OA Defense: Innovative American handguns, built in North Carolina

OA Defense is a firearms manufacturer based in Robbins, North Carolina, grounded in faith, family and freedom, and building an American handgun with innovation, disciplined execution and conviction in their new home in the Sandhills.

Excellence requires patience, attention to detail, and commitment to the fundamentals. Every product represents a disciplined approach to design and precision manufacturing. Our existence shapes how we work, how we treat others, and how we build our products.

Using the latest technology in precision manufacturing with a cohesive, high-performing team who are building something good and noble and doing it the right way.

OA Defense’s soul lives within its people, not in our patents or our 2311® platform.

For OA Defense, service is an identity and not a slogan. Our team is a collection of extraordinary individuals who have come together to build something greater than themselves for the needs of others.

Matt Christie has over 30 years of experience and works with 19-year-old Fayetteville Community College student Royce Joffrion, who has years of competitive shooting experience. They are responsible for the precision manufacturing of the small parts, custom work and component rev change execution.

Caleb Barnham is a young senior machinist from Robbins and works with Stephen Woody, who has 30 years of experience at WST Industries. Together they are responsible for precision manufacturing of the main components that make up the OA Defense handguns. Programming, operating, and maintaining millions of dollars of machines require a disciplined approach and consistency.

The company offers seven handguns built on OA Defense 2311 precision and sells to law enforcement to competition shooters and home defenders who trust their craftsmanship because it performs when needed most.

Heather Eckhardt, the National Vice President of Business Development, has been a professional shooter for the last 15 years competing in various disciplines on the U.S. and World stages. Heather just returned from the 2026 IPSC Shotgun World Shoot in Corinth, Greece, where she was a member of the gold medal-winning USA Women’s Team.

Eckhardt explained her role at OA Defense primarily focuses on the growth of retail partnerships, sales, and the business development process while also providing input on product development. Her perspective comes from being a professional shooter as well as a firearms trainer and concealed carry holder with consideration for user experience and customer demand.

Eckhardt said her earliest experiences as a young hunter and new shooter helped build a deeper understanding of the needs of competitors, enthusiasts and personal defenders.

Read about Eckhardt’s Oct. 2026 role in winning the gold at the 2026 IPSC Shotgun World Shoot in Corinth, Greece.

OA Defense: We put our customers first, invest in our people and the communities where we live—

“We Exist to Serve Something Greater.”

OA Defense.

Oct. 22, 2026

Provided.

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