January 19, 2026 • 25 mins
Have you ever wondered what it takes to run a famous family gun company? Lisa Tuason from Armscor joins the show to talk about their new American-made pistols. She shows off a brand-new gun called the RIA 4.0 that is small enough to carry for safety.
The conversation delves into the culture of Armscor, which is a third-generation family business currently preparing the fourth generation for leadership. Lisa highlights their strict management training program and the importance of merit over nepotism. Erica talks about how smooth the guns feel when you shoot them. Lisa believes that you have to love your work to make a great product.
Finally, Lisa discusses upcoming releases for 2026 and the company's commitment to community and family values within the firearms industry.
Links:
Armscor / Rock Island Armory: armscor.com — Main website for firearms and ammunition info (24:55).
RIA USA: Found via armscor.com — Specific link for Utah-made products (25:05).
FPS Holsters: Mention of John McLean’s company making holsters for the 5.0 (03:35).
Otis Technology: Mentioned as the booth provider for the podcast (00:35).
Shot Show / Media Day at the Range: Reference to the industry event (00:25).
Key Take-aways:
1. Strategic Shift to American Manufacturing
The Utah Factory: Armscor has established a major manufacturing hub in Cedar City, Utah, led by a female Marine veteran plant manager. This facility allows them to produce "Made in the USA" firearms, distinct from their traditional Philippine-made models.
The RIA 4.0 Reveal: Lisa Tuason gave an exclusive first look at the RIA 4.0, a more compact, concealable version of the 5.0. It is designed for personal carry while maintaining the signature smooth performance of the larger model.
Fourth-Generation Succession: The Tuason family is currently integrating the fourth generation into the business. However, it is not guaranteed; family members must complete a rigorous management training program and finish college to earn a leadership role.
Cultural Values: Lisa emphasizes that while they are a business, they are driven by the goal of building a legacy rather than just answering to corporate investors. Non-family employees who "rise above" family members in performance are given the same opportunities to lead, ensuring the company avoids "mediocrity."
The "Prom" Analogy: Lisa compares SHOT Show and Media Day to "Prom"—the one time a year the company takes its "dates" (new products) out to show them off to the world.
Hands-on Proof: The team believes that technical specs cannot replace the physical experience of shooting. They highlight that the RIA 5.0's "water-smooth" recoil must be felt to be understood, which is why range days are critical for their marketing strategy.
Continued Growth: With new releases planned for 2026 and a growing presence in the US, Armscor is positioning itself as a dual-identity brand—both a global manufacturing powerhouse and a local American producer
Key words:
RIA 5.0 / 5.0 E
RIA 4.0
RVS (Ram Valve System)
Modular Pistol
RIA USA
Legacy
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_03 (00:00):
Yeah, much better.
SPEAKER_00 (00:05):
We're gonna we're gonna be great.
Are you ready?
Yes, I'm ready.
Okay.
Welcome to Amateur's Next FirstPodcast.
We are here at SHAT Show 2025.
Excited to be here.
And uh again, Otis has uh givenus this great booth to podcast
with, with some really coolpeople.
(00:27):
I am so excited for the people,the person we have on today.
I mean, I'm excited that Jessicais here always.
I don't know.
I mean, our guest is definitelyway more important.
I mean, the coolest chickaround, Lisa Twassen from Arms
Corps um Rock Island.
(00:49):
And uh I am so excited abouttoday.
Yesterday I went out and um ohwelcome Lisa.
SPEAKER_04 (00:57):
How excited Erica is.
She just is forgetting to doregulars.
SPEAKER_03 (01:03):
I'm so excited.
Erica really gets that wayaround around my guns.
SPEAKER_04 (01:07):
I know we need to make sure that you have the
exact amount that you brought inhere when you leave.
SPEAKER_02 (01:14):
Yeah, I'll make sure.
unknown (01:15):
I'll make sure I get that.
SPEAKER_00 (01:16):
There's there's two things that are so exciting.
Uh first of all, yesterday I wasgiddy because I uh shot the uh
5.0.
Uh I did the 5.0 E.
SPEAKER_02 (01:27):
Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (01:28):
And um, and that is just, I mean, it's like butter.
SPEAKER_01 (01:31):
Yes.
SPEAKER_00 (01:32):
It's so smooth, and it's one of the my most favorite
guns.
And of course I want one.
Like this has been on my list,and um, and I definitely this
is, I mean, I can see myselfgetting into competition again
with uh Rock Island 5.0 E.
E for Erica.
(01:52):
Yes, E for Erica.
But today I am so excited.
We get a first look at anothergun from Rock Island, and um, I
mean, it's coming straightstraight from the show.
Um, Lisa, tell us about it.
SPEAKER_03 (02:15):
Okay, so it's marked wrong.
It's marked wrong because westill just have the artwork for
5.0, but this will be the 4.0 Ohbecause it's it's shorter.
This this is five inches, that'swhy it ended up as a 5.0.
So as we shrink in size, thenumbers will go down.
SPEAKER_00 (02:37):
I oh, okay.
And um is that and what I thinkthis is a it's not exactly not
exactly uh yeah, maybe four anda I'm not sure.
SPEAKER_03 (02:54):
Not sure the exact measurements I like this is the
first time to do it.
We won't hold you to it.
Yeah, this is the first time I'mI'm I'm actually holding it to
you.
SPEAKER_04 (03:00):
Yeah, you picked it up moments from coming to our
booth.
SPEAKER_03 (03:03):
Yeah, the first time I'm showing it to anyone.
I didn't even show it at Ididn't even show it at Media Day
yesterday because we're notwe're not there yet.
SPEAKER_00 (03:10):
Right, because I I was looking for it um because
this is uh kind of for apersonal carry, uh smaller, um,
and I can't wait to shoot itwhen it's ready, but I've
already done the measurementsand it fits.
SPEAKER_03 (03:25):
Okay, all right.
unknown (03:27):
All right.
SPEAKER_03 (03:29):
Um I'm gonna I'm gonna make a small plug for John
McLean.
Yes.
Um he's he makes he makes um theholsters.
He makes holsters.
Uh-huh.
He has a small company, um, FPSholsters.
So he's probably gonna be thefirst one of the first people to
be able to holster.
(03:49):
He has holsters for this onealready, the 500.
SPEAKER_00 (03:52):
And is that gonna be for conceal carry or for
competition, or does he do both?
SPEAKER_03 (03:57):
Hmm.
That's a good question.
I'm I'm a very bad umrepresentative for John because
I have no idea.
I have no idea.
Um yeah, but I'm sure he but hecould probably come, you know,
come up with something becausethis is more concealable.
SPEAKER_00 (04:15):
Right, right.
And uh, I mean the the engravingis special, it has the American
flag on it.
SPEAKER_03 (04:21):
Yes.
Um I mean that is a lot is a lothas changed from last shot show
since I I spoke with you both.
Um we we're really wanting to uhstand out from the rest of the
ARM score family.
Um not not for any reason, butto just let people know that
(04:45):
that we're we're we're puttingroots down here in the United
States too.
Um you know we we were Filipino,but we're also American.
Um and and we wanted we wantedto have uh American-made
products.
SPEAKER_00 (05:01):
That's awesome.
And where's your factory, Lisa?
SPEAKER_03 (05:03):
In Cedar City, Utah.
SPEAKER_00 (05:06):
Very nice.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (05:07):
Yeah, yeah.
Um it's it's two and a halfhours from my house.
SPEAKER_00 (05:11):
Um that's a long commute.
SPEAKER_03 (05:13):
Uh yeah, I I don't do it every day.
I don't do it every day.
I have a uh uh uh woman plantmanager, a veteran, a marine.
Um she runs a really, reallytight ship over there.
Um so I'm very blessed that Ihave a team that is very um
(05:34):
disciplined and I don't need tobe there, like physically be
there every day.
No.
SPEAKER_00 (05:43):
Last uh yesterday and also last year, we talked
about how um your company is sofamily-oriented.
Yes, and you could feel that outat Range Day yesterday.
Yes, everybody is so proud aboutthe products.
Yes, and it's like a newbornbaby.
Yes, it's not just Lisa's baby,it's everybody's baby.
(06:03):
Yes, and um, I mean, from fromfrom um every person out there,
all your staff, whether it's theplant manager, whether it's the
person that designs and comes upwith products, they were so
excited to tell us about it.
Yes, and uh I think that'sgreat.
It it really you have such agreat culture that you've
(06:25):
created in your company.
SPEAKER_04 (06:27):
I was just gonna say that we were just speaking with
someone earlier on a podcast,and he was saying, you know,
when you're interested ingetting a firearm, it's good to
research the brand and thecompany and what they stand for
and their mission and whatthey're built on.
And anytime you guys areanywhere, no matter where you
are in the company, they're justa hundred percent passionate
about it and invested in thebrand and the company, and I
(06:48):
think that speaks volumes.
SPEAKER_03 (06:49):
Yeah, I think, I mean, I think it's I think it it
has a lot to do with with youknow we're we're we're third
generation.
Um, you know, my grandfather umstarted the business and and uh
my dad ran it um for 51 yearsbefore retiring, and um, and now
(07:13):
he's back.
He's back.
He said he's he says he'sretired, but he's he's not
really retired.
Um and then and then you know mybrother, uh my cousins and I and
you know we're we're the thirdgeneration now, and then we've
got a fourth generation.
Um one of my nephews uh has juststarted our management training
(07:35):
program.
Wow.
And he's he's uh completed hisfirst in March he'll complete
his first year under themanagement training program.
Um so it's it's different whenyou're not a corporate, I think.
I think very different.
Um there's there's other thingsthat drive us besides you know
(08:02):
answering to our you knowinvestors, you know.
It's it's more it's more aboutum growing growing the company
so that the next generation haseven more, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (08:19):
It's a legacy.
SPEAKER_03 (08:20):
Yeah.
Um and and not all our childrenare gonna join uh join the
business, you know.
Right.
But but it's there.
It's there for them for the onesthat are well you got one so
far.
SPEAKER_04 (08:31):
Yeah, well that's what it takes.
SPEAKER_03 (08:33):
Yeah, no, and my and my brother, my brother's son is
um, he's he's right now uminterning as a as a gunsmith.
Um because he's still incollege.
But when he gets when hegraduates, he'll he wants to
come into the business too, sohe'll he'll go into the training
program.
Uh one of the requirements forour um management training
(08:54):
program is that they have tofinish college.
SPEAKER_00 (08:58):
That's excellent.
So it's not just hey, you'repart of the family, now you help
run it.
It's there's actually someinvestment in there and some
training, and um that that'spretty well pretty solid.
SPEAKER_03 (09:12):
The way we looked at it is is um what what's that
saying that they they say thatlike the the the I don't know
the first the first generationlike I don't know like lose this
is something like that and thenlike the third generation loses
everything.
Oh, because it's just likeeverything's been handed to
(09:33):
them, right?
Right, and that that that's notwhat we want.
Like our our intention is thatthe next generation that comes
in are better than us.
Yes, not so so not uh so so thatwe're always our focus is always
growing the business.
Right, a secession plan.
(09:54):
Yeah, not like oh I you're afamily member, so okay, I'll
make you I'll make you thepresident.
Right.
You gotta work for it.
Yeah, you gotta you gotta workfor it.
You you gotta and and you haveto love it.
Like if like just because you'rea family member, you can't just
you know jump in and be like, ohI'll just I'll just get a
paycheck, but you know, justbecause it's just easy, right?
(10:16):
No, yeah.
You have to love it.
You have to love it.
If you don't love it, findsomething you love.
We're not here to stand in theway of our children either.
SPEAKER_00 (10:25):
And I think that's I mean, to me that's amazing
because a lot of uh parents, ifthey build the company, they
want their parent theirchildren, you know, children and
grandchildren to be theirsecession plan.
SPEAKER_01 (10:38):
Yes.
SPEAKER_00 (10:38):
And when that child goes in and is uh you know
disgruntled because that's notreally what they want to do,
exactly.
It's tough for the whole family.
SPEAKER_03 (10:47):
Yes, it is, it is, it is, and and the business will
suffer if if the people runningit were forced to be there, you
know.
SPEAKER_04 (10:58):
Yes, or and I think if things were handed to them as
well, yeah, yeah, you know, thenyou have others that aren't
family that are like, hey.
SPEAKER_03 (11:06):
Yeah, right.
And and and I'll tell you rightnow, we're we have no problem
with if there's if there'ssomebody within our ranks that
that is not a family member thatrises above our children, they
earn it.
They did they deserve it too.
SPEAKER_00 (11:25):
So you base I mean you would do things based on the
best of you know, best fit forthe company.
SPEAKER_03 (11:31):
Yeah, it's it's it it's it's gonna be it it is
merit-based.
It's merit-based.
Um, you know, and we really wantto see we really want to see
passion for the business.
Absolutely.
Um and and and you just yeah, wedon't want we don't want
mediocrity, we just you know, wewant we want it to always be
(11:53):
better.
SPEAKER_04 (11:54):
Yeah.
Because I think things that arebuilt and designed out of
passion versus just necessity orthe bottom line, yeah, are just
far superior.
Yeah, because you can see it.
SPEAKER_03 (12:05):
And so and don't get me wrong, we're here to make
money.
We are not gonna do it.
Absolutely, absolutely.
But but but it's it's easier tomake money when you love what
you do.
Absolutely.
And you and you're passionateabout so you make a good product
that functions well and peoplelove.
SPEAKER_01 (12:20):
Exactly.
SPEAKER_03 (12:20):
And you know, and like we said, if you know, if
there's a you know, somebodywithin you know within the
company that's not a familymember, but rises to the top,
then they rise to the top.
But I mean, because as far aswe're concerned, like once you
work at Arms Corps, you arefamily.
Yeah, maybe not blood, butyou're family, right?
SPEAKER_00 (12:41):
And and I love that because even yesterday we were
talking about um the Philippinesand how many people you have
working for you.
That's huge.
Yeah, because people don't leavejobs that they like, they leave
because of whatever's going onup top, right?
And it just seems like thatfamily atmosphere.
(13:01):
Um, everybody out there wasfamily yesterday, and they're
excited.
SPEAKER_04 (13:06):
You have a despite the wind, because that's
something that we haven'tmentioned.
The wind yesterday was 20, 30miles per hour.
It was vicious.
SPEAKER_03 (13:16):
Yeah, I don't I didn't even need to eat lunch
yesterday.
I ate so much dirt.
SPEAKER_00 (13:20):
Right?
SPEAKER_03 (13:20):
Yeah, you could feel it in your teeth.
Yeah, literally.
My my eyeballs, I mean, it wascrazy.
Yes, it was yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (13:27):
Yesterday was since I've been going to media day,
which hasn't been that manyyears.
I think yesterday was thecoldest.
SPEAKER_03 (13:33):
Yes.
Um, I've been going through alot.
Right?
SPEAKER_00 (13:37):
I've been going through a lot.
SPEAKER_03 (13:38):
I I remember the the the other coldest media day was
um January 2013.
Oh, yeah, we had um so manyheaters out.
So many heaters out.
SPEAKER_00 (13:54):
If you had a heater out yesterday, you wouldn't even
I had two heaters.
Oh, oh, that's right.
You didn't have a heater.
SPEAKER_03 (14:01):
I had a fire pit and a heater, but like, you know,
the last time the last time weused our other heaters was in
2013.
SPEAKER_00 (14:07):
Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_03 (14:08):
Yeah.
That's right, you did.
SPEAKER_00 (14:10):
Like because everybody was hovered around it.
unknown (14:12):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (14:13):
And the wild thing is it really wasn't, I say that
cold because I'm originally fromOhio and right now it's like two
degrees there.
But it was 42, which reallyisn't that cold.
But with wind with the wind chipfactor, it seemed like it was.
Yeah, but to that point, not totake us down a rabbit hole,
everybody out there was stillsuper jazzed.
SPEAKER_03 (14:34):
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
I mean, media days like prom,you know, for us.
It's it's prom, and isn't itwhere we take our dates?
Oh, sorry.
Where we where we take our datesout?
Yes, show them off to the world.
SPEAKER_00 (14:49):
Yes.
SPEAKER_03 (14:50):
I love that analogy.
It is.
Yeah.
And my my daughter knows it.
My my daughter knows it.
I I I told her yesterday, Isaid, it's my prom.
SPEAKER_00 (14:59):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (15:00):
I need to focus because I don't get another
prompt till next year.
SPEAKER_00 (15:03):
That's right.
Right.
Yes.
You do you do it right one timea year, and this is where you do
it right.
Yeah, yeah.
Yes.
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (15:11):
NRA is great too.
Being an NRA is great too.
But that's really where you getto connect with the end user,
with the customer.
So that's more about buildingrelationships and you know,
thanking them and gettingfeedback on what products they
like, what you know, what theydidn't like, what you know, and
(15:35):
and so it's it's a it's a verydifferent vibe than here where
you're showing the world, hey,this is what we've been working
on all year.
SPEAKER_04 (15:43):
And I imagine the feedback would be different, uh,
obviously, but in the sense thatwhen you're showing it to the
consumer, they're gonna have oneperspective, but showing it to
almost like your peers andequals that are also making
firearms, yes, the perceptionand the reaction is gonna be
different.
So it's uh probably a littleunnerving, like, hey, we're
launching this new thing.
(16:04):
Yes, yes, yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (16:06):
Yes, and yeah, and and like the feedback like um
like yesterday I spent a lot oftime talking with with Team
Armscore, um just gettingfeedback on some prototypes.
I mean, we showed up, we showedup in Media Day with with like a
3D printed just plastic gun thatdoesn't do anything, right?
(16:28):
It has no internals, but we justwanted to show them kind of what
we were thinking of doing nextand getting their feedback.
Um same thing with like, youknow, I had a few conversations
with um with Michael Bain.
Um he's been he's he's beenreally great about like you know
(16:51):
giving feedback on you know newproducts and what we're doing.
SPEAKER_00 (16:56):
So what is gonna be happening like in the next year
or two?
What what will we see from ArmsCorps and Rock Island?
SPEAKER_03 (17:04):
Okay, so well um I'm gonna just talk on the US side
first.
So on the US side, you know,we're we're gonna have you know
a RIA 4.0, a smaller, a smallerversion.
I do have a um modular pistol umthat I will launch at NRA.
(17:27):
Um some people got to shoot ityesterday.
I I didn't want any photography.
So it was really just gettingfeedback because yesterday was
the first day that um team artwas you know there together.
Um and then uh and then I hadspoken to you know Michael Dane
(17:48):
about it, so I wanted him to tryit and you know let me know like
you know how how he felt aboutit.
Um I only have one prototypealso but um I think that's our
first our first step is that onewe at SHATShow we've got our
1911s, our high cap 1911s thatwe're we're making in Utah now.
(18:12):
So sorry, so it's not um not anew product.
It's something that we used tomake in the Philippines, um but
we're we're kind of leaning veryheavily in the Philippines to
producing um defense productsfor the police, the Coast Guard,
(18:38):
uh the army.
Um so we were we're just we werejust trying to kind of DV up the
responsibilities, yeah, youknow.
And and um and Martin thought hewas like, you know, people
always ask, you know, don't youhave an uh a maid in the USA
1911?
So you know we picked four SKUs,the TAC Ultras.
(19:01):
Um he's like, why don't you makethem in in Utah?
That'll free up, you know, someof the work in the Philippines,
and then you know, give give ityour own spin.
So that's why now all of asudden there's flags on the
guns.
Yeah, is it?
So that's how you're gonna knowthe difference between um a RIA
(19:22):
USA 1911 and the ones coming outof the factory in the
Philippines.
The RIA USA 1911s will have theUS flag on it.
Love that.
Um and then we um came out withuh Optic Ready Um 1911s.
Um and but the classic one,simple, no, no optic.
(19:47):
We're still we're still gonnamake that.
It's just gonna be made read.
Um and then I have another inthis family, in the 5-0 family,
that will launch in 26.
SPEAKER_00 (20:03):
And so I will need I will need all three.
SPEAKER_02 (20:06):
Yes, yes.
But but like you you get onethis year, and then you get
another one.
You just like kind of like gofor it.
SPEAKER_00 (20:14):
I'm thinking one or two this year, and then I then
I'll be ready for the for thethird one next year.
So will that be debuting at SHOT2026, possibly?
SPEAKER_04 (20:24):
Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00 (20:25):
Okay, all right.
SPEAKER_03 (20:27):
I will have it, I will have it at Media Day to
shoot this time.
And and I will um I did take alook at the some of the the
shooting boxes in the back, theCaesars.
SPEAKER_00 (20:39):
Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_03 (20:40):
Um, and I'm really considering doing doing that.
SPEAKER_04 (20:44):
Those are very, very cool.
So if you're listening, you'venever been here, they basically
have like shipping containersthat are equipped with
everything that would have likea backstop, ballistics, all of
that, like internally indoorrange in these giant shipping
containers where outside ofCaesars Forums you can ship.
SPEAKER_03 (21:02):
Yeah, so it so you can you as a an as an exhibitor,
you can rent one, you could likesay, hey, I I need it for four
hours, I need to all day, or Ineed it all week.
And uh they have very goodsecurity out there, they're very
strict with safety.
Yes.
Um and it's it's almost likeyou're giving your buyer or your
(21:27):
customer here a shot.
Um kind of the VIP treatment.
It's like you don't have to lineup with like, you know,
everybody at Media Day orwhatever.
There's gonna be times whenpeople are not gonna want to go
out to Media Day because it'sraining.
Like last year, a lot of thebuyers didn't end up going to to
to the range because that's whenthe downpour was was like right
(21:50):
to two o'clock the afternoon.
Yeah.
Um so I just wanna I just wantedto give like you know, options.
Options.
Not that it will never not be atmedia day.
Um The ladies that run um thethe range day are fantastic.
SPEAKER_04 (22:06):
They are you guys have a very nice setup like
enter here, here's the process,very fluid.
SPEAKER_00 (22:11):
They've been doing it for so many years.
SPEAKER_03 (22:12):
Yeah, I think I I think when I when I talk to
Kelsey, it's like 22 years.
Um and and and so so Kelsey andKathy, um it's it's like our
business.
Right.
Mother, daughter, like then Ithink there's I think I think
Kelsey Kelsey's sister also it'sit's it's also very much a
(22:36):
family.
So it's like I I I I feel likeconnected, like, you know, like
they get the problems that Ihave or whatever work, you know,
because there's a synergy there.
Yeah, there's a synergy, right?
Um, but they're they'refantastic women.
Um, and um, I owe actuallyreally feel like I owe them a
(22:56):
lot because once upon a time, along time ago, um I found out
that there was this range day.
And um it was two weeks, twoweeks away from range day.
And I called and I said, Look, II just found out that there's a
range day, and I have this newgun.
(23:19):
And I didn't know anything aboutit, and I just I I just want to
show it to people.
SPEAKER_00 (23:23):
Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_03 (23:24):
And this was a TCM that I brought out when I was in
Texas.
And and they're like, we'llwe'll find a spot for you, we'll
find a spot.
And but the only thing is it it,you know, it's it's in the long
range in the rifle, on the rifleside.
And and I I'm like, I'll I'lltake anything.
I'll take anything.
(23:45):
And um, they put me next to thethe Barrett, the 50 BMG.
SPEAKER_00 (23:52):
That was loud.
SPEAKER_03 (23:53):
Yeah, and I don't know if you remember how loud my
TCM is, but people startedshooting our gun, and the and
the guys over at Barrett arelike, what did that come out of
that little gun?
They could they couldn't believeit, but but yeah, so I I owe
them, I owe them a lot, youknow, for like squeezing me in
(24:14):
because um that was a gun thatagain you can't explain.
You can you can talk to peopleto the blue in the face, but
until they shoot it, they're notgonna get it.
SPEAKER_00 (24:25):
Right.
Yeah.
Lisa, it's been so great havingyou on.
And oh my gosh, thank you somuch for bringing.
I mean, like you said, you justsaw this a couple minutes ago.
Yeah.
Um, your your new 4.0.
Um I it's beautiful, and ofcourse, everybody should go out
and get one.
(24:45):
And uh two, you know, if notjust one, but two, uh, because
it's amazing.
How can somebody get a hold ofyou or get a hold of um uh uh
you know Rock Island or someArms Core ammunition?
SPEAKER_03 (25:00):
Um well so we we have a we have a website,
armscore.com, and there's abunch of links there.
You'll see a Rio USA link if youwant to go, you know, to that
part of the page, and you'll seethe products that we make in in
Utah, and then our regularproduct line is out there too.
Um and then there, I thinkthere's some buy now um links
(25:25):
also that get you to um you knowplaces where you can buy the
ammunition and awesome.
SPEAKER_00 (25:33):
Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_03 (25:34):
Thank you.
It's been great.
Have a great rest of the shot.
Thanks, thanks.
Almost almost halfway throughday one.
SPEAKER_01 (25:42):
Yes.
Yeah, much better.
SPEAKER_00 (00:05):
We're gonna we're gonna be great.
Are you ready?
Yes, I'm ready.
Okay.
Welcome to Amateur's Next FirstPodcast.
We are here at SHAT Show 2025.
Excited to be here.
And uh again, Otis has uh givenus this great booth to podcast
with, with some really coolpeople.
(00:27):
I am so excited for the people,the person we have on today.
I mean, I'm excited that Jessicais here always.
I don't know.
I mean, our guest is definitelyway more important.
I mean, the coolest chickaround, Lisa Twassen from Arms
Corps um Rock Island.
(00:49):
And uh I am so excited abouttoday.
Yesterday I went out and um ohwelcome Lisa.
SPEAKER_04 (00:57):
How excited Erica is.
She just is forgetting to doregulars.
SPEAKER_03 (01:03):
I'm so excited.
Erica really gets that wayaround around my guns.
SPEAKER_04 (01:07):
I know we need to make sure that you have the
exact amount that you brought inhere when you leave.
SPEAKER_02 (01:14):
Yeah, I'll make sure.
unknown (01:15):
I'll make sure I get that.
SPEAKER_00 (01:16):
There's there's two things that are so exciting.
Uh first of all, yesterday I wasgiddy because I uh shot the uh
5.0.
Uh I did the 5.0 E.
SPEAKER_02 (01:27):
Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (01:28):
And um, and that is just, I mean, it's like butter.
SPEAKER_01 (01:31):
Yes.
SPEAKER_00 (01:32):
It's so smooth, and it's one of the my most favorite
guns.
And of course I want one.
Like this has been on my list,and um, and I definitely this
is, I mean, I can see myselfgetting into competition again
with uh Rock Island 5.0 E.
E for Erica.
(01:52):
Yes, E for Erica.
But today I am so excited.
We get a first look at anothergun from Rock Island, and um, I
mean, it's coming straightstraight from the show.
Um, Lisa, tell us about it.
SPEAKER_03 (02:15):
Okay, so it's marked wrong.
It's marked wrong because westill just have the artwork for
5.0, but this will be the 4.0 Ohbecause it's it's shorter.
This this is five inches, that'swhy it ended up as a 5.0.
So as we shrink in size, thenumbers will go down.
SPEAKER_00 (02:37):
I oh, okay.
And um is that and what I thinkthis is a it's not exactly not
exactly uh yeah, maybe four anda I'm not sure.
SPEAKER_03 (02:54):
Not sure the exact measurements I like this is the
first time to do it.
We won't hold you to it.
Yeah, this is the first time I'mI'm I'm actually holding it to
you.
SPEAKER_04 (03:00):
Yeah, you picked it up moments from coming to our
booth.
SPEAKER_03 (03:03):
Yeah, the first time I'm showing it to anyone.
I didn't even show it at Ididn't even show it at Media Day
yesterday because we're notwe're not there yet.
SPEAKER_00 (03:10):
Right, because I I was looking for it um because
this is uh kind of for apersonal carry, uh smaller, um,
and I can't wait to shoot itwhen it's ready, but I've
already done the measurementsand it fits.
SPEAKER_03 (03:25):
Okay, all right.
unknown (03:27):
All right.
SPEAKER_03 (03:29):
Um I'm gonna I'm gonna make a small plug for John
McLean.
Yes.
Um he's he makes he makes um theholsters.
He makes holsters.
Uh-huh.
He has a small company, um, FPSholsters.
So he's probably gonna be thefirst one of the first people to
be able to holster.
(03:49):
He has holsters for this onealready, the 500.
SPEAKER_00 (03:52):
And is that gonna be for conceal carry or for
competition, or does he do both?
SPEAKER_03 (03:57):
Hmm.
That's a good question.
I'm I'm a very bad umrepresentative for John because
I have no idea.
I have no idea.
Um yeah, but I'm sure he but hecould probably come, you know,
come up with something becausethis is more concealable.
SPEAKER_00 (04:15):
Right, right.
And uh, I mean the the engravingis special, it has the American
flag on it.
SPEAKER_03 (04:21):
Yes.
Um I mean that is a lot is a lothas changed from last shot show
since I I spoke with you both.
Um we we're really wanting to uhstand out from the rest of the
ARM score family.
Um not not for any reason, butto just let people know that
(04:45):
that we're we're we're puttingroots down here in the United
States too.
Um you know we we were Filipino,but we're also American.
Um and and we wanted we wantedto have uh American-made
products.
SPEAKER_00 (05:01):
That's awesome.
And where's your factory, Lisa?
SPEAKER_03 (05:03):
In Cedar City, Utah.
SPEAKER_00 (05:06):
Very nice.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (05:07):
Yeah, yeah.
Um it's it's two and a halfhours from my house.
SPEAKER_00 (05:11):
Um that's a long commute.
SPEAKER_03 (05:13):
Uh yeah, I I don't do it every day.
I don't do it every day.
I have a uh uh uh woman plantmanager, a veteran, a marine.
Um she runs a really, reallytight ship over there.
Um so I'm very blessed that Ihave a team that is very um
(05:34):
disciplined and I don't need tobe there, like physically be
there every day.
No.
SPEAKER_00 (05:43):
Last uh yesterday and also last year, we talked
about how um your company is sofamily-oriented.
Yes, and you could feel that outat Range Day yesterday.
Yes, everybody is so proud aboutthe products.
Yes, and it's like a newbornbaby.
Yes, it's not just Lisa's baby,it's everybody's baby.
(06:03):
Yes, and um, I mean, from fromfrom um every person out there,
all your staff, whether it's theplant manager, whether it's the
person that designs and comes upwith products, they were so
excited to tell us about it.
Yes, and uh I think that'sgreat.
It it really you have such agreat culture that you've
(06:25):
created in your company.
SPEAKER_04 (06:27):
I was just gonna say that we were just speaking with
someone earlier on a podcast,and he was saying, you know,
when you're interested ingetting a firearm, it's good to
research the brand and thecompany and what they stand for
and their mission and whatthey're built on.
And anytime you guys areanywhere, no matter where you
are in the company, they're justa hundred percent passionate
about it and invested in thebrand and the company, and I
(06:48):
think that speaks volumes.
SPEAKER_03 (06:49):
Yeah, I think, I mean, I think it's I think it it
has a lot to do with with youknow we're we're we're third
generation.
Um, you know, my grandfather umstarted the business and and uh
my dad ran it um for 51 yearsbefore retiring, and um, and now
(07:13):
he's back.
He's back.
He said he's he says he'sretired, but he's he's not
really retired.
Um and then and then you know mybrother, uh my cousins and I and
you know we're we're the thirdgeneration now, and then we've
got a fourth generation.
Um one of my nephews uh has juststarted our management training
(07:35):
program.
Wow.
And he's he's uh completed hisfirst in March he'll complete
his first year under themanagement training program.
Um so it's it's different whenyou're not a corporate, I think.
I think very different.
Um there's there's other thingsthat drive us besides you know
(08:02):
answering to our you knowinvestors, you know.
It's it's more it's more aboutum growing growing the company
so that the next generation haseven more, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (08:19):
It's a legacy.
SPEAKER_03 (08:20):
Yeah.
Um and and not all our childrenare gonna join uh join the
business, you know.
Right.
But but it's there.
It's there for them for the onesthat are well you got one so
far.
SPEAKER_04 (08:31):
Yeah, well that's what it takes.
SPEAKER_03 (08:33):
Yeah, no, and my and my brother, my brother's son is
um, he's he's right now uminterning as a as a gunsmith.
Um because he's still incollege.
But when he gets when hegraduates, he'll he wants to
come into the business too, sohe'll he'll go into the training
program.
Uh one of the requirements forour um management training
(08:54):
program is that they have tofinish college.
SPEAKER_00 (08:58):
That's excellent.
So it's not just hey, you'repart of the family, now you help
run it.
It's there's actually someinvestment in there and some
training, and um that that'spretty well pretty solid.
SPEAKER_03 (09:12):
The way we looked at it is is um what what's that
saying that they they say thatlike the the the I don't know
the first the first generationlike I don't know like lose this
is something like that and thenlike the third generation loses
everything.
Oh, because it's just likeeverything's been handed to
(09:33):
them, right?
Right, and that that that's notwhat we want.
Like our our intention is thatthe next generation that comes
in are better than us.
Yes, not so so not uh so so thatwe're always our focus is always
growing the business.
Right, a secession plan.
(09:54):
Yeah, not like oh I you're afamily member, so okay, I'll
make you I'll make you thepresident.
Right.
You gotta work for it.
Yeah, you gotta you gotta workfor it.
You you gotta and and you haveto love it.
Like if like just because you'rea family member, you can't just
you know jump in and be like, ohI'll just I'll just get a
paycheck, but you know, justbecause it's just easy, right?
(10:16):
No, yeah.
You have to love it.
You have to love it.
If you don't love it, findsomething you love.
We're not here to stand in theway of our children either.
SPEAKER_00 (10:25):
And I think that's I mean, to me that's amazing
because a lot of uh parents, ifthey build the company, they
want their parent theirchildren, you know, children and
grandchildren to be theirsecession plan.
SPEAKER_01 (10:38):
Yes.
SPEAKER_00 (10:38):
And when that child goes in and is uh you know
disgruntled because that's notreally what they want to do,
exactly.
It's tough for the whole family.
SPEAKER_03 (10:47):
Yes, it is, it is, it is, and and the business will
suffer if if the people runningit were forced to be there, you
know.
SPEAKER_04 (10:58):
Yes, or and I think if things were handed to them as
well, yeah, yeah, you know, thenyou have others that aren't
family that are like, hey.
SPEAKER_03 (11:06):
Yeah, right.
And and and I'll tell you rightnow, we're we have no problem
with if there's if there'ssomebody within our ranks that
that is not a family member thatrises above our children, they
earn it.
They did they deserve it too.
SPEAKER_00 (11:25):
So you base I mean you would do things based on the
best of you know, best fit forthe company.
SPEAKER_03 (11:31):
Yeah, it's it's it it's it's gonna be it it is
merit-based.
It's merit-based.
Um, you know, and we really wantto see we really want to see
passion for the business.
Absolutely.
Um and and and you just yeah, wedon't want we don't want
mediocrity, we just you know, wewant we want it to always be
(11:53):
better.
SPEAKER_04 (11:54):
Yeah.
Because I think things that arebuilt and designed out of
passion versus just necessity orthe bottom line, yeah, are just
far superior.
Yeah, because you can see it.
SPEAKER_03 (12:05):
And so and don't get me wrong, we're here to make
money.
We are not gonna do it.
Absolutely, absolutely.
But but but it's it's easier tomake money when you love what
you do.
Absolutely.
And you and you're passionateabout so you make a good product
that functions well and peoplelove.
SPEAKER_01 (12:20):
Exactly.
SPEAKER_03 (12:20):
And you know, and like we said, if you know, if
there's a you know, somebodywithin you know within the
company that's not a familymember, but rises to the top,
then they rise to the top.
But I mean, because as far aswe're concerned, like once you
work at Arms Corps, you arefamily.
Yeah, maybe not blood, butyou're family, right?
SPEAKER_00 (12:41):
And and I love that because even yesterday we were
talking about um the Philippinesand how many people you have
working for you.
That's huge.
Yeah, because people don't leavejobs that they like, they leave
because of whatever's going onup top, right?
And it just seems like thatfamily atmosphere.
(13:01):
Um, everybody out there wasfamily yesterday, and they're
excited.
SPEAKER_04 (13:06):
You have a despite the wind, because that's
something that we haven'tmentioned.
The wind yesterday was 20, 30miles per hour.
It was vicious.
SPEAKER_03 (13:16):
Yeah, I don't I didn't even need to eat lunch
yesterday.
I ate so much dirt.
SPEAKER_00 (13:20):
Right?
SPEAKER_03 (13:20):
Yeah, you could feel it in your teeth.
Yeah, literally.
My my eyeballs, I mean, it wascrazy.
Yes, it was yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (13:27):
Yesterday was since I've been going to media day,
which hasn't been that manyyears.
I think yesterday was thecoldest.
SPEAKER_03 (13:33):
Yes.
Um, I've been going through alot.
Right?
SPEAKER_00 (13:37):
I've been going through a lot.
SPEAKER_03 (13:38):
I I remember the the the other coldest media day was
um January 2013.
Oh, yeah, we had um so manyheaters out.
So many heaters out.
SPEAKER_00 (13:54):
If you had a heater out yesterday, you wouldn't even
I had two heaters.
Oh, oh, that's right.
You didn't have a heater.
SPEAKER_03 (14:01):
I had a fire pit and a heater, but like, you know,
the last time the last time weused our other heaters was in
2013.
SPEAKER_00 (14:07):
Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_03 (14:08):
Yeah.
That's right, you did.
SPEAKER_00 (14:10):
Like because everybody was hovered around it.
unknown (14:12):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_04 (14:13):
And the wild thing is it really wasn't, I say that
cold because I'm originally fromOhio and right now it's like two
degrees there.
But it was 42, which reallyisn't that cold.
But with wind with the wind chipfactor, it seemed like it was.
Yeah, but to that point, not totake us down a rabbit hole,
everybody out there was stillsuper jazzed.
SPEAKER_03 (14:34):
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.
I mean, media days like prom,you know, for us.
It's it's prom, and isn't itwhere we take our dates?
Oh, sorry.
Where we where we take our datesout?
Yes, show them off to the world.
SPEAKER_00 (14:49):
Yes.
SPEAKER_03 (14:50):
I love that analogy.
It is.
Yeah.
And my my daughter knows it.
My my daughter knows it.
I I I told her yesterday, Isaid, it's my prom.
SPEAKER_00 (14:59):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (15:00):
I need to focus because I don't get another
prompt till next year.
SPEAKER_00 (15:03):
That's right.
Right.
Yes.
You do you do it right one timea year, and this is where you do
it right.
Yeah, yeah.
Yes.
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (15:11):
NRA is great too.
Being an NRA is great too.
But that's really where you getto connect with the end user,
with the customer.
So that's more about buildingrelationships and you know,
thanking them and gettingfeedback on what products they
like, what you know, what theydidn't like, what you know, and
(15:35):
and so it's it's a it's a verydifferent vibe than here where
you're showing the world, hey,this is what we've been working
on all year.
SPEAKER_04 (15:43):
And I imagine the feedback would be different, uh,
obviously, but in the sense thatwhen you're showing it to the
consumer, they're gonna have oneperspective, but showing it to
almost like your peers andequals that are also making
firearms, yes, the perceptionand the reaction is gonna be
different.
So it's uh probably a littleunnerving, like, hey, we're
launching this new thing.
(16:04):
Yes, yes, yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (16:06):
Yes, and yeah, and and like the feedback like um
like yesterday I spent a lot oftime talking with with Team
Armscore, um just gettingfeedback on some prototypes.
I mean, we showed up, we showedup in Media Day with with like a
3D printed just plastic gun thatdoesn't do anything, right?
(16:28):
It has no internals, but we justwanted to show them kind of what
we were thinking of doing nextand getting their feedback.
Um same thing with like, youknow, I had a few conversations
with um with Michael Bain.
Um he's been he's he's beenreally great about like you know
(16:51):
giving feedback on you know newproducts and what we're doing.
SPEAKER_00 (16:56):
So what is gonna be happening like in the next year
or two?
What what will we see from ArmsCorps and Rock Island?
SPEAKER_03 (17:04):
Okay, so well um I'm gonna just talk on the US side
first.
So on the US side, you know,we're we're gonna have you know
a RIA 4.0, a smaller, a smallerversion.
I do have a um modular pistol umthat I will launch at NRA.
(17:27):
Um some people got to shoot ityesterday.
I I didn't want any photography.
So it was really just gettingfeedback because yesterday was
the first day that um team artwas you know there together.
Um and then uh and then I hadspoken to you know Michael Dane
(17:48):
about it, so I wanted him to tryit and you know let me know like
you know how how he felt aboutit.
Um I only have one prototypealso but um I think that's our
first our first step is that onewe at SHATShow we've got our
1911s, our high cap 1911s thatwe're we're making in Utah now.
(18:12):
So sorry, so it's not um not anew product.
It's something that we used tomake in the Philippines, um but
we're we're kind of leaning veryheavily in the Philippines to
producing um defense productsfor the police, the Coast Guard,
(18:38):
uh the army.
Um so we were we're just we werejust trying to kind of DV up the
responsibilities, yeah, youknow.
And and um and Martin thought hewas like, you know, people
always ask, you know, don't youhave an uh a maid in the USA
1911?
So you know we picked four SKUs,the TAC Ultras.
(19:01):
Um he's like, why don't you makethem in in Utah?
That'll free up, you know, someof the work in the Philippines,
and then you know, give give ityour own spin.
So that's why now all of asudden there's flags on the
guns.
Yeah, is it?
So that's how you're gonna knowthe difference between um a RIA
(19:22):
USA 1911 and the ones coming outof the factory in the
Philippines.
The RIA USA 1911s will have theUS flag on it.
Love that.
Um and then we um came out withuh Optic Ready Um 1911s.
Um and but the classic one,simple, no, no optic.
(19:47):
We're still we're still gonnamake that.
It's just gonna be made read.
Um and then I have another inthis family, in the 5-0 family,
that will launch in 26.
SPEAKER_00 (20:03):
And so I will need I will need all three.
SPEAKER_02 (20:06):
Yes, yes.
But but like you you get onethis year, and then you get
another one.
You just like kind of like gofor it.
SPEAKER_00 (20:14):
I'm thinking one or two this year, and then I then
I'll be ready for the for thethird one next year.
So will that be debuting at SHOT2026, possibly?
SPEAKER_04 (20:24):
Yes, yes.
SPEAKER_00 (20:25):
Okay, all right.
SPEAKER_03 (20:27):
I will have it, I will have it at Media Day to
shoot this time.
And and I will um I did take alook at the some of the the
shooting boxes in the back, theCaesars.
SPEAKER_00 (20:39):
Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_03 (20:40):
Um, and I'm really considering doing doing that.
SPEAKER_04 (20:44):
Those are very, very cool.
So if you're listening, you'venever been here, they basically
have like shipping containersthat are equipped with
everything that would have likea backstop, ballistics, all of
that, like internally indoorrange in these giant shipping
containers where outside ofCaesars Forums you can ship.
SPEAKER_03 (21:02):
Yeah, so it so you can you as a an as an exhibitor,
you can rent one, you could likesay, hey, I I need it for four
hours, I need to all day, or Ineed it all week.
And uh they have very goodsecurity out there, they're very
strict with safety.
Yes.
Um and it's it's almost likeyou're giving your buyer or your
(21:27):
customer here a shot.
Um kind of the VIP treatment.
It's like you don't have to lineup with like, you know,
everybody at Media Day orwhatever.
There's gonna be times whenpeople are not gonna want to go
out to Media Day because it'sraining.
Like last year, a lot of thebuyers didn't end up going to to
to the range because that's whenthe downpour was was like right
(21:50):
to two o'clock the afternoon.
Yeah.
Um so I just wanna I just wantedto give like you know, options.
Options.
Not that it will never not be atmedia day.
Um The ladies that run um thethe range day are fantastic.
SPEAKER_04 (22:06):
They are you guys have a very nice setup like
enter here, here's the process,very fluid.
SPEAKER_00 (22:11):
They've been doing it for so many years.
SPEAKER_03 (22:12):
Yeah, I think I I think when I when I talk to
Kelsey, it's like 22 years.
Um and and and so so Kelsey andKathy, um it's it's like our
business.
Right.
Mother, daughter, like then Ithink there's I think I think
Kelsey Kelsey's sister also it'sit's it's also very much a
(22:36):
family.
So it's like I I I I feel likeconnected, like, you know, like
they get the problems that Ihave or whatever work, you know,
because there's a synergy there.
Yeah, there's a synergy, right?
Um, but they're they'refantastic women.
Um, and um, I owe actuallyreally feel like I owe them a
(22:56):
lot because once upon a time, along time ago, um I found out
that there was this range day.
And um it was two weeks, twoweeks away from range day.
And I called and I said, Look, II just found out that there's a
range day, and I have this newgun.
(23:19):
And I didn't know anything aboutit, and I just I I just want to
show it to people.
SPEAKER_00 (23:23):
Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_03 (23:24):
And this was a TCM that I brought out when I was in
Texas.
And and they're like, we'llwe'll find a spot for you, we'll
find a spot.
And but the only thing is it it,you know, it's it's in the long
range in the rifle, on the rifleside.
And and I I'm like, I'll I'lltake anything.
I'll take anything.
(23:45):
And um, they put me next to thethe Barrett, the 50 BMG.
SPEAKER_00 (23:52):
That was loud.
SPEAKER_03 (23:53):
Yeah, and I don't know if you remember how loud my
TCM is, but people startedshooting our gun, and the and
the guys over at Barrett arelike, what did that come out of
that little gun?
They could they couldn't believeit, but but yeah, so I I owe
them, I owe them a lot, youknow, for like squeezing me in
(24:14):
because um that was a gun thatagain you can't explain.
You can you can talk to peopleto the blue in the face, but
until they shoot it, they're notgonna get it.
SPEAKER_00 (24:25):
Right.
Yeah.
Lisa, it's been so great havingyou on.
And oh my gosh, thank you somuch for bringing.
I mean, like you said, you justsaw this a couple minutes ago.
Yeah.
Um, your your new 4.0.
Um I it's beautiful, and ofcourse, everybody should go out
and get one.
(24:45):
And uh two, you know, if notjust one, but two, uh, because
it's amazing.
How can somebody get a hold ofyou or get a hold of um uh uh
you know Rock Island or someArms Core ammunition?
SPEAKER_03 (25:00):
Um well so we we have a we have a website,
armscore.com, and there's abunch of links there.
You'll see a Rio USA link if youwant to go, you know, to that
part of the page, and you'll seethe products that we make in in
Utah, and then our regularproduct line is out there too.
Um and then there, I thinkthere's some buy now um links
(25:25):
also that get you to um you knowplaces where you can buy the
ammunition and awesome.
SPEAKER_00 (25:33):
Thank you so much.
SPEAKER_03 (25:34):
Thank you.
It's been great.
Have a great rest of the shot.
Thanks, thanks.
Almost almost halfway throughday one.
SPEAKER_01 (25:42):
Yes.
Popular Podcasts
Betrayal Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com