EAA’s current business model revolves around imported firearms, but that might change a bit. [Zac K.] In an age where tariffs can quickly complicate things for a business that relies on imports, EAA is making a big move. Although its business model is specifically built around bringing in guns from overseas—EAA stands for European American Armory—they have just bought a factory in Tennessee, presumably to establish Stateside manufacturing. European American Armory @ TFB: EAA Launches Girsan Brat 2311 Pistol EAA Akkar Churchill 20Ga Shotguns Reconfigured for Home Defense [SHOT 2022] The Modern Hi-Power, the EAA/Girsan MC P35 Match New Enhanced Girsan MC312 Tactical Shotgun from EAA The finer detailsWhen EAA announced they’d acquired the production facility, they didn’t mince words. They very much plan to establish manufacturing operations in the U.S. As their PR puts it:European American Armory (EAA Corp) is pleased to announce the acquisition of a large manufacturing facility in Mountain City, Tennessee with additional acreage for future expansion, marking a significant investment in the future of American firearms manufacturing and strengthening the company's long-term commitment to domestic production.The newly acquired facility is currently undergoing extensive renovations and modernization to support advanced manufacturing, machining, assembly, logistics, and other firearm industry operations. The expansion is expected to create new opportunities for growth while establishing a collaborative manufacturing hub for the firearms industry. EAA brings in a lot of guns from Turkey currently, and also had ties to Baikal from Russia in the past. [Zac K.] It’s just one more example of the U.S. gun industry moving operations down into the Southeast, instead of its traditional base in the Northeast. And EAA might not be the only company involved in this move. In their PR, they also said they’re looking for “strategic industry partners” who might lease space in the facility to conduct their own firearms industry operations.Chase Duffey of EAA Corp explained it this way: "Our vision extends beyond expanding EAA's manufacturing capabilities. We want to create an environment where companies throughout the firearms industry can grow together, share resources, and strengthen the domestic manufacturing base.”It’s an interesting idea, purposefully developing synergies like that, and it seems the local governments in Mountain City and Johnson County are keen to promote the area as a good spot to do business, thanks to favorable economic development programs as well as nearby transportation corridors. Maybe the facility will start by assembling guns from parts, or maybe they’ll build stuff from scratch. Details are light now. [Zac K.] Maybe this will just be a knock-down facility at first, assembling guns from parts, but who knows? Down the road, EAA might be able to change its name to just AA, if they start making more things close-to-home instead of important guns from Europe.