Bushmaster's story begins with Captain Mack Gwinn Jr., a retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer who founded Gwinn Firearms Company in 1972 with an ambitious vision. His first product, the Bushmaster Arm Pistol, was a unique 5.56 NATO firearm designed for Air Force pilots whose planes had been downed, combining features from both the AR-15 and AK-47 platforms. The early years were challenging—the company struggled financially and nearly failed when a potential Mexican government contract fell through due to lack of production capacity. In 1976, Richard Dyke purchased the struggling company and rebranded it as Bushmaster Firearms, relocating operations to Windham, Maine. Under Dyke's leadership, Bushmaster experienced remarkable growth. During the 1980s, when Connecticut-based Colt was the only major civilian AR-15 seller, Bushmaster began building a reputation for quality and innovation. The company's breakthrough came in the 1990s when post-Cold War anxieties and later the War on Terror drove civilian interest in AR-15s. By 1999, Bushmaster had achieved market dominance, selling 64,506 rifles—more than its ten largest competitors combined. The company secured major contracts with U.S. government agencies and private military contractors like Blackwater. In 2006, Cerberus Capital Management purchased Bushmaster for $76 million, recognizing its market leadership. The brand subsequently became part of the Freedom Group corporate umbrella alongside Remington and other major manufacturers. After financial difficulties led to Remington Outdoor Company's bankruptcy in 2020, Crotalus Holdings purchased the Bushmaster trademarks in September 2020. In August 2021, Bushmaster Firearms Industries revived the brand with headquarters in Carson City, Nevada, resuming production of popular models including the XM15-E2S, ACR, and BA50. Today, Bushmaster continues its legacy as a trusted manufacturer of AR-15 rifles and modern sporting rifles for civilian, law enforcement, and military contractor markets.