Griffin & Howe

What Griffin & Howe does

Griffin & Howe is a privately held firearms company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Andover, New Jersey, where it operates from the grounds of Hudson Farm. The company sells premium firearms, custom-built rifles, shooting accessories, and related sporting goods through a 24,000-square-foot retail showroom opened in 2023 and an e-commerce platform that ships via FFL dealers. It serves affluent firearms enthusiasts, serious hunters, collectors, corporate groups, and shooting academy students across the United States, with limited international reach through its import/export and hunting outfitting services.

The company's core technology centers on custom rifle manufacturing and precision gunsmithing. It produces a proprietary line of build-to-order rifles including the Criterion Rifle ("The American Best"), Classic Sporter, All American, and the Highlander series (Safari, standard, and Lite variants), along with accessories such as Highlander Rifle Rings designed to integrate with Defiance Machine actions, M1C Garand scope mounts, and custom 1911 grips. Gunsmithing services cover gun stock refinishing, bluing and metal refinishing, rifle accurizing, engraving, scope mounting, recoil pad fitting, custom gun stocks, gunstock checkering, and full firearm restoration, supported by specialized stock makers and metalsmiths.

Griffin & Howe's revenue model spans nine distinct streams: firearms retail (new and consigned), custom rifle manufacturing (quote-based, multi-year build cycles), shooting academy instruction across shotgun, rifle, handgun, archery, and fly fishing, gunsmithing services, firearm storage, hunting outfitting through a network of international partners, accessories and apparel, import/export services, and firearm consignment. Pricing ranges from entry-level firearms around $275 to bespoke engraved pieces exceeding $18,000. Distribution relies on the Hudson Farm showroom, FFL dealer transfers for online orders, on-site events, and partnerships with seven international hunting outfitters, with marketing driven by content (website, blog, video), email newsletters, social media, and event-based community engagement.

Name

Griffin & Howe

Legal name

Griffin & Howe, Inc.

Website

https://griffinhowe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Griffin & Howe is a privately held firearms company founded in 1923, operating a luxury showroom, shooting academy, gunsmithing facility, and custom rifle workshop from Hudson Farm in Andover, New Jersey, serving affluent enthusiasts, hunters, collectors, and corporate clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sporting Firearms Retail and Custom Gunsmithing

NAICS

Sporting Goods Retailers (45911), Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459), Sporting Goods Retailers (459110)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949), Ordnance & Accessories, (No Vehicles/Guided Missiles) (3480)

akta.pro primary industry

Firearms & Ammunition Retail (CRAMAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Archery Equipment & Accessories Retail (CRAMAKAB), Reloading & Gunsmithing Supplies Retail (CRAMAKAF), Shooting Sports Equipment Retail (Targets, Clay, Range Gear, Hearing/Eye Protection) (CRAMAKAG), Firearm Storage & Safety Retail (Safes, Cases, Locks) (CRAMAKAI)

Keywords

• Custom firearms retail
• Gunsmithing services
• Shooting academy instruction
• Hunting outfitting
• Premium sporting rifles

Headquarters

HQ city

Andover

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Accessories & Apparel: Sale of shooting accessories, optics, gun cases, archery equipment, apparel, giftware, and gundog gear through e-commerce.
2. Import/Export Services: International firearms import and export services for customers.
3. Firearm Consignment: Consignment services for selling, trading, and consigning firearms.
4. Firearms Sales: Sale of premium new and preowned firearms including rifles, shotguns, and handguns through e-commerce and retail showroom. Products range from entry-level firearms to high-end custom and engraved pistols.
5. Shooting Academy Instruction: Professional instruction in shotgun, rifle, handgun, archery, and fly fishing for shooters of all levels including youth programs and private lessons.
6. Gunsmithing Services: Full-service gunsmithing including repair, refinishing, custom builds, engraving, and restoration services for firearms.
7. Custom Rifle Manufacturing: Build-to-order custom rifles tailored to customer specifications including Criterion Rifle, Highlander series, and Classic Sporter.
8. Firearm Storage Services: State-of-the-art long and short-term secure gun storage facilities.
9. Hunting Outfitting: Premium hunting safari outfitting services including Crane Safaris, David Denies Bird Hunting, Spainsafaris, NNEO Moose Hunts, New Zealand Hunting Safaris, Red Stag Patagonia, and Fernando Saiz Spain.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Griffin & Howe sells premium and custom firearms, manufactures its own line of proprietary sporting rifles (Criterion, Highlander series, Classic Sporter, All American), provides professional gunsmithing and restoration services, and delivers multi-discipline shooting instruction through its Shooting Academy. The company also offers hunting outfitting, secure firearm storage, import/export services, and consignment sales, primarily through a 24,000 sq ft retail showroom and e-commerce platform.

Product overview

Griffin & Howe is a firearms and sporting goods company founded in 1923, offering a portfolio of custom-built rifles (Criterion Rifle, Classic Sporter, All American, Highlander series), shooting instruction through their Shooting Academy (shotgun, rifle, handgun, archery, fly fishing), professional gunsmithing services (stock refinishing, metal work, accurizing, engraving, custom builds), a 24,000 sq ft retail showroom, hunting outfitting services, and secure firearm storage. The company also retails firearms from third-party manufacturers and shooting accessories through their e-commerce platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Crane SafariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHunting outfitting partner offering premium safari experiences integrated with Griffin & Howe's services for clients seeking African big game hunting adventures.
• David Denies Bird HuntingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialized bird hunting outfitter providing dove and upland bird hunting experiences, complementing Griffin & Howe's shooting academy instruction.
• SpainsafariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish hunting safari specialist offering big game hunting experiences in Spain, integrated with Griffin & Howe's outfitting services.
• NNEO Moose HuntscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorth American outfitter specializing in moose hunting expeditions, offered through Griffin & Howe's premium hunting outfitting services.
• New Zealand Hunting SafariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational hunting outfitter offering big game hunting experiences in New Zealand, integrated with Griffin & Howe's global hunting network.
• Red Stag PatagoniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialized red stag hunting outfitter in Patagonia, Chile, offering premium hunting experiences through Griffin & Howe's outfitting services.
• Fernando Saiz SpaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish hunting guide and outfitter providing exclusive hunting experiences in Spain, partnered with Griffin & Howe for international hunting clients.
• Defiance MachinecoreTechnology or IntegrationPrecision rifle action manufacturer whose products (Rebel, AnTi, Renegade, Classic, Outcast) are specifically supported by Griffin & Howe's proprietary Highlander Rifle Rings.
• 1911 SyndicateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirearms media/content company that visited Hudson Farm Club and produced a video feature 'The Most Luxurious Gun Club In America' showcasing Griffin & Howe's facilities and services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Holland & Holland: London-based luxury gunmaker founded in 1835, producing bespoke rifles and shotguns and operating flagship galleries and shooting grounds. Most directly comparable to Griffin & Howe on heritage, custom rifle manufacturing, premium pricing, and integrated shooting/academy experience.
• James Purdey & Sons: British bespoke gunmaker (founded 1814) producing custom shotguns and rifles for the world's most discerning sportsmen, with associated shooting schools. Closely matches Griffin & Howe's combination of custom manufacturing, century-plus heritage, and premium experiential retail.
• John Rigby & Co. London-based custom rifle maker (founded 1775) re-established in 2013 and known for dangerous-game rifles and international hunting safaris. Highly comparable to Griffin & Howe's Highlander Safari and Criterion lines plus its outfitter network across Africa and beyond.
• Turnbull Manufacturing Company: American manufacturer specializing in historically-accurate custom firearms, restoration, and bone-charcoal case hardening/bluing services. Directly comparable on custom manufacturing capability, restoration/gunsmithing services, and premium positioning in the U.S. collector market.
• Nighthawk Custom: U.S. maker of premium custom 1911 pistols, AR-platform rifles, and bolt-action rifles, distributed through Griffin & Howe's showroom. Comparable as a high-end custom firearms manufacturer with overlapping dealer relationships and ultra-premium price points ($2,500+).
• Wilson Combat: U.S. manufacturer of premium custom 1911 pistols, AR-platform rifles, shotguns, and revolvers with strong brand following among collectors and competitors. Directly comparable as a premium custom firearms manufacturer carried by Griffin & Howe's showroom, overlapping customer base and price tier.

Broad incumbents

• Beretta: Global premium firearms manufacturer (founded 1526) operating flagship Galleria stores in Dallas and New York with luxury experiences, custom engraving, and shooting facilities. Comparable on the premium gallery model and lifestyle retail, though Beretta is far larger and broader in scope.
• SIG Sauer: Major firearms manufacturer operating SIG Experience Centers (Epping, NH) with retail, training academies, and gunsmithing. Comparable on the integrated showroom-plus-academy-plus-gunsmithing model, though at much broader scale and product range than Griffin & Howe.
• Orvis: American sporting goods retailer (founded 1856) with fly fishing, wingshooting schools, dog programs, and a heritage brand. Comparable on the luxury sporting lifestyle offering, academy-style instruction, and multi-generational brand positioning — though Orvis does not manufacture firearms.
• Bass Pro Shops: Mass-market sporting goods retailer (founded 1972) and owner of Cabela's, with massive destination stores, hunting/fishing outfitting, and shooting ranges. Comparable as a sporting goods retailer with hunting outfitter services and shooting academy capability, but at vastly larger scale and lower price points than Griffin & Howe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/howe_griffin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/griffinandhowe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Griffin & Howe