.[14][15] Workforce growth accompanied these operational enhancements, with employee numbers rising from about 160 to over 240 by mid-2021, reflecting a 50% increase in staffing to support expanded operations.[12][14] Subsequent additions, including 3,500 square feet of further production space, expanded the Berryville campus to approximately 97,000 square feet by late 2021.[16] In July 2025, the company further broadened its scope by acquiring Performance Engineering and integrating its operations into the Berryville headquarters, enhancing capabilities in precision components.[17]Key Acquisitions and Milestones
In 2018, Wilson Combat acquired Chip McCormick Custom and Shooting Star Industries, incorporating the latter's expertise in 1911 pistol magazines into its operations to enhance product reliability and capacity options.[18] In early 2022, founder Bill Wilson purchased Lehigh Defense, a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer of advanced bullets and ammunition, expanding the company's capabilities into defensive and hunting projectiles while maintaining Lehigh's independent branding.[19] Later that year, in May 2022, Wilson Combat acquired the assets of New Ultralight Arms, a West Virginia rifle maker, and relocated production to its Berryville, Arkansas facility to bolster long-gun manufacturing.[20] In June 2025, sister company Lehigh Defense acquired the assets of Performance Engineering, a precision machining firm specializing in firearm components, further integrating specialized fabrication under the Wilson family of companies.[21] Key milestones include the 1999 entry into custom AR-15 rifle production, marking a diversification from 1911 handguns and establishing Wilson Combat as a full-spectrum custom firearms provider.[1] The 2017 launch of the EDC X9 pistol represented a technical breakthrough with its high-capacity, single-action design, influencing subsequent innovations in compact carry firearms.[22] In 2022, the company marked its 45th anniversary, reflecting sustained growth from a small gunsmithing shop to America's largest custom firearms manufacturer with advanced CNC-equipped facilities.[2]Products
Handguns
Wilson Combat's handgun production emphasizes customized and semi-custom variants of the Colt M1911 pistol design, which forms the core of its offerings since the company's inception in 1977.[23] These pistols incorporate precision-machined components, such as match-grade barrels, hand-fitted slides and frames, and enhanced ergonomics including high-cut checkered frontstraps and contoured magazine wells, aimed at improving reliability and accuracy for competitive and defensive applications.[23] Calibers typically include .45 ACP, 9mm, and 10mm, with frame sizes ranging from full-size (5-inch barrel) to compact (4-inch barrel) configurations.[24] The CQB series represents a foundational model line, with the standard CQB featuring a 5-inch barrel, 8-round capacity in .45 ACP (7 rounds in 9mm), and an overall length of 8.7 inches, priced at a base of $3,710 for .45 ACP models.[24] Variants like the CQB Elite offer a 4.25-inch commander-length barrel and tactical rail, maintaining similar capacities and starting at $4,457.[25] Higher-end options, such as the Tactical Supergrade, utilize a 4-inch barrel with 7-round capacity and advanced finishing like Armor-Tuff coating, commanding base prices up to $6,800.[26] In addition to single-stack 1911s, Wilson Combat produces double-stack models for increased capacity, including the SFX9 in 9mm with 15- or 18-round magazines, a 5-inch barrel, and base pricing of $3,418.[27] The EDC X9 2.0 series extends this design in 9mm, available in 5-inch, 4-inch, and 3.25-inch barrel lengths with customizable grips and high-capacity magazines supporting up to 18 rounds, emphasizing concealability and rapid follow-up shots.[28] Custom shop services allow further personalization, such as integrated magwells and red-dot optic mounts, building on the firm's early gunsmithing roots in refining 1911 reliability through empirical testing and iterative improvements.[29][2]| Model Series | Caliber Options | Barrel Lengths | Magazine Capacity | Base Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CQB | .45 ACP, 9mm, 10mm | 5" | 8 (.45 ACP) | $3,710 (.45 ACP) |
| CQB Elite | .45 ACP, 9mm | 4.25" | 8 (.45 ACP) | $4,457 (.45 ACP) |
| SFX9 | 9mm | 5" | 15-18 | $3,418 |
| EDC X9 2.0 | 9mm | 3.25"-5" | Up to 18 | Varies by size |
| Tactical Supergrade | .45 ACP, 9mm | 4" | 7 (.45 ACP) | $6,800 (.45 ACP) |