From Foundation to Innovation
In 1964,
following his father's request for a custom holster, Neale Perkins launched a holster business
from his garage in Sierra Madre, California. He named his new company Safariland, after the
African safari excursions he and his father enjoyed together. Within just a few short months,
Neale's custom holster was a hit and Neale went from making a few hundred holsters a month
and selling them from his home - to more than 5,000.
In 1969,
just five years after Neale began Safariland, another industry leader was born, American Body Armor®.
Established as the high-performance standard in hybrid-engineered, concealable body armor for both
men and women, ABA quickly became the premier brand throughout the law enforcement community.
ABA produced the thinnest, most trusted concealable body armor combined with the most impenetrable
armor power. Located in the small town Yulee, Florida, the legacy of lightweight, uncompromised
ballistic performance was born. Today, the ABA brand drives the standard in advanced,
modern-engineered body armor design for law enforcement, military and security professionals.
In 1996,
American Body Armor® was purchased by Armor Holdings, Inc. Through the leadership of Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer, Warren B. Kanders, Armor Holdings delivered on their strategic plan
for growth, acquiring many of the most recognized and respected equipment brands in the law
enforcement industry - including Neale Perkins' Safariland. Each successive company acquired by
Armor Holdings brought with it an innovative spirit and a passion for its customers and products.
In 2007,
BAE Systems, PLC acquired Armor Holdings, Inc. (AHI) and BAE Systems Products Group was
formed to represent the collection of AHI companies that sold products to the law enforcement
and sporting markets. The acquisition created a significant opportunity to grow the business
organically in our markets. In addition, it enabled Armor Holdings' customers to benefit
from the talent, resources and technology a leading defense contractor provides.
In 2008,
the BAE Systems Products Group embarked on a mission to align itself under one name to better serve
its markets, a name that would signify both to its employees and customers what it means to be a
leader. The name "Safariland", with its reputation for quality and innovation, was found to be
the most recognized and respected brand name in the market. As a result, Safariland was chosen as
the umbrella company name to represent our 19 world-class brands.
In June 2012,
BAE Systems completed the sale of Safariland to an affiliate of Kanders & Company, whose CEO is the same Warren B.
Kanders that founded Armor Holdings, Inc. The focus of The Safariland Group will be on maintaining our legacy of
superior products with a focus on growth in the US and internationally, both organically and through
strategic acquisitions. President Scott O'Brien, who has been with Safariland for more than 35 years,
will continue to provide strategic growth leadership, capitalizing on an earned reputation for
both vision and tenacity.
The Safariland Group will continue to produce the finest, most inventive products for our law enforcement,
competitive shooting, outdoor sportsman and military customers. The Safariland Group stands today on a foundation
built from the passion, spirit and values that began with Neale Perkins, making a holster for his
father in a small California garage.
Our Mission, Vision and Values
Our Mission: Together, We Save Lives.™
Our Vision:
To be the premier protective equipment and solutions provider to the public safety market.
Our Values:
- Focus on the customer first
- Our people are the difference
- Safety is how we live
- Achieve the right results the right way
- Make fact-based decisions