California Firearms Company Relocates To Sturgis, South Dakota

Press Release

South Dakota is getting a new firearms manufacturing company. Bar-Sto, a maker of auto pistol barrels, will relocate its operations from Twentynine Palms, Calif., to Sturgis in the first half of 2010 and broke ground on their new facility today. The firm expects to bring 18 jobs to Sturgis in the next three years.

"Bar-Sto is exactly the kind of quality company we look to recruit," said Gov. Mike Rounds. "It is a family-owned company, has been in the firearms industry more than 40 years, and has a varied clientele that includes major gun manufacturers, private citizens and custom gunsmiths."

In addition to selling barrels to top gun makers, Bar-Sto barrels have also been used by the U.S. Marine Corps Marksmanship Unit, National Guard and Air Force teams, as well as in major pistol tournaments such as Camp Perry, the USPSA Nationals, Steel Challenge and the Masters.

"South Dakota is really a great place to do business," said Irv Stone, second-generation owner of Bar-Sto. "The differences in the tax climates between California and South Dakota are night and day, and we have been treated real well by the GOED (Governor's Office of Economic Development) and the Sturgis Area Economic Development."

Bar-Sto plans to build a 6,000-square-foot building in the Sturgis industrial park. The company received workforce development funds and relocation assistance through GOED and is partnering with Sturgis on the building.

"We are very pleased that Irv Stone, his family and Bar-Sto have decided to relocate to Sturgis," said Paul Bisson, co-chairman of the Sturgis Economic Development Corporation board. "We believe it will be a great fit for the company and the Sturgis community. We are very proud of our workforce and believe the company will benefit from this move."

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