We recently visited Arizona-based Patriot Ordnance Factory, founded by the indomitable Frank DeSomma, and found the company thriving and growing in new directions.
DeSomma, an aerospace engineer remembered today simply as "Mr. Patriot," sought to solve problems he saw with the AR-15's gas impingement system and blazed fresh territory before his untimely passing in 2020.
In the past two decades, POF has repeatedly broken the AR mold with a variety of innovative gas piston-operated black rifle designs starting with the P415, and soon began to specialize in very accurate and reliable GPO hunting rifles such as the 6.5CM-chambered Edge, the P308 (which was also available in .243), and Skirmish series. Then came some more vanilla gas impingement action guns with a twist, such as the 6-pound Wonder (5.56) and Constable (available in .300 BLK and 7.62x39), the Olde School, for those wanting a .308 with a 16.5-inch barrel and an adjustable gas system, and the Renegade line.
In 2017, the company introduced the Revolution, a 6-ish-pound .308 that feels like an AR-15, and the rest of the rifle makers in that space have been playing catch-up ever since.
The company even made a straight-pull bolt-action AR-15-style rifle in both 5.56 and 7.72 NATO: the short-lived Revolt.
Besides pistol format versions of its popular rifles (Constable, 415, Minuteman, Renegade, Revolution, Rouge, etc.), POF also made handguns such as the Rebel (a .22 LR that took 10/22 mags and shipped with a MFT brace), and a line of Glock compatible slides. Then came the Phoenix 9mm pistol variant with an 8.5-inch barrel and a big banana mag.
Still family-owned and located in a new 27,0000-square-foot facility in Phoenix, POF is still innovating.
Ready for a deep dive into exactly how a Tombstone comes together? Check out this 36-minute video we filmed covering the assembly of a single rifle.
We thank POF for all their help and assistance with our factory tour.
