Ron Smith (firearms designer)

Ron Smith
Born Ronald Smith
(1951-04-08) 8 April 1951
Glendale, California
Residence Tempe, Arizona
Nationality American
Occupation Small arms designer, CEO
Known for Designer of the Smith Enterprise Inc. Vortex Flash Hider
Spouse(s) Sonja Sommers

Ron Smith (born 8 April 1951) is an American small arms designer and President of Smith Enterprise Inc. Smith is most famous for developing the Vortex Flash Hider for use on a variety of small arms and developing the major upgrades and refinements found on the M14 rifle, particularly the United States Navy Mark 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle.[1]

Early life

Smith served in the US Army and the United States Marine Corps for a total of 16 years of active duty. While serving in the Army, Smith was stationed in South Korea as a Staff Sergeant and chief of a M109A3 Howitzer battery. He was certified with nuclear credentials to man the nuclear M109A3 in preparation for a possible invasion by North Korea.

Western Ordnance

Smith was a partner at Western Ordnance, a firearms manufacturing firm that specialized in rifles such as the M1 Garand and M14. Western Ordnance was founded in 1979 by Smith's father, Richard Smith, in Mesa, Arizona.[2] While at Western Ordnance, Smith became a Certified Journeyman in Ordinance and Metallurgy and was the first person to design and field a commercial flash suppressor. Smith would also invent a sound suppressor that could be rebuilt.[3]

Smith Enterprise Inc.

In 1993, Ron Smith reformed the company as Smith Enterprise, Inc. and relocated production to Tempe, Arizona.[4] The company is known for its Vortex Flash Hider, a proprietary heat treating processes, the Crazy Horse weapons upgrade and making numerous upgrades to the M14 rifle platform for the US Military; all of which came from Ron Smith's designs.[1][2]

Ron Smith is the owner of 3 awarded patents and over 10 more initiated patents or patents pending and 5 trademarks in the Sound Suppressor and Flash Hider industry including the following: Vortex Flash Hider, Crazy Horse rifle,[5] Good Iron Muzzle Brake[6] and Wind Talker sound suppressor[7]

References

  1. 1 2 Cutshaw, Charles Q (2006). "New-era M14 alleviates reliability issues". Jane's International Defence Review (Jane's Information Group) 39: 87. ISSN 0020-6512.
  2. 1 2 Thompson, Jim (2001). The Classic M1 Garand: An Ongoing Legacy For Shooters and Collectors. Boulder, Colorado: Paladin Press. p. 16. ISBN 9781581602609.
  3. ↑ Long, Duncan (1987). The Mini-14: The Plinker, Hunter, Assault, and Everything Else Rifle (11 ed.). Boulder, Colorado: Paladin Press. p. 87. ISBN 978-0873644075.
  4. ↑ Poyer (2006), p. 21
  5. ↑ Pushies, Fred (2009). "Smith Enterprise’ Crazy Horse M21A5 7.62x51mm". Special Weapons for Military & Police (Harris Publishing) 20 (4).
  6. ↑ "Good Iron 5.56 Muzzle Brake from Smith Enterprise". AR15news. 06/04/2013. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ↑ "Wind Talker™ Sound Suppressor,NSN 1005-LLL-997965, P/N 0001AK" (pdf). Retrieved 21 May 2013.

Bibliography

External links

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