Founded in 1974 by Bob Reese and family, the company produces rifles such as the M1A and imports handguns such as the XD series and Hellcat.

Elmer C. Ballance began using the name "Springfield Armory" through his company (LH Manufacturing) dedicated to the first civilian production of the M14 rifle, calling it the M1A.

In 1974, Ballance sold the company to the Reese family, who had a well-established production shop in Illinois and experience base.

[2] Those two dates are included in a timeline on the company's website, which notes that in 1974 "a passionate family by the name of Reese rescued" the Springfield Armory name.

The M1911 line includes the Range Officer series, the EMP, Mil-Spec, Garrison, TRP, Ronin and Emissary versions.

In 2019, the company introduced the XD-M Elite line of pistols, which takes the XD-M and adds features such as the META (Match Enhanced Trigger Assembly), extended magazine wells and capacities up to 22 rounds in 9mm, ambidextrous slide locks, and enhanced slide grasping grooves.

[19] Through 2017, the company had received at least eight Golden Bullseye awards from American Rifleman magazine, the first having been for the XD sub-compact pistol in 2003.

An organization that Springfield Armory and Rock River Arms—both based in Illinois—provided funding to, the Illinois Firearms Manufacturers Association (IFMA), initially opposed the bill.

[28][better source needed] This action created "tremendous customer backlash" as the deal was made "at the expense of everyday gun owners".