Ares Armor is rebranding and will now be operating under the new name of American Weapons Components. According to Bryce Stirlen, the president and CEO of American Weapons Components, the company wanted to highlight its commitment to US manufacturing while still ensuring the name properly represented its core business.

Based in San Diego, the company will continue to offer 80% lowers, barrels, nylon tactical gear and other products that are currently made and sold by the company. The company’s name change is effective immediately, though the branding will roll out over time with full implementation completed sometime in early 2016.

Many people may be familiar with Ares Armor due to a series of unfortunate incidents that received a bit of public attention in the shooting media. In March of 2014, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) executed a search warrant at Ares Armor setting off a great deal of speculation about the future of 80% lowers and the sharing of customer lists. Earlier this year, Ares Armor and the founder of the company, Dimitri Karras, parted ways. It seemed that there were some personality conflicts between Karras and some of the company management. Both “sides” in the dispute published letters about the other party. Feel free to read them here and here…or not.