For the second year in a row, Christensen Arms—a leading innovator in the firearm industry—has been named one of the top 100 fastest-growing companies in the state of Utah by Mountain West Capital Network and the Utah 100. Mountain West Capital Network (MWCN) is a business networking organization that provides an avenue for Utah's top entrepreneurs and businesses to connect and grow. The annual Utah 100 Awards, organized by the organizations, celebrate the state's outstanding businesses for their rapid growth and significant contributions to Utah's economy.
"We are deeply honored to be included among Utah's top 100 fastest-growing companies,” said Vic Keller, Chairman and CEO of Christensen Arms. “This acknowledgment reflects our team's tireless dedication to innovation and quality, which has fueled our rapid growth. We’re immensely grateful to our retail partners and end users for their ongoing support of Christensen Arms. Without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today."
The foundation for Christensen Arms was poured in 1984, when Roland Christensen opened ACT Aerospace in Fayette, Utah. Putting his doctorate in mechanical engineering to work, he began making cutting-edge composite parts for the aerospace industry. Business was good, but that didn’t stop him from exploring high-tech carbon-fiber construction in products in which he had a passion.
In 1994, after tinkering with baseball bats and other sporting goods, he began work on a carbon-fiber rifle barrel. Officially founded the next year, Christensen Arms was the first to introduce a carbon-fiber rifle barrel.
Added strength, reduced weight and improved heat transfer are big advantages of the design, and his firm’s offerings quickly gained the attention of avid shooters across the globe. Business grew and in 2003 the company began making aerospace-grade carbon-fiber rifle stocks that trim weight, yet offer the features today’s shooters prefer.