At age 19 Christian Cranmer starts Fire Power International south of London. It is with this company that the seeds of International Military Antiques are planted. He travels the world in search of lost and forgotten weapons.
Christian Cranmer started the business when he was 24 years old in his native London. He inherited his father's collection of 300 antique weapons and started investigating where the big stashes of old military munitions were laid to rest after a conflict. He purchased those weapons and sold them to collectors throughout Europe.
Mail order advertisements in the Shotgun News. IMA was known for their unique lighthearted military cartoon advertisements.
First print catalog published.
IMA supplies Steven Spielberg's film "Saving Private Ryan" and continues to outfit more than 40 films and television series over the next two decades.
IMA acquires more that 55,000 antique guns, 20,000 vintage edged weapons and 160 ancient bronze cannons from the kingdom of Nepal.
Christian's son Alex joins the business and with him the implementation of an eCommerce website. Selling online grows IMA to become the world leader of the military collectible and antique gun industry.
Family Guns on the National Geographic Channel airs.
Alex becomes the antique weapons and military collectibles expert on History Channel's Pawn Stars appearing in 12 seasons and over 100 episodes to date.
INC magazine publishes a story on the family business success of International Military Antiques.
Note: Note: IMA was not an official film contractor on any of these films; instead we supplied each of the film's armorer, prop and costume departments directly.
