Anderson Manufacturing has shuttered its doors, joining a number of companies that have slowly closed as the industry navigates a post-COVID slump, followed by another “Trump slump.” It’s a tough time in a tough industry, and Anderson is just the latest to fall.
Anderson Manufacturing: End of an Era
Anderson announced its closure and acquisition by Ruger. Anderson was a family-owned business out of Kentucky that focused primarily on the AR-15 market. They also produced AR-10 rifles, Glock Gen 3 clones, and lots of parts. Anderson is most known for its affordable AR-15 lower receivers.
An acquisition by Ruger hopefully means no one is losing their job, but it does seem Ruger doesn’t aim to keep the brand alive. Anderson facilities will likely be pumping out Ruger parts and components. Uppers, lowers, barrels, and more will be Ruger-branded, not Anderson-branded.
My Ode To Anderson
Like many, I started my journey with the AR platform using an Anderson lower. I was late to the AR game because I find them to be incredibly boring rifles. That’s not a bad thing; boring guns are usually the most reliable, ergonomic, and easiest to use. I also spent half a decade with an M16/M4 in the military, so any ounce of novelty associated with Stoner’s platform had been wrung out.
I assembled an AR with an Anderson Manufacturing lower because, as a gun writer, I felt compelled to own some form of an AR-15 rifle. At the time, Anderson lowers were around $40, and that’s what my local gun store had in stock. I grabbed my first “poverty pony” and slapped the cheapest parts and upper I could find on it.
My story and need for an AR are likely a little different from most people’s, but the urge to save cash while building an AR is not new. Anderson’s affordable and common lowers helped proliferate the AR-15 among the American population. It certainly helped create the “builder” culture we have now.
Anderson’s legacy will be teaching a generation of gun owners how ARs work and how to assemble one. This is how I learned to swap triggers and small lower parts as a whole. This is how I learned about different buffer weights and gas system lengths. I learned a lot about the AR as a platform, thanks to that $40 lower.
More Than Lowers – The Anderson Legacy
Anderson famously advertised their rifles as not needing lubrication. The rifles were coated with RF85, a coating that supposedly reduced friction and heat. It’s a “dry nanolubricant” that embeds calcium carbonate into the metal surfaces.
Anderson was derided by the industry and consumers alike for this claim. I’m not experienced enough to know how well RF85 works, or if lubrication truly isn’t needed, but there are plenty of “burn-down” videos on YouTube you can watch to form your own conclusions.
That’s not the only criticism Anderson received. Admittedly, their cheap lowers sometimes came at the cost of quality control. While most were probably fine, they had more than a few “stinkers” sneak out. I currently have a lower that is extremely difficult to remove from the upper receiver. It’s out of spec and is more likely to create issues with long-term use.
As gun culture grew online, we started to learn that you paid a price for a cheap lower. The online culture quickly grew to dislike Anderson Manufacturing and their lowers; the hate was often a bit unjustified, but there was some truth buried in the toxicity.
Yet, for years, they were the key to entry into the AR world. I imagine higher-end companies generated more sales because of Anderson, not less. When I decided I needed a “nice” AR, I knew a bit more about QC and how all lowers weren’t created equal. That led me to a BCM lower. I wouldn’t have known that without Anderson helping educate me on the AR platform.
The Legacy Continues
I started my AR shooting career with Anderson, and the last AR I purchased as of this writing was also an Anderson—specifically, an Anderson Dissipator. Honestly, I wanted one for a long time, and when I saw Anderson was shuttering its doors, I knew I had to snag one before they disappeared forever.
It appears that Anderson’s remaining stock is making one more hurrah into the gun industry as they close their doors. If you wanted something branded with the “poverty pony,” now’s the time to snatch it up! It’s a perfect wall hanger and throwback to the beginning of builder culture in the AR world.
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