In a world where the firearms business is powered by precision engineering, versatility, and local applicability, Slovakia-based GRAND POWER Ltd. has Africa firmly in its sights. With over two decades of experience in design, production, and sales, the company is mapping a course into South Africa and beyond – driven by an unshakeable focus on quality and a sharp appreciation of regional requirements.
“South Africa is a key country in the area and is widely used as a stepping stone to other countries in Africa, especially in the southern part of the continent,” said Dr. Lukáš Kuna, Marketing Officer of GRAND POWER.
“We view it as a gateway to expanding our presence in the continent.”
Founded over 20 years ago, GRAND POWER has become a byword among the fraternities of gun fanciers across Europe and North America, renowned for durable designs and budget-friendly tags.
“We employ over 120 highly skilled employees in two state-of-the-art plants, and our underlying objective is to deliver robust and dependable products that meet the expectations of even the most demanding shooters,” Dr. Kuna elaborates.
A reputation forged in performance
GRAND POWER firearms have been awarded worldwide, for example, with medals at world competitions.
“Recently, we are very proud of our sponsored shooters, who gained a series of medals at the recent World Shoot 2025 in Znojmo, including gold medals in several categories like PCC,” Dr. Kuna explained, highlighting how competitive success reflects the company’s engineering philosophy.
What truly sets GRAND POWER apart in an increasingly competitive market is its pioneering customer-driven philosophy.
“We listen to our customers and go the extra mile to make their wishes come true,” Dr. Kuna said.
“Our firearms offer great value at reasonable prices, which is top priority for our customers in South Africa and southern Africa.”
Designing for African needs
Well aware of the particular issues of African security agencies and law enforcement, GRAND POWER’s flagship gun, the K100, has military service in its DNA.
“The K100 was developed by our CEO and sole owner, Mr. Jaroslav Kuracina, during his time in the military,” Dr. Kuna explained.
“It’s durable, reliable, and compatible with military and LEO gear, but easy to service in the field – qualities African security agencies like.”
Environmental adaptability is also a key consideration.
“Our entire range of products for this market are rigorously tested and NATO AC225 compliant and certified,” Dr. Kuna stated.
“We do the majority of our surface treatments in-house, including Tenifer treatment for steel parts and hard anodizing for aluminium parts, to make our firearms operable in South Africa’s varied environmental conditions.”
Although GRAND POWER has not yet secured contracts from security forces in South Africa, it is optimistic regarding the potential use of its products.
“Government contracts can be complicated where quality and price are not always the only deciding factors,” Dr. Kuna acknowledged.
“But we have positive feedback from other police and military forces, including US SOCOM, Cape Verde police, Greek Armed Forces, Slovak military, and Police Special Forces.”
Civilian and sport shooting enthusiasm
The popularity of GRAND POWER extends from military and law enforcement to civilian and sport shooting markets, which are vibrant in South Africa.
“We have only received positive feedback from civilian shooters and sport shooting enthusiasts,” said Dr. Kuna.
“Our guns offer extreme precision, are easily adaptable to individual preferences, and have good aftermarket support.”
The STRIBOG range, in particular, has been a hit with South African shooters, offering reliability and versatility.
“The STRIBOG product range is very successful in your region, and the X-calibur – our top-of-the-range model – is also finding favor with sport shooters,” Dr. Kuna said.
“At the recent HUNTEX show, we introduced new products like the ARAQ rifle, and we’re eagerly anticipating how well it’s received by the African market.”
Innovation based on AfricaniInput
The firm’s latest offering, the ARAQ rifle, is a reflection of GRAND POWER’s responsiveness to African demand.
“Our newest product – the ARAQ – was actually market-driven by this region,’ Dr. Kuna explained.
“A customer asked for a rifle in 7.62×39 caliber, using AK pattern magazines, which are widespread in Africa. We took it a step further, merging AR10 design elements with AK magazine compatibility to create a truly innovative product for the African market.”
This innovative approach is extended to all product categories.
“We believe in universality – tastes of African sport shooters are the same as elsewhere in the world when it comes to accuracy, reliability, lifespan, and user-friendliness,” Dr. Kuna asserted.
Looking ahead: Partnerships and presence
As GRAND POWER expands its African footprint, the firm is examining how it can expand local presence and after-sales support.
“We work hand in hand with our partners and representatives in the territory to maximize our customer service and render the experience seamless, irrespective of our customers’ distance,” Dr. Kuna highlighted.
Although there are no immediate plans for local assembly or manufacturing partnerships, GRAND POWER feels there is space for such partnerships in the future.
“There were such plans in the past, but at present, there is no specific plan in the pipeline,” Dr. Kuna confirmed.
For now, it is a matter of strengthening partnerships and expanding distribution.
“We always stand behind our products, and we do our best to provide the same level of customer support in every country,” Dr. Kuna assured.
As the African gun market further emerges, GRAND POWER stands poised to bring its Slovak engineering expertise to the continent – providing not just guns, but reliability and accuracy engineered for Africa’s unique requirements.
