Black Widow Arms is not affiliated with Cryostructure, LLC or Paul Russ. Black Widow Design, LLC d/b/a Black Widow Arms ("Black Widow Arms") wants to be direct with our customers and the wider community: we do not own, control, or share any ownership with Cryostructure, LLC or its owner, Paul Earl Russ III, and the two companies have never been the same business. Any business dealings between us have ended.
Why the confusion exists
Black Widow Arms operates from a multi-tenant business complex at 2309 Lee Highway, Mount Sidney, Virginia, which has housed a number of unrelated businesses over the years. Cryostructure was a tenant of that complex from 2023 until its eviction in April 2026. Cryostructure also offered for sale lower receivers manufactured by Black Widow Arms, and its website and communications with customers at times implied a closer relationship between the two companies than actually existed. As a result, some customers who paid Cryostructure and never received their product have understandably come to believe that Paul Russ owned or ran Black Widow Arms, or that the two companies were one and the same.
They are not, and never have been. Black Widow Arms has been in business since 2002 and has been located in Augusta County, Virginia for its entire history, more than two decades before Cryostructure arrived. It is a separate legal entity, independently owned and operated, and holds its own Federal Firearms License (Type 07/SOT). Neither Cryostructure nor Paul Russ has ever held one in Virginia.
What actually happened
Cryostructure leased manufacturing equipment from Black Widow Arms and defaulted on those leases, and did not pay Black Widow Arms in full for the materials used in the receivers it offered for sale. Separately, Cryostructure was evicted from the complex in April 2026. Black Widow Arms subsequently filed a civil lawsuit against Cryostructure, LLC and Paul Earl Russ III in Augusta County Circuit Court. On August 25, 2026, the Court entered judgment in Black Widow Arms' favor against both defendants for the full amount sought, plus fees, costs, and interest. Black Widow Arms was not a party to Cryostructure's dealings with its own customers and did not authorize Cryostructure to represent otherwise.
If you are a Cryostructure customer waiting on an order
We understand this has been frustrating, and in many cases costly. Black Widow Arms is not able to fulfill orders placed with Cryostructure, issue refunds on Cryostructure's behalf, or take responsibility for that company's transactions. If you paid by credit card, we strongly encourage you to contact your card issuer about a chargeback as soon as possible, since these requests are subject to time limits. If you would like to place a new order directly with Black Widow Arms, we are glad to help.
Law enforcement
Black Widow Arms has referred this matter to law enforcement and is cooperating fully. If you are a Cryostructure customer and have documentation of your experience — order confirmations, payment records, or communications with the company — please send it, along with your order details, directly to the investigating officer at Brandon.Hazelwood@fcva.us.
Questions
If you have questions about this notice or about Black Widow Arms' products and services, please reach out to us directly at blackwidowfirearms@proton.me. We appreciate your patience and continued trust in Black Widow Arms.