What Chapuis Armes does

Chapuis Armes is a privately held French manufacturer of bespoke hunting firearms headquartered in Saint-Bonnet-le-Château, in the Loire region's historic gunmaking heartland. The company produces made-to-measure shotguns, rifles, and revolvers across three finishing tiers (Classic, Artisan, and Deluxe), with product lines including the Super Orion over-and-under shotgun/rifle, the Progress side-by-side, the patented ROLS/ROLS.2 linear-pull rifle developed with Austrian engineer Peter Ebenberger, the OURAL single-shot rifle, and the Manurhin revolver family (MR73, MR88, and Match). Chapuis Armes was revived under its current name in 1985 by René Chapuis, with family heritage tracing to the late 19th century; the current leadership comprises Vincent Chapuis (CEO), David Chapuis (General Manager), and René Chapuis (Chairman). Since March 2019, Beretta Holding SA has held a strategic majority stake, granting Chapuis access to Beretta's global distribution network while preserving its distinct brand and Saint-Bonnet-le-Château manufacturing operations.

The company combines traditional gunsmithing with modern industrial technology, integrating SolidWorks 3D design, DMG MORI 5-axis CNC machining centers, cold hammer forging for barrels, roller burnishing for chambers, laser engraving, and 3D metrological inspection within a 3,000 m² factory that includes a 50- and 100-meter shooting tunnel. Proprietary mechanical innovations include the ROLS linear-loading system, the Progress double-hook locking system (1974), the S12 patented mechanical adjustment system (2013), and the Switch Trigger (S.T.) system. Manufacturing is vertically integrated, with most machining, action-making, and finishing performed in-house; approximately 11–50 employees operate across the headquarters and the dedicated revolver manufacturing building. Chapuis received the French government's Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (Living Heritage Company) label in 2012.

Chapuis operates a one-time-purchase, quote-based revenue model with no recurring component. Revenue streams include bespoke firearm manufacturing, Manurhin revolver production (including a French National Police supply contract representing nearly 40% of that division's turnover), and hunting accessories. Distribution is channel-led, relying on the Beretta Group's international infrastructure and a global network of Chapuis Premium Retails that handle bespoke consultations. End customers include individual hunters (small game and big game segments), professional hunters and outfitters, luxury collectors, and law enforcement agencies. The company markets through its multilingual website, Instagram, Facebook, extensive hunting press coverage, and trade show presence.

Name

Chapuis Armes

Legal name

Chapuis Armes SAS

Website

https://chapuis-armes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chapuis Armes is a French manufacturer of bespoke hunting firearms, producing shotguns, rifles, and Manurhin revolvers in Saint-Bonnet-le-Château. The company serves hunters, collectors, professional outfitters, and law enforcement globally through the Beretta Group's distribution network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hunting Firearms

NAICS

Small Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Accessories Manufacturing (332994)

akta.pro primary industry

Firearms & Ammunition Retail (CRAMAKAA)

Keywords

• Bespoke hunting firearms
• Custom shotguns
• Express rifles
• Gunsmithing manufacturer
• Manurhin revolvers

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-bonnet-le-château

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Custom Firearms Manufacturing: Chapuis Armes generates revenue primarily through the manufacture and sale of bespoke hunting firearms, including shotguns, rifles, and revolvers. Each firearm is made to measure with three finishing levels: Classic, Artisan, and Deluxe. Products are sold as one-time purchases with no recurring revenue component.
2. Manurhin Revolvers: Production and sale of Manurhin revolvers including MR73, MR88, and Match series. The company secured supply contracts for national police representing nearly 40% of revolver division turnover.
3. Hunting Accessories: Sale of hunting firearm accessories including optics mounts, scope rails, and other accessories for Chapuis and Manurhin products.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chapuis Armes designs and manufactures bespoke hunting and sport firearms in France, including over-and-under and side-by-side shotguns, double express rifles, single-shot rifles (including the linear-action OURAL), and Manurhin revolvers. Each gun is built to order with custom stock dimensions, engraving, wood selection, and caliber, using a combination of hand gunsmithing and modern CNC/forging technology.

Product overview

Chapuis Armes is a French manufacturer of bespoke hunting firearms based in Saint-Bonnet-le-Château, Loire region. The company produces a comprehensive portfolio of shotguns, rifles, and revolvers across three finishing levels (Classic, Artisan, Deluxe). Shotgun offerings include Super Orion over-and-under shotguns and Progress side-by-side shotguns. Rifle products encompass the ROLS/ROLS.2 linear pull rifles, Super Orion and Progress express rifles (side-by-side and over-and-under configurations), and OURAL single-shot rifles. The company also manufactures Manurhin revolvers including the legendary MR73, the returning MR88, and Match-grade MR32/MR38 models. A full bespoke customization service allows customers to create weapons according to personal specifications, complemented by master engraving services. The company operates under Beretta Group ownership since 2019.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Manurhin: Legendary French revolver brand acquired from MANURHIN in 1998. Manurhin revolvers including MR73, MR88, and MATCH series are manufactured at the Saint-Bonnet-le-Château facility.
• MATCH

Products and services

• ROLS / ROLS.2 Linear Rifle

Quantifiable outcome

• Export revenue increased 160% in the first year following Beretta partnership
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Beretta Holding SAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019In March 2019, Beretta Holding SA took a strategic majority stake in Chapuis Armes SAS. This alliance opened new opportunities for international development while preserving Chapuis's unique identity and expertise. The partnership provided access to Beretta's global distribution network, resulting in a 160% increase in export revenue in the first year. Chapuis Armes maintains its brand identity and manufacturing operations in Saint-Bonnet-le-Château while benefiting from Beretta's international reach.
• Peter EbenbergercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Austrian engineer Peter Ebenberger collaborated with Chapuis Armes to develop the ROLS rifle linear-loading system, a major innovation in hunting firearms protected by several patents.
• European Regional Development Fund (FEDER)minorOthersThe development of the ROLS rifle received financing from the European Regional Development Fund, supporting innovation in the company's flagship product line.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Browning: Global firearms manufacturer with broad hunting shotgun and rifle portfolio. Comparable on hunting firearms market participation, though Browning operates at much larger scale and across more price tiers than Chapuis.
• Beretta: Italian premium firearms manufacturer and parent company of Chapuis Armes since 2019. Directly comparable as a global premium shotgun, rifle, and double-gun maker with overlapping product categories (over-and-under, side-by-side, express rifles) and similar European artisanal heritage.

Emerging players

• Sako: Finnish premium hunting rifle manufacturer (part of Beretta Group), producing high-precision bolt-action rifles. Comparable as a premium European hunting rifle maker within the same Beretta family, with adjacent product overlap to Chapuis' ROLS line.

Direct peers

• Blaser: German premium firearms maker whose R8 straight-pull rifle is the most direct competitor to Chapuis' ROLS.2 system. Comparable across hunting rifle category, bolt/linear action technology, and European premium positioning.
• Caesar Guerini: Italian premium shotgun maker focused on over-and-under and side-by-side hunting and competition shotguns. Comparable as a European premium shotgun producer with similar price points and bespoke finishing options.
• Holland & Holland: British luxury gunmaker owned by Chanel, producing bespoke Royal-grade side-by-side shotguns and double rifles. Comparable as a heritage premium hunting firearms house with bespoke commissions and collector-grade positioning.
• James Purdey & Sons: British luxury gunmaker (owned by Richemont) producing bespoke best-quality shotguns and rifles. Comparable as a heritage-driven, made-to-measure premium hunting firearms manufacturer with similar luxury/collector positioning.
• Krieghoff: German premium firearms manufacturer known for high-end over-and-under shotguns and drilling/combination rifles. Comparable on premium European gunmaking, big-game hunting rifles, and bespoke finishing.
• Merkel: German premium firearms manufacturer producing over-and-under shotguns, combination guns, and double rifles. Comparable on premium European gunmaking, big-game hunting, and bespoke finishing.
• Perazzi: Italian bespoke competition and hunting shotgun maker. Directly comparable as a European premium shotgun specialist serving competition shooters, professional hunters, and bespoke customers with similar made-to-order craftsmanship positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCd2XjA3V_9x6xE
• Facebookfacebook.com/chapuisarmes
• Instagraminstagram.com/chapuisarmes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chapuis-armes-s-a-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 records

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 Chapuis Armes