Calico Light Weapons Systems
Encyclopedia
Calico Light Weapons Inc. (CLWS) is a privately held firearms manufacturing company based in Cornelius, Oregon
. The company was established in 1982 in Bakersfield, California
, and released its first production weapon in 1985. Calico was sold in 1990 but remained in Bakersfield. The company was sold again in 1991 to the original concept designer, and in 1998 operations were moved to Sparks, Nevada
, where replacement parts for existing weapons were produced.
In 2006, Calico was sold once again, and moved to Hillsboro, Oregon, where full production of firearms resumed. Calico implemented a CNC machining process and upgraded materials used in manufacture. Additionally, there were minor redesigns of some production models to increase durability and reliability.
that ejects spent shells from a port in the bottom, making a brass catcher more practical. The Calico 9 mm pistols, carbines and submachine guns use the Roller-delayed blowback principle used in the Heckler & Koch
series of firearms.
in 1994 which limited magazine capacity of newly made firearms to ten rounds. Once the legislation was allowed to sunset in 2004, Calico began producing firearms again. Calico weapons are sometimes seen in various movies and science fiction films due to their futuristic appearance. The company tagline in the 1990s was A Revolution in Firepower!.
Discontinued
As of January, 2010, Calico LWS states they have begun production of tactical carbines and pistols. The Calico website and Facebook pages both state that the tactical firearms have a quad rail fore end for attaching optics, lighting, and other accessories. Models with a T suffix indicate a tactical version.
Cornelius, Oregon
Cornelius is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States. The population was 9,652 at the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 10,895 residents.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. The company was established in 1982 in Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
, and released its first production weapon in 1985. Calico was sold in 1990 but remained in Bakersfield. The company was sold again in 1991 to the original concept designer, and in 1998 operations were moved to Sparks, Nevada
Sparks, Nevada
Sparks is a city in Washoe County, Nevada, United States, located east of Reno, Nevada. The 2010 U.S. Census Bureau population count was 90,264. Sparks is often referred to as half of a twin city .-Geography and Climate:...
, where replacement parts for existing weapons were produced.
In 2006, Calico was sold once again, and moved to Hillsboro, Oregon, where full production of firearms resumed. Calico implemented a CNC machining process and upgraded materials used in manufacture. Additionally, there were minor redesigns of some production models to increase durability and reliability.
Products
CLWS produces a line of pistols and pistol-caliber carbines. Calico firearms feature a top-mounted, helical-feed, high-capacity (50 or 100 round) magazineMagazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
that ejects spent shells from a port in the bottom, making a brass catcher more practical. The Calico 9 mm pistols, carbines and submachine guns use the Roller-delayed blowback principle used in the Heckler & Koch
Heckler & Koch
Heckler & Koch GmbH is a German defense manufacturing company that produces various small arms. Some of their products include the SA80, MP5 submachine gun, G3 automatic rifle, the G36 assault rifle, the HK 416, the MP7 personal defense weapon, the USP series of handguns, and the high-precision...
series of firearms.
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Although reviews of the product line were very favorable, Calico has yet to secure big military and law enforcement contracts. Sales were severely curtailed by the introduction of the Federal assault weapons banFederal assault weapons ban
The Federal Assault Weapons Ban was a subtitle of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, a federal law in the United States that included a prohibition on the manufacture for civilian use of certain semi-automatic firearms, so called "assault weapons"...
in 1994 which limited magazine capacity of newly made firearms to ten rounds. Once the legislation was allowed to sunset in 2004, Calico began producing firearms again. Calico weapons are sometimes seen in various movies and science fiction films due to their futuristic appearance. The company tagline in the 1990s was A Revolution in Firepower!.
Products
Current- .22 LR Pistols
- Calico M110
- .22 LR Rifles
- Calico M100S & M-100 TacticalCalico M100The M100 is a blowback-operated semi-automatic rifle chambered in .22 LR or 9x19mm Parabellum, manufactured by Calico Light Weapons Systems in Hillsboro, Oregon, USA and possessing a unique 100-round helical-fed magazine mounted on top of the weapon...
- M-100FS & M-100FS TacticalCalico M100The M100 is a blowback-operated semi-automatic rifle chambered in .22 LR or 9x19mm Parabellum, manufactured by Calico Light Weapons Systems in Hillsboro, Oregon, USA and possessing a unique 100-round helical-fed magazine mounted on top of the weapon...
- Calico M100S & M-100 Tactical
- 9mm Pistols
- Calico Liberty III & Liberty III Tactical
- 9mm Rifles
- Liberty I and II
- Liberty I and II Tactical
- M960 series submachinegun (military and law enforcement only)
Discontinued
- .22 LR Pistols
- M-100P
- 9mm Pistols
- M950
- Carbines
- M-900
- M-951
- Sub-machineguns
- M-750
- M-900A
- M-950A
As of January, 2010, Calico LWS states they have begun production of tactical carbines and pistols. The Calico website and Facebook pages both state that the tactical firearms have a quad rail fore end for attaching optics, lighting, and other accessories. Models with a T suffix indicate a tactical version.