Hudson
Hudson grips
Hudson Manufacturing was founded in 2015 in Temple, Texas, by husband-and-wife team Billie "Cy" Hudson (a U.S. Army veteran) and Lauren Hudson as a startup firearms company
Inspired by a desire to blend classic 1911 ergonomics with modern striker-fired reliability, the Hudsons began conceptualizing their pistol around 2013. They invested personal funds, hired an engineer, and built the first prototype in 2014—nicknamed "The Brick" for its blocky, heavy design
A pivotal shift occurred in 2016 when a new engineering team refined the concept, leading to the innovative Hudson H9—a 9mm semi-auto with ultra-low bore axis, forward barrel cams, steel frame insert, and 1911-style controls for flat shooting and reduced muzzle flip
The H9 debuted explosively at SHOT Show 2017 in Las Vegas, generating massive buzz for its futuristic look (evoking RoboCop's Auto-9) and performance promises. An aluminum-framed H9A variant followed in 2018
Despite early hype, production struggles, durability issues, warranty problems, lawsuits, and declining sales led to financial collapse. Hudson Manufacturing filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in March 2019, ceasing operations and leaving many owners without support
The H9 patents were later acquired by Daniel Defense, who relaunched an updated version as the Daniel H9 in 2024