Kemen Shotguns - A True Hidden Gem

Where Kemen Comes From — A Bit of History

Kemen’s story is the kind of old-world-to-new-world tale I love: the roots trace back to a Basque workshop started by Francisco Sarriugarte in 1959, where fine gunmaking was the family trade. After weathering some major industry changes in the ’80s, the company we know as Kemen Arms officially launched in 1988 — blending old-school craftsmanship with modern precision engineering.

What’s unique about Kemen is how it marries tradition with technology. They were early adopters of aerospace-grade materials (including titanium receivers) while keeping hand-finishing, checkering, and engraving at the heart of their process. Their flagship KM-4 over/under — built on the classic Boss-style action — quickly earned a reputation among serious shooters for its reliability and balance.

What Sets Kemen Apart

A few things jumped out during my visit and on the range:

• Build & Materials – Kemen uses premium steels and titanium alloys to achieve a strength-to-weight balance that’s hard to match.

• Hand-Crafted Excellence – Every gun features hand-cut checkering, hand-fitted parts, and engraving done by skilled artisans. No shortcuts here.

• Balance & Pointability – Each gun is tuned to balance perfectly at the hinge pin. The result? It moves naturally with you and just points right.

• U.S. Service & Support – Thanks to Kemen USA and partners like Orion Outdoor Company, American shooters have access to sales, demos, and service without shipping a gun back to Spain.

Price & Lineup — Where You’ll Find Value

Kemen covers a wide range of models. Their fully hand-engraved titanium side-by-sides can push past the $50,000 mark, while their KM-4 sporting and Oxford models come in around $14,000–$16,000. That’s not “budget,” but for a hand-built, competition-grade shotgun with that level of finish and balance, it’s honestly a solid value. You’re getting the quality and feel of guns that often cost quite a bit more.

My Take (From the Video + Range Time)

Hands-on, the KM-4 Oxford I shot was incredibly balanced and smooth — it just tracked. The titanium models were lighter and faster than I expected, but still controlled. Even the standard-grade models had wood and finish details that rival much pricier guns.

If you’re a serious shooter who cares about fit, feel, and longevity, Kemen deserves to be on your short list. And if you want to see me try not to miss (too much) with one, that’s all in the video.

Final Thoughts

Kemen is exactly what a “best-kept secret” should be: quietly excellent, a little rare, and an absolute joy to shoot. I’m already scheming ways to get one back on the range — and maybe, just maybe, into my own gun safe.

What do you think about the Kemen lineup? Share your thoughts in the TFL COMMUNITY!

Whether our targets in the field or our targets in life, we’ll only hit what we’re focused on — live the #targetfocusedlife