Safety | Authenticity | Training
Safety | Authenticity | Training
On Set Arms are the premier film armorers, on-set weapon safety coordinators and weapon performance coaches in the Pacific Northwest. We are based in Coeur d’Alene ID and we are available to provide on-set armoring, prop weapons and performer training anywhere in the United States.
We DO NOT sell firearms or weapons of any kind. Our props and services are for use in film and television only, under the direct supervision of our armorers.
Co-owners Chad Hawthorne and Bill Bolitho have been armoring for film and overseeing safe and authentic weapon performances by actors and stunt professionals for the past 10 years. Both Chad and Bill are NRA certified firearms instructors and bring decades of real-world training experience to film sets across the United States.
Our approach to helping filmmakers tell stories using authentic weapon performance is built upon the strict adherence to real-world firearm safety practices combined with the methodical application of industry-proven safety protocols for on-set weapon handling as laid out in “Safety Bulletin #1” by the Industry Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee.
Our armorers ensure the safe condition and operation of all firearms props and make sure that your actor’s performance is accurate and character-driven
On set weapon wranglers control the movement of all prop weapons and provide performers the valuable coaching necessary to give an accurate and safe performance
We provide on location and classroom training for actors, stunt professionals and crew to give a foundation of safety and authenticity when using prop weapons on set
We can work with your stunt team and actors to design and choregraph your armed or un-armed fight sequences to bring your story to life
From rubber stunt props to functioning blank-fire guns to stage combat ready swords, we maintain a select inventory of high-demand firearms and bladed props. We can also help source more specific props should your production have unique requirements
To ensure safety, On Set Arms controls the movement and use of every prop weapon, regardless of whether it is a rubber stunt gun, blank-firing “non-gun”, sword, knife or other bladed weapon.
We adhere to strict, industry-proven and standard safety protocols to ensure no one on your set is ever in danger.
Chad has an extensive background in providing firearms training, on-set weapon wrangling and stage combat training to performers on and off film sets across the United States. Chad is an NRA certified firearm instructor with over a decade of experience training real-world shooters and loves coaching actors and stunt professionals to perform with weapons safely on film. Chad’s passion for safety and storytelling feeds his love of helping filmmakers tell exciting and engaging stories.
Bill is an NRA certified firearm instructor, former law enforcement officer and has an extensive background in executive and close protection as well as decades of firearm training experience spanning civilian, federal, state and local law enforcement. For nearly a decade, Bill has brought his wealth of expertise, professional experience and his commitment to helping performers deliver the safest and most authentic performances possible to film productions across the Pacific Northwest.
Here are a few images from recent projects. Keep checking back as we constantly add new images from projects as we are released to share them. For more pictures check out our Instagram feed at www.instragram.com/onsetarms.
Scroll Left or Right to view the photos
We were invited on air by CNN to explain the practices we follow when working on a set to help give context to the “Rust” tragedy.
Note: We were not involved in the production of Rust, nor were we on set. We will not speculate as to what happened, we can only share the standard practices and procedures used by industry professionals that keep cast and crew safe.
Call us at 425-466-7471 or fill out the form below and we will get back to you ASAP. We would be happy to discuss your film’s prop, training and advisory needs. Please note: Rental of certain prop weapons require our armorers to supervise their use for safety, legality and liability reasons.
