Who makes the worlds guns?
The global trade in small arms is big business – 1,250 companies in at least 92 countries produce weapons, parts or ammunition. But who are the big players? ARMALITE Makers of the M4 and M16 assault rifles, which are popular with the US armed forces and soldiers from many other nations. The design was quickly bought by Colt. Armalite weapons were also popular with the IRA, hence the republicans’ long-time policy of the “Armalite and the ballot box”, meaning employing both military and political strategies. BERETTA The Italian company, which dates back to 1526, employs 2,700 people worldwide and has an annual turnover of 400 million euros. The firm produce about 1,500 guns a day, ranging from shotguns to assault rifles and semi-automatic pistols. Beretta exports to 100 countries and the United States – where they have their own factory – is by far the largest market. One of Beretta’s most famous guns is the Model 92 9mm pistol, as seen in both the Lethal Weapon and Die Hard action movie
