Cal Armory Mission Statement

Cal Armory will be the Nation's Leader in custom firearm finishes and custom built firearms by providing a balance of modern technology and one-on-one, second to none, customer service and growing the business on honesty, integrity and hard work for the State of California and the Nation.

Cal Armory Vision Statement

To be the premier business in the United States, for the benefit of our customers, by systematically injecting strong leadership combined with morally and ethical decision making in growing the business. We will grow the business by using the principles of integrity, honesty, customer service to expand from our local customers to servicing local, state and federal government agencies.

About Us

  • John Buethe received his FFL under his name in 1989 while living and working in the State of Nebraska. The business nothing more than a hobby in the beginning and participating in the local trap shooting club and providing low cost transfers of firearms to the club members, fellow employees where he worked and to members of his Army National Guard units. John began basic gunsmithing by rebuilding a Remington 12C .22LR pump gallery gun. The firearm was a mess, missing numbers parts, and virtually no finish on the firearm and cracked stock. John began hot and cold bluing of some customer's firearms.
  • John's employer moved him from Nebraska back to California in 1991. Shortly after the move, John went on Active Duty with the California National Guard's Counterdrug Program. The business continued part time under his name. John continued with gunsmith projects and building his shop and skills. While in Nebraska, John started stock duplicating using a Roto Carve that is mounted on a table saw. He continued to duplicate stocks using the Roto Carve tool on the weekends and glass bedding customers hunting rifles.
  • John and Tiffany were married in May of 2005 and John retired from the National Guard after serving twenty-one years. John began building AR-15 style firearms and was certified as a Colt Armorer in the 1911 and the M16/M4. John also became certified as a DuraCoat Finisher and began DuraCoating firearms.
  • In April 2010 Cal Armory, LLC was formed as a FFL 07 (firearms manufacturer). The business continued to grow based on the local customer. The business's main focus at that time was DuraCoating and custom building AR and AK style firearms. John became certified as a Master DuraCoat Finisher. All employees's that work for Cal Armory are certified finishers.
  • Cal Armory is actively pursuing getting an assault weapons permit in California so that the business can continue to focus on Law Enforcement and Military firearms. The license will also allow Cal Armory to provide firearm finishes the people located outside of California and not bound by the strict firearm restrictions here in California.
We thank all of our customers and future customers. We want your business and then to keep your business for the rest of our lifetime.