What Cylinder & Slide does

Cylinder & Slide, Inc. is a privately held, specialty retailer and custom pistolsmith headquartered at 245 E. 4th Street, Fremont, Nebraska. Founded in 1978, the company operates primarily through its e-commerce storefront at cylinder-slide.com, where it catalogs replacement and enhancement parts for a broad set of handgun platforms — including 1911 variants, Browning Hi-Power, Sig Sauer, Glock, CZ, Smith & Wesson revolvers, Colt revolvers and 380, Tisas, and Kahr — together with accessories such as lubricants, holsters, magazines, sights, and gunsmithing tools. The firm also distributes proprietary product IP, notably 'The Ultimate 1911 Extractor,' C&S Flat Line Porting (marketed as 'Most Effective Porting Available'), and its own Cerakote finishing service.

Beyond parts retail, Cylinder & Slide generates higher-margin revenue through a custom pistolsmithing service spanning at least fifteen firearm platforms (e.g., 1911 single/double stack, Beretta 92/96, Browning Hi-Power, Smith & Wesson revolvers, Walther PPK/S, Glock, Kahr, Sig, H&K USP, Ruger Mk, Ruger DA/SA revolvers, SAA clones, Springfield XD). Services range from action jobs and trigger smoothing (~$197-$289) through re-bluing and refinishing (~$356-$1,045), with customers shipping firearms to the shop under a 50% deposit / ~8-week turnaround model. Completed work can be ordered through C&S Bespoke Handguns, a finished-firearm line including a 1911 Government 100th Anniversary Edition, Modern Classic, Pocket Model, Trident II, and reproductions of the John M. Browning .45 ACP Hammerless.

Commercially, the company runs a sales-led GTM with two distinct buyer tracks: (1) direct-to-consumer e-commerce for individual gun owners and collectors seeking replacement parts and custom work, and (2) a wholesale/dealer program gated by business license and tax ID verification for licensed firearms retailers and professional gunsmiths. Pricing is transaction-based on parts ($2.95-$150 examples) and individually quoted on custom services. All operations are U.S.-domestic-only; the company explicitly states it cannot export products outside the United States. Headcount is in the 11-50 range, with limited public disclosure on financial performance, ownership, or outside investment.

Name

Cylinder & Slide

Legal name

Cylinder & Slide, Inc.

Website

https://cylinder-slide.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cylinder & Slide is a privately held Nebraska-based specialty retailer and custom pistolsmith serving U.S. handgun owners. It sells replacement parts for classic and modern pistols via e-commerce, offers precision custom gunsmithing services, and distributes firearms accessories and tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Firearms Parts & Gunsmithing Services

akta.pro primary industry

Firearms & Ammunition Retail (CRAMAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Reloading & Gunsmithing Supplies Retail (CRAMAKAF)

Keywords

• Handgun parts
• Custom pistolsmithing
• Firearms accessories
• 1911 parts
• Gunsmithing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fremont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Parts & Accessories Sales: Sale of handgun parts and accessories for multiple pistol models including 1911, Browning Hi-Power, Glock, Sig Sauer, CZ, Smith & Wesson, and Colt. Products include extractors, hammers, triggers, magazines, sights, springs, grips, and more.
2. Custom Pistolsmithing Services: Custom gunsmithing work including barrel installation, trigger jobs, refinishing, re-blueing, accurizing, and specialty modifications. Services require 50% deposit and firearm shipment to the shop. Turnaround time approximately 8 weeks plus additional time for special finishes.
3. Wholesale/Dealer Program: Wholesale pricing available to retailers in the trade who provide business license and tax identification for approval

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Cylinder & Slide is a Fremont, Nebraska-based retailer and custom pistolsmithing shop that sells replacement and enhancement parts for a wide range of handguns (1911, Browning Hi-Power, Glock, Sig Sauer, CZ, Smith & Wesson revolvers, Colt, Walther PPK/S, etc.) and offers custom gunsmithing services such as barrel fitting, accurizing, trigger jobs, refinishing, re-blueing, and proprietary finishes like C&S Flat Line Porting and Cerakote applications. The company also sells factory replacement parts, lubrication/cleaning products, accessories, and C&S Bespoke custom-built handguns through its online store and a wholesale dealer program for licensed retailers.

Product overview

Cylinder & Slide is a handgun parts, accessories, and custom pistolsmithing company. Their product portfolio consists of three main categories: (1) Parts & Accessories — replacement and enhancement parts for 1911, Sig Sauer, Browning Hi-Power, Glock, CZ, Smith & Wesson revolvers, Colt 380, Colt revolvers, Tisas, and factory replacement parts for numerous firearm brands; (2) Custom Pistolsmithing Services — offering gunsmithing for Beretta 92/96, 1911 single and double stack, 380 clones, Browning Hi-Power/Tisas, Colt double action revolvers, Ruger Mk and DA/SA revolvers, H&K USP, Glock, Kahr, Sig Sauer, Single Action Army, Springfield XD, Smith & Wesson autos and revolvers, and Walther PPK/S including barrel work, accurizing, trigger jobs, refinishing, and Cerakote finishes; and (3) Finished Firearms — C&S Bespoke Models (custom built pistols) and Available Handguns. The company also sells accessories including lubrication/cleaning products, tools, holsters, rail mounts, and books.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Parts & Accessories for Handguns Replacement and enhancement parts catalog covering 1911, Sig Sauer, Browning Hi-Power, Glock, CZ, Smith & Wesson revolvers, Colt 380, Colt revolvers, Tisas BHP/BR9, Kahr magazines, factory replacement parts for Colt/S&W models, and related accessories including lubrication, cleaning, holsters, light rail mounts, manuals, and C&S branded merchandise.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Alessi HolstersminorOthersCylinder & Slide resells Alessi Holsters as part of their accessories product line, indicating a product sourcing relationship rather than formal partnership.
• HyskoreminorOthersCylinder & Slide resells Hyskore's GripLight product as part of their accessories and tools category, indicating a product sourcing relationship.
• Keller ManufacturingminorOthersCylinder & Slide sells the Keller Checkering Fixture, a specialized gunsmithing tool, indicating distribution of third-party tools and equipment.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Wilson Combat: Wilson Combat manufactures premium 1911 pistols and aftermarket 1911 parts, plus custom gunsmithing services. Direct overlap in 1911 parts, custom pistolsmithing, and even custom-built handgun categories where Cylinder & Slide competes.
• Numrich Gun Parts Corporation: Numrich / Gun Parts Corp is the dominant source for discontinued and obsolete firearm parts across hundreds of vintage gun models. Highly comparable to C&S in serving legacy handgun owners and maintaining deep inventory of rare components.
• Caspian Arms: Caspian Arms manufactures 1911 frames, slides, and small parts — competing directly with C&S in the 1911 parts aftermarket and 1911 builds. Traditionally strong in high-end custom 1911 component sales.
• Brownells: Brownells is the largest US retailer and wholesaler of firearms parts, accessories, and gunsmithing tools — including extensive 1911 and handgun parts inventories. Direct head-to-head competitor for the same firearms enthusiast and professional gunsmith customer base that Cylinder & Slide targets.
• Apex Tactical Specialties: Apex Tactical designs and sells aftermarket triggers, sears, and action parts for Glock, Smith & Wesson M&P, and other modern pistols. Direct competitor in the handgun parts upgrades/enhancement space with shared enthusiast customer base.
• Ed Brown Products: Ed Brown is a custom 1911 manufacturer with parts division supplying aftermarket 1911 components (barrels, bushings, slides). Competes with C&S in custom 1911 builds and parts/accessories serving the same premium 1911 buyer.

Broad incumbents

• Midway USA: Midway USA is a broad firearms-related retailer carrying parts, accessories, reloading supplies, and gunsmithing tools. Larger incumbent with overlapping handgun-parts categories and shared shooter/collector customer base, though it spans many categories beyond C&S's handgun focus.

Emerging players

• Nighthawk Custom: Nighthawk Custom is a high-end custom 1911 builder with growing aftermarket parts catalog. Comparable to C&S Bespoke line in finished custom firearms with overlap in trigger, barrel, and high-end accessory components.
• Wolff (Wolff Gun Springs): Wolff is a manufacturer and seller of replacement springs for handguns and rifles. Small niche player comparable to C&S's parts-only aftermarket offering, with shared gunsmith and hobbyist buyer base.
• KKM Precision: KKM Precision specializes in aftermarket match-grade barrels for Glock and 1911 platforms. Overlaps with C&S in handgun accuracy and performance upgrades, particularly barrel installation services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CylinderandSlide

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cylinder & Slide