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Wilson Combat is already starting off the year strong and showing that the company is poised and ready for growth in 2022. Recently, Wilson Combat just completed the acquisition of Lehigh Defense. Lehigh Defense specializes and is known for the production of high quality ammunition within the industry. Now, their expertise is part of the Wilson Combat family of companies.

It will be interesting to see who this acquisition affects both companies and to see what firearms Wilson might produce to go with Lehigh Defense ammunition.

Below, is the press release from Wilson Combat on the acquisition of Lehigh Defense.

Press Release

[Berryville, Arkansas, January, 2022] — Bill Wilson is proud to announce the acquisition of Pennsylvania-based ammunition and bullet manufacturer Lehigh Defense.

Lehigh Defense will join other Wilson-owned companies Chip McCormick Custom, Circle WC Ranch, Khumba Bush Camp, Scattergun Technologies, Wilson Custom Ammunition, and Wilson Combat to expand the group’s presence in the firearms and hunting marketplace.

Lehigh Design, originally founded by Dave Fricke later expanded to Lehigh Defense with the addition of Pete Vogel and Mike Cyrus and has been designing and manufacturing solid brass and copper bullets using the latest technology since 2004. In 2009, Lehigh started working with Black Hills Ammunition in developing unique military projectile designs. Years of collaboration later, the Fluid Transfer Monolithic design culminated with the release of the Black Hills Honey Badger line. Another patented design is the Maximum Expansion 300 Blackout subsonic bullet used by the US and many NATO special operations groups throughout the world with over 7 million sold to date.

Lehigh Defense currently operates two manufacturing plants, one in Pennsylvania and one in South Dakota. Once a new purpose-built facility in northeast Texas is completed in Q3 2022 some operations will begin the move to their new home in Texas. There are immediate plans to increase production and some products are already in production in Arkansas at the Wilson Combat facility to rapidly increase production capacity. Lehigh will have a substantial increase in manufacturing capacity and a state-of-the-art testing facility once the Texas plant is operational. Our goal is to meet product demand, add exciting new products, and build brand awareness.

To add stability to these changes we’re proud to announce Dave Fricke will retain minority ownership and continue to work with Lehigh for several years into the future.

For more about Lehigh Defense, click here. To take a look at what Wilson Combat has to offer, click here.

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