GRAND POWER HISTORY
If you visit GRAND POWER in Banská Bystrica – Slovenská Ľupča today, you will find that it is a well-equipped and prosperous company employing over 100 people. However, none of this would be true if its founder and owner, Mr. Jaroslav Kuracina, was not smart and stubborn.
He got his passion for weapons from his grandfather who was a partisan during the WWII. His grandpa was also a hunter; he had a lot of weapons and he used to take his grandchild to a shooting range.
Weapons became Jaro´s hobby. He drew his first weapon as a teenager. He continued with his drawing while studying at the Military School. His colleagues used to call him “Piccaso”. He told his superior the people would use his guns one day. Instead of encouragement, he only heard sarcastic comments like: “Hell will freeze over first before they do so”. However, the young soldier was not put off by this. His first serious sketches date back to 1994. Just three years later the first functional prototype, marked Q200 with serial number E001, was made in Kinex Grand – a subsidiary of Kinex Bytča.
Unfortunately, Považské strojárne went bankrupt, and Kinex Grand did not do better. Therefore, he visited his western neighbours to present them with his ideas. Zbrojovka Uherský Brod demonstrated a traditional approach – what is not ours, is not good. Even though, he had an important patent in his hands, he lacked money.
Therefore, he addressed the banks. He wanted to borrow 10 mil USD.. And failed. Mostly, he was laughed at or was put off “having the patent and the idea, is not enough. We are not interested.” In the end, private investors (friends) helped, and the company grew. It was 2012, the K1 changed to the K100 (which got its name from it’s inventor and constructer) “K” as the first letter in the surname and “100” as the actual weight of Jaroslav Kuracina. However, in house production capacities were insufficient; therefore the weapon was made by Kops Detva according to the drawings of Jaroslav Kuracina.
In the beginning, he was the only person in the company. Gradually, the company developed, new people came, new ideas, and a new production hall was obtained. The K100 Pistol acquired it’s reputation among the shooting community. Also, reviews in professional journals did positive advertising for the K100. The company started approaching foreign distributors. Initially, they were very reserved, but when they tried the K100 and realized the quality, the cooperation started. Negotiations with the company STI International started in 2007. Following the visit of the owner of the company and auditing of our products, the BATF approval was implemented for the US markets, and in 2008, the first weapons were transported to the USA. Those initial guns were the model K 100 Mk6, under the commercial name GP6. The offer was extended to other models, such as STI GP 6C, GP5 and the .22 LR caliber called the STI GP2.
When Jaroslav Kuracina filed for his patent, they thought he was crazy. However, 12 years passed and Jaroslav Kuracina is the only one laughing now.
Today, when producing weapons, GRAND POWER is 100% self-supporting, in terms of mechanical machining, thanks to it’ own production plant. We use the latest 4 and 5 axis machining centers with an accuracy of +/-0.005mm and high productivity. Heat treatments and surface treatments, as well as molded plastic and metal parts such as, springs and pins are provided by our subcontractors.
Currently, the company has eighty. More than two thousand gun pieces leave the production per month. Their favorite models are the T12 model /Russia/, K100 and also the X-Calibur.
Today, Grand Power produces several more models of pistol such as the X-Calibur, K100, K100 Target, K100 X-Trim, K100 Dynamic, P1, P1 Ultra,P1 DAO, P11, P380, CP380, LP380, P40, P45, P40L, P1S, K22, K22 X-Trim, P9M, T910, T10, T12, T11, G9, K105, K102, K100 Whisper a P380 Whisper.
The uniqueness of our weapons lies in the unique patent-protected design of slide locking system by rotating the barrel. This locking method increases the comfort of shooting, in two ways – it significantly eliminates the lift of the gun after shooting and the gun will not “kick”. The force transferred to the hand of the shooter after the shot is significantly lower than with guns of comparable caliber. GRAND POWERS also strives to includes good prices and express service for all models.
Recently, the company exports almost 95% of it’s production. The remaining 5% are sold in Slovakia.
Global Ordnance Partnership
After years of working with Grand Power on large contracts including the US Army Subcompact Weapons Program which was met with huge success, it was decided Global Ordnance would become the new US Distributor for the Grand Power brand in the United States. Beginning March of 2019, Grand Power is exclusively distributed in the USA by Global Ordnance, LLC
Global Ordnance LLC (GO), is a Veteran Owned Small Business that responds to the critical needs of the US Government and its allies worldwide. With over 100 years of combined experience GO is a trusted partner of US Special Operations Command and the US Army, providing them with the products and services they depend upon.
In 2015 Global Ordnance was awarded a 5-year Basic Ordering Agreement by US SOCOM for Ammunition, Weapons, Accessories, & Training. In 2017 GO received a 5-year IDIQ contract from US Army Material Command for Ammunition, Mortar Weapon Systems, & Accessories. In 2018 GO was down-selected to provide the US Army with the STRIBOG AP9 A3S Subcompact Weapon System.
Global Ordnance is registered with the U.S. Department of State as a Broker/Exporter and licensed by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives to import firearms and munitions. GO provides International & Domestic logistics, to include Air, Ground & Sea in addition to extensive experience with import/export customs clearance procedures. With a vetted network of worldwide partners, agents and subcontractors GO has a thorough understanding of the cultural and political environments that effect regulations of ports of origin and destinations worldwide and has established proven material control procedures for sending, receiving, consolidating, loading and distributing cargo globally in both times of peace and conflict.
Headquartered in Sarasota Florida Global Ordnance operates in over 40 countries around the world and also distributes other brands to the shooting sports industry.