Bigfork firearms manufacturer continues to grow

After years of expansion, there’s still more room to grow for Shield Arms. 

The Bigfork firearms manufacturer expects to carry a new pistol system, and company officials are looking forward to maximizing space, personnel and machinery to keep up with demand that is expected as a result.  

Shield Arms, created in 2017 by Brandon Zeider and Seth Berglee, specializes in firearms accessories, such as magazine extensions and Mag wells, AR-15 assault style rifles, knifes, soft gear and more. 

The newest product, the manual pistol system, is a system designed for versatility using S15 and S10 magazines. It includes a serialized chassis that is compatible with different slides and grips available in aluminum and polymer. The idea, according to Zeider, is that with sub-compact, compact and full-size options, the system can change to fit someone’s specific needs.  

“You're not locked into a single implementation. You can now go and change it out and not have to go buy a completely new gun,” Zeider said, sitting at the Shield Arms campus earlier this week. 

With the system, or ecosystem, according to Zeider, being modular, the serialized component of the gun comes out of frame, leaving the owner to replace frames, slides, barrels and configurations.  

Shield Arms patents its products, ensuring quality and uniqueness, the company says. While there are other manufacturers making pistols and even modular pistols, Zeider said Shield Arms is unique in the way they do it.  

“You have to have innovation or its essentially death in this industry,” he said.  

The firearm manufacturer, which began in a garage six years ago, moved into a new 50,000 square foot space a year ago. With the creation of the modular pistol system, Shield Arms anticipates continuing that expansion.  

“We’re expanding in every direction,” said Leo Boucher, the machine shop manager at Shield Arms.  

Standing amongst eight different computerized machines and robot arms, Boucher said that the demand they expect with the modular system will require more machines. Each machine requires a specialized employee manning it, and each machine takes up a significant amount of floor space within the warehouse.  

“Everything has to grow alongside that,” Zeider said, hinting at more warehouse and operational space.  

Shield Arms launched its own coffee brand last year as well, called Skald Coffee, which is located on Shield Arms’ campus. The company also created a food truck, parked out front of the facility, for employees and others. 

Outside of just expanding its capacity, Shield Arms is in the process of opening a Skald Coffee in Kalispell this spring and a food truck downtown in the summer. The idea behind the initiative, Zeider said, is to foster community and give people a space to gather and share stories.  

Attached to the currently existing coffee shop on Shield Arms’ campus is a small storefront featuring a range of Shield Arms products and outdoor gear. From purchasing a gun or a knife to getting tactical gear to a camp stove, the shop showcases what Shield Arms produces.  

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the company opened a community garden, an egg share program and group buys of pork and beef for employees, another opportunity to foster community through the workplace, Zeider said. 

Originally from Indiana, Zeider has a background in computer science and used to report on the firearms industry for a blog. His partner, Berglee, from Brockton, is an avid competitive shooter. Products are available for purchase at shieldarms.com or at the retail shop located at 12090 Montana 83 in Bigfork.  

Reporter Kate Heston may be reached at 758-4459 or kheston@dailyinterlake.com. 

    A wall of completed AR-15 style rifles for sale at Shield Arms in Bigfork. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake)
  

    A three axis machine, with a robot arm, works on creating magazine extension parts on Jan. 28, 2024 at Shield Arms in Bigfork. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake)
  

    Shield Arms in Bigfork makes handmade knifes in shop, along with a array of guns and soft goods. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake)
  

    Shield Arms, which is opened in 2017, continues to expand at their Bigfork location. (Kate Heston/Daily Inter Lake)