The Beeman company was founded by Robert and Toshiko Beeman in 1972 in San Anselmo, CA. Originally named Beeman´s Precision Airguns, the company began by importing airgun models and pellets from Weihrauch, Feinwerkbau, Webley, Dianawerk, Handler and Natermann, Hasuike, and other overseas companies. After moving to San Rafael, CA circa 1975, the name of the company was changed to Beeman Precision Airguns, Inc. They began to design their own models of airguns and airgun pellets to be produced by Weihrauch, Webley, Norica, Handler and Natermann, and Hasuike. Among the many airgun items introduced by the Beemans were the first telescopic sights built especially for high power sporting air rifles and the first hollow point airgun pellets. By the late 1970s, the Beeman company was importing over 90% of the adult airguns brought into the USA.
Although several other companies, notably Winchester and Hy-Score, had previously attempted to introduce adult airguns to the American shooting market, Beeman is credited with the first successful, commercial development of the adult airgun market in the United States. Tom Gaylord, founder and former editor of
Airgun Letter,
Airgun Revue, and
Airgun Illustrated Magazine, recorded in his book
The Beeman R1 that "the Beeman R1 is the rifle that brought America fully into the world of adult airguns." (Versions of the Beeman R1, generally lower in power or less deluxe, are marketed in other parts of the world as the Weihrauch HW 80.) Other models were produced for Beeman by Norica, Erma, FAS, Record, Sharp, Air Arms, Titan, Gamekeeper, and others. Circa 1987, Beeman moved to Santa Rosa and added certain precision firearms to its line and changed its name to Beeman Precision Arms, Inc. On April 3, 1993, Robert and Toshiko sold most of the assets of their company to S/R Industries of Maryland. S/R moved the company to Huntington Beach, CA to be near one of its other holdings, Marksman Industries, and restored the name of Beeman Precision Airguns. The company has continued to feature the very high quality airguns which had become synonymous with the Beeman name and added an economy line for mass marketers.
Beeman had exclusive rights for many years to any airguns officially marketed in the U.S. under the names Beeman and Feinwerkbau, Beeman designed models manufactured by Weihrauch, and others. Some models, marketed by Beeman in the late 1970s and early 1980s, were manufactured in Germany by Mayer & Grammelspacher (Dianawerk). Early production of those airguns used Diana model numbers under the Beeman’s Original brand, but later shipments were marked with the Beeman name and model numbers. Very small stampings on the Dianawerk receivers indicate the month and year of manufacture.
Beeman imported Feinwerkbau and Weihrauch Airguns, which appear under their respective headings in this section. Beeman/Webley airguns are incorporated into this section, as are economy airguns that are only promoted through chain stores under the Beeman name.
Additional material on the history of the Beeman company, the Beemans, the history of airguns, the development of the airgun market in the USA, and a wide range of other airgun information is available at
www.Beemans.net.
At the end of 2009, the Beeman brand was split and sold. The Singapore Airgun Company bought all rights to the Marksman airguns and Beeman Precision Airguns, except the "Traditional Beeman Airguns". The precision models built for Beeman in Germany, were assigned to Richard Kazmaier and Mr. Kazmaier assigned the distribution of the Beeman "Traditional Models" to Pyramyd Airguns.
Current manufacturer and importer located in Santa Fe Springs, CA. Previously located in Huntington Beach, CA until 2010. Currently also distributed by Pyramyd Air, located in Solon, OH.