All-Idaho Gun Debuted at SHOT Show
The SHOT Show is the largest tradeshow of its kind in the world. The Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade Show has more than 1,600 product and service exhibitors using over 630,000 square feet of floor space, drawing more than 65,000 industry professionals from all 50 states and over 100 countries. This show is not open to the public, only credentialed wholesalers, retailers, and military and law-enforcement buyers.
There are hundreds of new products debuted every year at The SHOT Show, which was held at the Sands Expo Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 20-23.
One of the items on display was a firearm made entirely in the state of Idaho (shown). The project was the brainchild of Joe Anderson, president of Tactical Export Strategies, an international brokerage, compliance, and logistics company located in Idaho. Anderson brought 13 different companies together to construct the AR-15 platform rifle of parts and accessories manufactured by companies within Idaho as a demonstration of the diverse manufacturing capabilities within the state.
Anderson also brought the idea to the Idaho Department of Commerce, who, according to IDC Information Specialist Kayla Ruiz said, “It was a good fit for us and our efforts to bring new businesses to Idaho.” The rifle ended up being displayed at the Idaho Department of Commerce Booth for the duration of the show. According to Ruiz and Anderson, the rifle garnered a great deal of interest at the show and an outpouring of interest from other Idaho based manufacturing companies that according to Anderson, “were upset that they weren’t included in the project.” Ruiz also related that due to the interest generated by the All-Idaho Gun, “Idaho Commerce reps met with 20 companies in the firearm and ammo industry in Idaho that have not been on our radar, mostly because they were recent startups.”