BHI has announced that Tom Kivlehan is coming on board as their Master Gunsmith and Firearms Manufacturing Project Manage. I’ve known Tom since his H&K days. Congrats!
Blackheart International is pleased to announce that Thomas Kivlehan, Jr. (USMC retired) has joined the BHI team in the role of Master Gunsmith and Firearms Manufacturing Project Manager for the company’s firearms division. Kivlehan’s decades of experience in firearms manufacturing, research and development, machining skills, NATO and foreign weapons expertise, and his years working with some of the top firearms manufacturers in the industry will be called upon as BHI launches its expansion phase of light arms development and production.
Kivlehan has logged 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he has served as a Rifleman, Small Arms Repairman, Ordnance/Logistics Chief, Maintenance Chief, Small Arms Instructor, and worked in the Rifle Team Equipment Shop in Quantico. After leaving the Corps, Kivlehan worked as a USMC System Command liaison to various firearms manufacturers. In the private industry arena, Kivlehan has held various consultant, gunsmith, machinist, instructor and R&D positions with such names as H&K, Armalite, Kimber, FNH and U.S. Repeating Arms. Some career highlights include Kivlehan’s work on the USMC M40A3 Sniper Rifle, M14 Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR), M82A1 Barrett .50 caliberSASR, MEUSOC .45 caliber pistol, competition and tactical M16A2/M4 rifles/carbines. On the commercial side, Kivlehan was a Law Enforcement Armorer Instructor for Armalite, assisted in R&D, testing and production of the K22 and 84M rifles for Kimber, served as Program Manager of the HK416 rifle and 40mm Grenade Machine Gun for H&K Defense, fabricated the first FNH USA Special Police Rifle (SPR) and assisted in the development of the first FNH Tactical Shotgun. In addition, Kivlehan has built numerous custom sniper rifles (bolt action and M1A/M14), 1911-style pistols, revolvers and shotguns.
“With Tom joining the BHI team,” says Blackheart International COO Travis Ernst, “we will be able to continue to provide expert level gunsmithing, as well as develop new and innovative enhancements to our current firearms lineup. Tom brings a wealth of knowledge and experience that will enable us to continue to provide the quality and expertise that our customers expect from BHI. Tom’s background will also be instrumental in Blackheart International Training’s upcoming military and law-enforcement armorer courses for foreign weapons, ARs and pistols, so our clients should stay tuned for upcoming course offerings.” In addition to heading up BHI’s manufacturing of premium AR-15 rifles, AR57 rifles and specialized AK rifles, Kivlehan will manage the company’s gunsmithing service operation, which includes rebarreling, pillar bedding, custom machining and action blueprinting for bolt-action rifles, and trigger work, sight installation, guide rod upgrades, custom modifications and general service for pistols and revolvers. Finally, Kivlehan will apply his precision long-range rifle manufacturing experience to providing BHI customers with the most accurate customized bolt-action rifles available anywhere.
[NOTE: Tom will be at the SHOT show in Las Vegas next week. Stop by the BHI booth (#20214) and talk to him about your custom firearms or armorer instruction needs.]
