2010 – XX YEARS  

Started by Ken Elmore in 1990 after leaving active duty with the U.S. Army, the concept for a small firearms company has developed into SPECIALIZED ARMAMENT, an established leader in law enforcement sales and training, focusing mainly on COLT automatic weapons and handguns. Our company has worked closely with COLT Defense and other companies for many years to provide numerous custom firearms, components, and accessories. Today we maintain the largest inventory of COLT spare parts in the United States. (AR-15 series firearms)

Besides building individually modified COLT weapons for hundreds of Law Enforcement Agencies across the country and upgrading older COLT rifles and carbines for many others, Specialized Armament has also worked on firearms for private collectors, target shooters, security firms, the movie industry, training groups, elite military units, and others. From special projects to rebuilding and restoring classic military weapons from around the world, we are constantly striving to provide advanced firearms knowledge and high-end products that are unique in our industry

Since its inception Specialized Armament has also designed and manufactured a wide variety of specialty components and tools for many current production and obsolete firearms. The company has been located in a modern industrial park in Chandler, Arizona since the year 2000 (approximately 15 miles from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport). This facility provides offices, computer & sales support, warehouse storage, shipping/receiving, and a custom machine shop on site. Shop services include:

Small Arms Repair and Modification

Design & Engineering Capabilities

Tool Fabrication

Multi-Axis Milling

Lathe Work

TIG-Welding

Precision Grinding Operations

Skilled Handwork & Fine Finishing

Abrasive blasting (multiple types – manual & automated)

Phosphate plating (DOD-P-16232F TYPE M)

Anodizing (MIL-A-8625 TYPE II & TYPE III)

Quality Control - Gauging and Inspection

Attention to Detail - Craftsmanship

As in the past, Specialized Armament continues to focus on dozens of independent and joint projects which frequently challenge the limits of our times and resources – to include: engineering, materials application, proto-typing, custom tooling, specialty/advanced training, published material and research, as well as many other related endeavors. The Company never sleeps.

After twenty years, Ken Elmore still supervises all company operations and business development. His background includes extensive training with the U.S. Army (1986-1990) while assigned to 3rd Infantry Division (West Germany) and as a Squad Leader for a demolitions and light weapons platoon attached to 3/27 INF (Wolfhounds), 7th Infantry Division (Light), Rapid Deployment Force (Ft. Ord, CA). SGT Elmore’s unit participated in combat and military police operations during the Panama Invasion (1989-90). Previously, he attended California State University, Northridge (CSUN)—where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Magna Cum Laude) in International Economics and German (1985).

From 1997-2007 Ken Elmore taught more than 300 Law Enforcement (LE) and Military training courses for COLT Defense, Specialized Armament, and the US Government—instructing well over 5000 police and military personnel from around the world. He was also a material contributor to the Collector Grade Publications’ book, Black Rifle II, (2003-2004); Guest Instructor at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center, Ft. Bragg, NC, (2003); consultant on several development and engineering projects, (2004-2007); and advisor/”subject matter expert” for National Geographic Television (2006). Since late 2007, Ken has been writing, updating, and illustrating several new technical manuals, doing private contract work, running Specialized Armament, and teaching the new M16 and Advanced M16 Armorer Courses around the United States. Many of these efforts will continue into the future….