STI International
Staccato, previously known as STI Firearms or simply STI (Strayer-Tripp International), is an American firearm company based in Georgetown, Texas that manufactures modular M1911-style semi-automatic pistols, such as its proprietary 2011® handguns, and various gun parts for competition, duty and self-defense. All firearms are designed, engineered, and handcrafted in Texas with 100% American materials and parts.
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Firearms |
| Predecessor | Tripp Research, Inc |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Founder | Virgil Tripp |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Virgil Tripp, Sandy Strayer, David Skinner, Tim Dillon, Dave Dawson, Greg Mooney, Westwind Investors |
| Products | Pistols |
| Owner | Westwind Investors |
| Website | https://staccato2011.com |
On May 26, 2020, STI Firearms announced that the company will begin operating as Staccato, effective immediately.[1]
Modular Frame
Staccato (formerly STI) is best known for its modular frame guns, and shares the patent on the modular frame with Strayer Voigt Inc.
History
In 1990, Virgil Tripp, a gunsmith and machinist, started building custom M1911s for competition use, especially the United States Practical Shooting Association/International Practical Shooting Confederation. After some time, Virgil began designing parts for 1911s, including electrical discharge machining (EDM) hammers and sears. Virgil's company was called Tripp Research, Inc. and most of his parts were sold and marketed by Chip McCormick, a champion pistol shooter, under his company's name, Chip McCormick Corporation (known as CMC).
Around 1993, an engineer and computer aided design (CAD) expert named Sandy Strayer joined Tripp Research, Inc. Tripp and Strayer revolutionized the 1911 market by designing a modular high-capacity 1911 frame for International Practical Shooting Confederation shooters. Whilst Para Ordnance already had a high-capacity 1911 frame on the market, it was made of steel. The modular frame made use of a fibre-reinforced plastic which combined the trigger guard, grip, and integral magazine well. It used a proprietary grip which attached to the upper portion of the frame (a metal part that comprised the dust cover and frame rails). The result was that the modular frame weighed less than half of what the steel frame weighed. Furthermore, while the Para frame feels notably larger than a standard 1911 in the hand, the STI feels similar to a regular 1911 since the grips are moulded into the plastic of the frame rather than screwed to the outside. Tripp and Strayer were listed as the co-patent holders on the modular frame. Soon after the modular frame was introduced, the company name changed to STI (Strayer-Tripp, Inc.) and Strayer was given an equity stake in the new company.
In June 1994, Sandy Strayer left STI to start a new company called Strayer Voigt Inc, which focuses on building completely custom pistols as opposed to the "semi-custom" models of STI.
In November 1994, Dave and Shirley Skinner, owners of an electronics company named Tessco, Inc., became involved in the operation of STI along with Virgil Tripp. In early 1997, the Skinners completed their purchase of STI from Virgil Tripp and renamed the company to STI International, Inc. Virgil went on to start a new company using the name Tripp Research, Inc., which produces various finishes for firearms and magazines for 1911s. During the Clinton era high-capacity ban, STI remained in business by focusing on exports and the growing concealed-carry market. As of 2007, STI was the third-largest exporter of pistols in America.
From 1994 to the late 1990s, STI had a custom shop which would build guns to customer's specifications.
In January 2005, Dave Skinner sold the company to the employees of STI, making it the first employee-owned company in the firearms industry.
In 2010, Tim Dillon was hired and made President and CEO, and later joined the Board of Directors. Dillon left the company in early 2014.
In 2014, Greg Mooney joined STI as the President/CEO and a Member of the Board of Directors.
In 2017, a private equity group, Westwind Investors, purchased STI.
In 2020, STI announced its name change to Staccato. The company's website is https://staccato2011.com .[2]
Firearms
Today, Staccato manufactures a full range of 2011® pistols[3] for shooters of all skill levels (home defenders, competition shooters, concealed carry, range shooting, and duty). The 2020 lineup of 2011® pistols consists of:
Staccato C - Dawson® Universal Optic System. Designed for concealed carry, the Staccato C is a 9MM with a 3.9" barrel.
Staccato C2. Designed for concealed carry, the Staccato C2 is a high capacity 9MM with a 3.9" barrel. The C2 can also be equipped with the Dawson® Universal Optic System to accommodate a range of optics.
Staccato P. Designed for law enforcement, home defenders, and range shooters, the Staccato P is a high capacity 9MM with a 4.4" barrel. The Staccato P recently went through a stress test where it handled 11,000 rounds of steel cased ammunition with no failures.[4] Like the C2, the P can be equipped with the Dawson® Universal Optic System for a range of optics. The Staccato P is used by law enforcement teams like the U.S. Marshals SOG team, the Texas Rangers, and LAPD Metro. Staccato pistols are approved for use on duty by over 150 agencies across the country.[5]
Staccato XL. Designed for range shooting and competition, the Staccato XL is popular with home defenders. It comes in 9MM or 40S&W caliber and features a 5.4' bull barrel.
Staccato XC. 9MM, 5" integrated compensated barrel, with the Dawson® Universal Optic System. Embraced by range shooters, home defenders, and competition shooters for its flat shooting and speed.
Staccato also manufactures a full line of parts for 2011® and 1911 pistols, such as modular frame kits (which are used by gunsmiths to build complete guns), slides, barrels, compensators, triggers, hammers, thumb and grip safeties, slide stops, firing pins, guide rods, magazine wells, magazines, and scope mounts.
References
- "STI Firearms, LLC Announces Company Name Change to Staccato". STI Press Release. 2020-05-26. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
- https://staccato2011.com/about-us/news/press-release-sti-firearms-llc-announces-company-name-change-to-staccato/
- "2020 Product Lineup". Staccato. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
- "American Made Staccato P Delivers During Stress Test". Staccato. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
- "Press Release: Blackhawk™ and Staccato Announce the 2011® T-Series™ Duty Holster". Staccato. Retrieved 2020-07-30.