About us
Unrivaled was formed by Kyle Litzie and Zack Smith, two lifelong gun nerds turned competition shooters. Both found success in the competition world relatively quickly and credit this to their willingness to experiment with different gear and shooting techniques, refining both. Between the two, they hold State, Regional, and National Champion titles in multiple disciplines of practical shooting including 3-Gun, 2-Gun, IPSC, USPSA, IDPA, and Kalshnikov (AK) competitions. Originally they just made custom components for themselves when the market didn’t offer what they were looking for. The goal was to have better performing firearms so they would have an advantage over the competition. Eventually, there was sufficient demand that they started producing components for the public in 2021.
Our company culture is one of a deep love of the Second Amendment and performance shooting. We love helping increase the capability of shooters with great gear and the most modern techniques. Currently our patented buffer system and unique muzzle brake design have been dominating the competition circuit. Our philosophy is that if our products can meet the exacting demands of the top competition shooters, they are adequate for general use as well.
Also, we love America. All of our products always have and always will be 100% made and assembled in the USA.
Kyle
Co-Founder
Kyle Litzie, co-founder of Unrivaled, has channeled his lifelong fascination with firearms and mechanical innovation into the core of a unique gun parts company that leads in performance and ingenuity. From dismantling his first rifle at age 11 to competing at an international level in shooting sports, Kyle’s journey is marked by a deep understanding of firearm mechanics and a relentless pursuit to continuously push limits of performance. His extensive experience spans from being a paintball gun technician, machinist and DIY gunsmith to an automotive clay sculptor for prestigious companies. To this day he continues to hone his technical and design skills.
His transition from competitive paintball to shooting sports culminated in notable achievements, including taking 1st place in the 2019 Surefire World Multigun Championship and 1st place at the IPSC Rifle World Championship in 2024. As well as many other major 3-gun match wins. Together with Zack Smith, Kyle leveraged their shared expertise to innovate the AR and Kalashnikov platforms, developing cutting edge products for Unrivaled such as the UB tunable muzzle brake and UDB-M4 dead blow buffer systems. This partnership propelled Unrivaled to the forefront of high-performance gun parts, fueled by Kyle’s unmatched blend of engineering expertise and competitive spirit.
Zack
Co-Founder
Zack Smith, co-founder of Unrivaled is a self described “gun nerd” first and a competition shooter second. From shooting BB guns in his backyard as a child to building his first gun at 15, he has always been drawn to firearms never expecting it could be a career. Gifted with a high mechanical aptitude and a sense of adventure, he brings a unique perspective born from a wide variety of experiences.
Discovering competitive shooting in his mid-20’s, he immediately recognized it as a fast track to improving his firearms skills. More importantly, he saw it as a testbed for running guns he had modified for performance. Initially he had no plans or expectations to win championships but found success relatively quickly. He credits this to a willingness to experiment with different techniques and having guns that shot great and were reliable. Some of the highlights of his competitive career are:
- Red Oktober AK Championship – Winner multiple years
- Desert Brutality – Overall Champion for 3 years
- UML PCC National Champion – 2018, 2019
- UML 2×4 National Champion 2019, 2020
- Roadrunner Shootout – PCC Winner 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Kalash Bash – Winner multiple years
- AZ PCC Championship – Winner multiple years
- 2022 USPSA 2 gun Open National Champion
Upon meeting Kyle Litzie in 2018, they both bonded over their shared insights into the mechanics of the AR and AK platform and skills as shooters.
Russel
Co-owner
Russel joined Unrivaled about a year after its founding by Kyle and Zack, drawn to their vision, drive, and expertise. With a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and a professional background in petroleum engineering, Russel has a proven history of solving multi-million dollar challenges by enhancing efficiency and addressing complex problems. His expertise in handling 8-figure real estate deals and managing successful businesses seamlessly translates into his leadership role at Unrivaled.
In 2023, Russel achieved a personal milestone, winning 1st overall at an international IPSC
Championship, showcasing his competitive spirit and firearms competence. He also enjoys traveling the world to partake in freediving, spearfishing and sightseeing.