Crosman Corporation

The Crosman story begins not with firearms, but with seeds. In 1923, the Crosman Brothers Seed Company, a business with roots stretching back to 1838, made a pivotal decision to start producing airgun pellets. A year later, in 1924, the business was sold to Frank Hahn, who renamed it the Crosman Rifle Company, setting the stage for its future in the shooting sports industry. A key innovation came in 1954 with the introduction of the 12-gram CO2 Powerlet. This disposable cartridge system simplified the use of CO2-powered airguns and became an industry standard. The company's growth was further solidified with the introduction of the Model 760 Pumpmaster in 1966, a successful and enduring air rifle. Over the decades, Crosman went through a series of significant ownership changes. The Coleman Company acquired it in 1971, expanding its distribution to major retailers like Kmart and Wal-Mart. In 1992, Crosman made a strategic acquisition of its own, purchasing the Benjamin Sheridan company, a respected airgun manufacturer. The company continued to change hands through various investment groups and holding companies, including a notable acquisition by Compass Diversified Holdings in 2017. The most recent chapter in its ownership journey occurred in May 2024, when Crosman was acquired by Daisy Manufacturing Company, another iconic name in the airgun world.