The smell of rich leather and gun oil greeted every customer stepping into Weatherby’s Sporting Goods in California, where the legend began. It wasn’t a big store, just 25′ x 70′, but it promised the beginning of something huge.

With a mind as fast as the cartridges he designed, Roy Weatherby relied on his trusty dictating machine to document his rapid-pace innovations. He was a stickler for detail with all of his notes, memos, ballistic data and photographs.

Weatherby’s outgrew its space, and in 1951 relocated to Firestone Boulevard just around the corner from the old store. It housed the store, gun shops, offices and even a 100-yard underground rifle range. Sportsmen and women came from far and near to visit Weatherby’s.

Wanting a rifle that was a true extension of the shooter, Roy identified shortcomings in other bolt-action stocks. So he designed his own for exceptional fit, balance and identifiable style. With Weatherby’s hot cartridges, there came a need for a bolt-action capable of handling the magnum power. Behold, the Mark V® action. With up to nine locking lugs and “overbuilt” craftsmanship, the Mark V design remains the strongest bolt-action rifle today.

When Weatherby enthusiasts asked for a fast-pointing, smooth-swinging shotgun, Roy delivered with the first Weatherby over/under. Pumps and semi-automatics would soon follow, and today Weatherby shotguns are still revered for their dependability, fit and balance.

For hunters loyal to non-Weatherby calibers, Roy didn’t want to leave them out of the family. So he introduced the Vanguard rifles chambered for some of the world’s most popular big game and varmint cartridges.

In 1983, Roy passed the Weatherby torch to his son Ed. In the decades to follow under Ed’s leadership, Weatherby grew in both Mark V and Vanguard offerings, including the newest Vanguard rifles with guaranteed SUB-MOA accuracy. In addition to rifles, Weatherby’s ammunition, semi-auto and pump shotguns, accessories and apparel continue to delight sporting enthusiasts worldwide.

When Ed Weatherby moved the company from Firestone Boulevard in Southern California to the Central Coast, it was more than a change of scenery—it was the start of a new era. The relocation to Atascadero, and later Paso Robles, carried forward his father Roy’s legacy while giving Weatherby the room and energy to grow under Ed’s leadership.

Inside the El Camino Real showroom, visitors found proof of that transition: glass cases filled with engraved prototypes, racks of shotguns, and walls adorned with celebrity photographs and mounted trophies. More than a tribute to the past, the space reflected Ed’s vision—rooted in heritage but looking ahead—anchoring Weatherby in a community that would shape its future.

Ed Weatherby moves the production of the Mark V back to the United States.

In 2017, Adam Weatherby became President and CEO, bringing grit, vision, and innovation to lead the company into its next chapter. Building on his family’s legacy, he continues to push boundaries in the firearms industry while steering Weatherby toward new heights.

Weatherby has a distinguished history to honor, and Weatherby aimed to start the next chapter in Sheridan surrounded by people and groups who protect our sporting heritage.

The first NEW Weatherby bolt action centerfire rifle in over 50 years. Designed and tested in Sheridan, WY, the Model 307 was inspired by the people of the “307” area code. Model 307’s 2-Lug, fully cylindrical design was purpose built to accommodate the vast offerings of stocks, triggers, rails, mounts, and magazines that exist in the marketplace. Hunters and shooters can expect the same precision craftsmanship that Weatherby has delivered since 1945.