Gunsmithing/Parts Manufacturing

Virgil Tripp started building custom 1911 pistols in about 1980. Skillful shooters used these pistols to win and place highly in local, national and world competitions. In 1987 Virgil designed and manufactured the industry’s first 1911 EDM hammers and sears. Now, gunsmiths could build great predictable trigger jobs without the grief of starting with substandard parts.

The carbon/fiber titanium trigger that is still sold today was Virgil’s next design. More parts were considered and things began to escalate. There became more design and manufacturing and less gun building. The company name was Tripp Research. In those years, Chip McCormick marketed a lot of these parts under his name, while today he offers his own line of parts. The modular frame was on the horizon.

Modular Frame

Around 1991, shooters began to move to red dot optics in IPSC. There was also a desire for more round capacity. Para Ordnance brought out their cast steel frame 13 round .45. Our company name was still Tripp Research and work began on what is now the STI 2011 modular frame. Sandy Strayer, fresh to the firearm community, joined the company. Virgil was the gun guy, while Sandy was the CAD person. The modular frame was created. Virgil and Shari changed the company name to STI and provided Sandy with an equity position to recognize his contributions.

STI International

The frame project evolved into complete STI pistols and a gun company was born. Cameron Hopkins of American Handgunner brought early exposure of this pistol to the shooting public. Thank you, Cameron. In June of 1994 the company fragmented internally. Sandy left STI and formed SVI, which he operates today. In September of 1994 the Brady law imposed artificial capacity restrictions. Dave and Shirley Skinner stepped up in November of 1994 and began their involvement with the Tripps and STI. The Skinners completed their purchase of the company
early in 1997 and began their series of improvements. Ed Minshew and other key people stayed on to combine with other strong contributors. Dave and Pauletta Skinner now lead STI to the dominant position in its market.

CobraChrome

After STI, Shari and Virgil moved back to the high desert “Old West” area of Texas, which they love. Virgil chose to hard chrome plate and polymer coat pistols because getting a good finish was always a problem for shooters and gun builders. It’s a non-forgiving business that rewards good processes and good people. Everyone involved in this business is proud of our track record. The company name was again Tripp Research. Over the years, Virgil handled thousands of pistols from mild to wild. Our hard chrome plating reputation is second to none.

CobraMag

Firearm reliablility is intimately associated with magazine performance. It is the object of Virgil and Tripp Research to bring to the shooting industry the best 1911 and AR - 15 magazines. This is our mission.