About Us

Empire State Firearms didn’t start in a fancy storefront — it started with three coworkers talking guns over lunch breaks at our day job as mechanics. What began as casual shop talk quickly turned into regular visits to a tiny local dealer, District 2 Sales, which operated out of an 8x20 office container. It was a one-man operation, low-key and personal — the kind of place you had to know someone to even find.

Some of our customers will remember the man who started it all, Mike

Then one day, we got the call: he was shutting down. For personal reasons, the shop was closing. But instead of just losing our favorite local spot, we made a wild decision — we bought the container. No business plan, no funding, just a handshake, a used office box, and a shared passion for the Second Amendment.

That humble container became the beginning of Empire State Firearms.

Where it all started — yes, this is the original shop!

Fast forward to today, and we’re proud to be a full-service FFL, NYS licensed dealer, and gunsmith, offering a wide range of new firearms, ammo, and parts. We serve civilians and law enforcement, but our heart is in helping regular folks get into shooting sports, home defense, and understanding NY’s ever-changing gun laws.

We know New York can be a confusing place to be a gun owner — but we’ve made it our mission to educate, guide, and support every customer who walks through our door. Whether you're filing your first pistol permit or asking, “Can I even own this in NY?”, we’ve got the answers (and probably a sarcastic comment too).

We’re known for being friendlier and more helpful than the other guys, and we’re definitely not out to drain your wallet. Great prices, no attitude. That’s the Empire State Firearms way.

Come by, say hi, and check out what we started — and where we're going next.