There is evidence that firearms sales have slowed over the past several months in the United States. According to data from the FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System, 2,433,092 background checks were conducted for firearms in March 2017—down significantly from the 2,523,265 in March 2016.¹

At the same time, major manufacturers Sturm Ruger and American Outdoor Brands (formerly Smith and Wesson) lost 14 percent and 15 percent of their stock value, respectively, after the 2016 presidential election.²

Although this trend might worry some in the larger firearm industry, no such alarm affects the law enforcement sector of the market. Manufacturers are catering to police to maximize effectiveness.

“People say the gun business is doing bad, but I don’t see any evidence of that here,” said Chris Kurzadowski, owner of Battle Rifle Company, a boutique firearms manufacturer based in Houston, Texas, that caters to law enforcement.³

Several companies are unveiling new models designed with police in mind and constructed to withstand the rigors of police work.

Emerging Leaders in the Field

Most law enforcement agencies and officers are familiar with the leading firearm brands, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be room for relatively new players.

One such player is CZ, which entered the U.S. law enforcement market a few years ago, according to John Simmons, a former Kansas police chief who now serves as director of law enforcement and military sales for CZ-USA. Headquartered in the Czech Republic, but operating a U.S. office in Kansas City, Kansas, CZ and CZ-USA have extensive experience in Europe and elsewhere with the law enforcement and military sectors.⁴

“The quality is there,” Simmons said. “And we’ve priced it to where law enforcement can afford to buy it. All our firearms are extremely shootable and very forgiving. If you keep the sight on the target, it’s amazing how accurate they can be.”⁵

CZ-USA’s signature product for law enforcement is the CZ 75. Recently, however, the CZ P-10 C, a striker-fired pistol designed to compete with similar models from other manufacturers, was introduced.

According to Simmons, there are several features that set the CZ models apart from those of competitors. “Ergonomically, it’s more adapted to your hand,” he said. “CZ has long been known for ergonomics and pointability. It’s amazing. It’s not going to move around in your hand.”⁶

The P-10 C’s designers tout its trigger in particular, which breaks at 4–4.5 pounds and rebounds with a short reset. That translates to better accuracy and easier shooting. In addition, the weapon’s fiber-reinforced polymer frame and nitride finish are made for professional-grade wear and tear, and it holds 15+1 in 9mm in a flush-fitting magazine, with extended bases allowing 17+1. The P-10 C starts at around $500.

Several other companies, of course, also specialize in firearms for police and military applications. Heckler and Koch (HK), headquartered in Germany with a U.S. subsidiary in Ashburn, Virginia, made a splash in April 2017 when it unveiled its own striker-fired pistol, the VP9SK.

HK’s VP line of handguns has a compact body in the VP9SK. The VP’s precision strike trigger is on the VP9SK, retaining the short, light take-up and solid, single-action type break that will be familiar to previous users of the VP line. A smaller-scale version of the VP’s adjustable grip, which consists of interchangeable back straps and lateral grip panels, is on the VP9SK.⁷

Special Weapons for Special Purposes

Officers operate in a dizzying range of places and conditions. According to Kurzadowski, Battle Rifle Company’s Build to Spec program can create a firearm for any situation a law enforcement officer might face.

Battle Rifle experts consult with law en-forcement leaders to build custom rifles and training services around maintenance, disassembly, and basic operations. “You can sit down with us and get something custom built for a reasonable price,” Kurzadowski stated. “Other manufacturers charge hundreds more dollars; we’re much less for the same or better quality.”⁸

Options for custom weapons seem to not have any obvious limits. “These are purposedriven builds,” Kurzadowski explains. “We built a submachine gun for protecting the governor here in Texas. They have specific purposes. We built a maritime security weapon. We have rifles that can be deployed by bike officers… they are very compact.”⁹

The maritime security rifle, the BR4 Trident, was constructed for a long life and strong performance either at sea or along the coastline. Battle Rifle designers constructed the rifle so no iron metal-to-metal contact could occur throughout the rifle, helping to prevent corrosion, even after extended exposure to the elements.

Refurbishing Program

The U.S. federal 1033 Program was established in 1997 by the National Defense Authorization Act. Through the program, the U.S. Department of Defense was authorized to transfer surplus military supplies and equipment to state and local law enforcement.¹⁰

The 1033 Program has resulted in numerous important supplies being transferred to law enforcement agencies, including various vehicles, electronic and computer equipment, first aid equipment, tents and sleeping bags, and photographic equipment, among other items.

One of the product types the 1033 supplies is weapons. However, the firearms transferred from the military to law enforcement are often old or outdated.

That’s where Battle Rifle can come in.

As many in the law enforcement community may be aware, the 1033 prohibits any modifications from being permanent, requires each agency to retain all original parts removed from the weapon to perform the modification, and requires law enforcement to return weapons in their original configuration.

Battle Rifle works in compliance with all 1033 requirements when performing a refurbishment or upgrade. “You can get weapons through the 1033 program, but you get things like M16s,” Kurzadowski said. “We can refurbish and upgrade those… with the same customization we offer for everything else.”¹¹ The starting price of a 1033 M16 upgrade at Battle Rifle is $695.

Every agency has different needs in terms of firearms, but regardless of what is needed, there is a good chance Markl Supply Company will be have it available. The family-owned company, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has a large showroom and an extensive web store featuring firearms, accessories, and a host of other products catering exclusively to law enforcement. As of late April 2017, the Markl website featured 73 firearms, 85 firearm accessories, and 28 items for firearm maintenance.¹²

Agencies looking to upgrade or change the firearms they issue or simply seeking to outfit new officers with appropriate gear have a range of options available as more companies build firearms customized for the specific demands of the law enforcement market.