In 1923 in Rochester, New York, Crosman was founded as Crosman Arms Company. Its credo then, as now, was quality and innovation. From its inception, Crosman's principal products were airguns and airgun ammunition. During the 1950's, significant growth occurred, driven by national accounts, including Sears Roebuck & Co., Montgomery Ward, and Western Auto, all of which sold Crosman's products under their respective brand names. Then, in 1966, Crosman introduced its own Crosman brand airgun, the Crosman Pumpmaster 760, retailing for $27.95. Today the ever-popular, entry-level Crosman Model 760 still sells in the same price range, with more than 11 million sold.
In 1971, the Coleman Company acquired Crosman. Subsequently the company's principal manufacturing facilities were moved to the current location in East Bloomfield, New York, about 30 miles outside Rochester. Throughout the 1970's and 1980's, the emerging strength of mass merchants, including Kmart and Wal-Mart, fueled Crosman's growth.
In August 1990, Pexco Holdings, Inc. acquired Crosman and the company became a 95%-owned subsidiary. Subsequent to the acquisition, Crosman implemented a long-term strategic plan designed to preserve its position as an entry-level airgun producer, while accelerating the company's growth toward "world-class" manufacturer status. To broaden the company's reach, strategies were developed and implemented to significantly expand Crosman's international market.
Crosman acquired the Visible Impact Target Company in July 1991, and the Benjamin Sheridan Corporation in February, 1992. Benjamin was then, and is now, a dominant U.S. brand in the high-end pneumatic and CO2 powered airgun category. Sheridan was one of the world's foremost manufacturers of high quality paintball markers.
In 1994, the Benjamin Sheridan plant in Racine, Wisconsin was closed and consolidated into Crosman's East Bloomfield facility. During 1995-96, Crosman introduced several new products in the spring air powered airgun category to complement its traditional strength in the pneumatic and CO2 powered airgun markets.
In January, 1997, Crosman was acquired by an investment group, whose renewed focus on market expansion, new product development, leveraging the company's core competencies of design, manufacturing against distribution to new areas of business, re-energized the company. Later in 1997, Crosman entered the steel shot business and, in 1998, introduced its first camping accessory product, the PressuremateÔ pressurizing system for white gas lanterns and camp stoves.
In 1998, to leverage its position in the growing market for paintball related products, Crosman created the Sheridan Paintball Division. In 1999, Sheridan tripled the number of products offered and became a full-line supplier, improving its ability to effectively compete in the paintball business.
With the new millennium came the Crosman Challenger 2000®, an affordable, three-position, CO2 powered, competition target air rifle. Crosman now had a strong entry in every major segment of the airgun market. Also in 2000, Crosman entered into a partnership with USA Shooting, the organizing body for competitive shooting sports in the United States. Crosman contributed a portion of the sale of each Crosman airgun to help support US shooters at the highest level.
In 2001, Crosman formed a joint venture with Procaps to form Diablo Marketing, an entity created to more effectively penetrate the non-conventional paintball market, including big box and chain stores, with paintball markers, ammunition and related products. And in 2002, Crosman created the Game Face Paintball brand to market paintball markers, paint, clothing and accessories.
In December 2001, Crosman also became the exclusive North American distributor of Walther and Smith & Wesson air guns. And in June 2002, Crosman introduced its first line of Soft Air pistols, designed for low-impact, recreational target shooting.
In 2003, Crosman continued its strategy of becoming a one-stop-shopping opportunity for retailers and became the US distributor for Umarex airguns. Also in late 2003, Crosman introduced the first US designed and manufactured break barrel air rifle, the Benjamin Legacy 1000 and 1000 X, two state-of-the-art models featuring 26 pound cocking pressure and 1000 feet per second muzzle velocity. In addition, the company also introduced the new 88-gram CO2 AirSource tank for paintball and airgun use.
In 2004, Crosman broadened its offering in both the break barrel airgun market and in the rapidly growing soft air market, introducing new models in both categories. And in 2005, adding to its list of firsts, Crosman introduced the Nightstalker, the first semi-automatic air rifle featuring blowback action, making it more authentic and exciting to shoot.
Today Crosman Corporation is an international designer, manufacturer and marketer of Crosman pellet, BB and soft air rifles and pistols, Copperhead ammunition, high quality Benjamin pellet rifles and ammunition, and Game Face paintball markers, ammunition and accessories. The company employs more than 300 people domestically, markets its products around the world and is seen as a leader in the shooting industry.
