Hampton, VA – October 14, 2014 – Highgate System’s recent purchase and relocation of International Replica Arms Company, LLC (IRAC) to Hampton, has brought Virginia one step closer to becoming a Hollywood player.
Originally located in Ohio, IRAC custom builds authentic ATF-certified replica machine guns. While these guns look, sound and fire like real weapons, they use no ammunition. Through a combination of gas and battery power, IRAC’s custom-built guns produce the realism one would expect to see on current and future battlefields.
Their guns have such a high level of authenticity and realistic performance that their products have gained the attention of the film industry, appearing in movies such as Saving Private Ryan, We Were Soldiers and the upcoming Terminator 5.
“While many films use rubber guns, a weapon with a ‘leading role’ (like the Tommy Gun Tom Hanks used to storm the beaches of Normandy) must achieve a high level of contextual and functional accuracy,” says Company Weapons Specialist, Gethyn Jones. “That’s when film production companies turn to us to make that happen.”
While America’s replica gun manufacturing industry is nothing new to the gun world, industry players vary greatly in terms of quality and realism. IRAC is one of only a few providers in the nation who custom-build and hand-make each gun with similar materials and craftsmanship as actual guns. This level of detail can make all the difference between a project’s success or failure, be it a blockbuster film or new military training program.
Highgate Systems®, founded in 2013, has rapidly become a leader in global threat assessment and counterterrorism. They also provide geographically-accurate training and equipment ranging from simulation MK19s to 3D printed experimental weapon prototypes. “This is an exciting time for our company and what we are accomplishing for our customers,” said Jim Crawford, Highgate President.
About IRAC – ThreatWerks™
International Replica Arms Company (IRAC) is a recognized leader in the design and production of the finest replica, display and simulated-fire machine guns in the world. Its guns are fully legal, ATF-Certified replicas of the most famous and recognizable weapons on the planet. In January, 2018, IRAC became part of the ThreatWerks™ division within Threat Tec, LLC. Threat Tec is a leader in threat emulation, experimentation, and training. Its wide range of capabilities and solutions have provided military and commercial organizations with the preparation they need to engage emerging worldwide threats.