Velocity Outdoor
Velocity Outdoor began in 1923 as Crosman Rifle Company in Rochester, New York. Bertram Fenner, the Operations Manager for Crosman Brothers Seed Company, reached an agreement with William McLean to produce pellets and an airgun based on McLean’s own patented design. Two years later, Frank Hahn purchased Crosman Rifle Company and renamed it Crosman Arms. His son, P.Y. Hahn, becomes the driving force of the company for the next fifty years. The Coleman Company, Inc. acquired Crosman in 1971 and moved Crosman’s principal manufacturing facilities to the current location in East Bloomfield, New York. In August 1990, Worldwide Sports and Recreation acquired Crosman. Shortly thereafter, Crosman acquired the Visible Impact Target Company in 1991 and the Benjamin Sheridan Corporation 1992. Benjamin has continued as a dominant U.S. manufacturer of high-end pneumatic and CO2 powered airguns. Sheridan was one of the world's foremost manufacturers of high quality paintball markers. In January, 1997, Crosman was acquired by Forrest Binkley Brown, a private investment group. During this ownership period, Crosman formed the Sheridan Paintball Division created the Game Face brand, and introduced a line of airsoft products, designed for low-impact, recreational target shooting. Crosman was acquired by The Compass Group in 2004. During this time period Crosman introduced spring piston break barrels to the U.S. market and started the CenterPoint Optics line of riflescopes. After being acquired by Pamlico in 2007, Crosman introduced a line of PCP guns under the Benjamin brand, including the evergreen consumer favorite, the Benjamin Marauder. From 2007 – 2011 was a notable period of innovation for the company, with the Challenger PCP competition rifle and a youth archery line launched in 2008, the revolutionary Nitro Piston break barrel powerplant brought out in 2010, and the first ever Big Bore airgun (the .357 caliber Benjamin Rogue) launched in 2011. Crosman was acquired by Wellspring Capital in 2011 and signed a license with the U.S. Marines for Airsoft products, proceeds of which go to MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) programs for veterans. This was another era of innovation and diversification as Crosman acquired the Remington license for airguns, including storied brands such as Remington, DPMS, Bushmaster, and Marlin. In 2016, Crosman introduced the CenterPoint line of crossbows as well as the revolutionary hybrid hunting weapon, the Benjamin Pioneer Airbow™. After the success of the above initiatives, the company was acquired for a second time by The Compass Diversified Group in 2017. Shortly thereafter, Crosman acquired the commercial business of Lasermax Inc, the premier manufacturer of laser aiming devices for firearms. In 2018, Crosman formed Velocity Outdoor and formally changed its name to do business under the new corporation. Velocity Outdoor identity better reflects the diverse portfolio of brands, highlights the company’s strengths in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets, and positions the company for future growth. Today, Velocity Outdoor is an international designer, manufacturer and marketer of Crosman and Benjamin pellet and BB rifles and pistols and ammunition, Game Face airsoft products, CenterPoint precision optics, CenterPoint crossbows, and Lasermax products. The company employs more than 300 people between the Bloomfield manufacturing facility and the Farmington, NY warehouse. Velocity Outdoor distributes and markets its products around the world.
