Remington History

Remington Arms Company
History of the Firearms Business
1816-1999
(Where the gun stands today in history)

A detailed overview of each year of Remington's history:

	1816	"Legend has it that a young Eliphalet Remington II believed he could build a better gun than he could buy, and he set out to craft such a gun on his father's forge located at Ilion Gulph, New York. In the autumn of 1816, Eliphalet entered a shooting match with his new flintlock rifle, and while he only finished second, his handmade rifle was a success. Orders for new Remington-made rifles and barrels began to accumulate from the many other contestants, and before Eliphalet left the shooting field, he was in the gun business.

	1828	Remington moved its operations from Ilion Gulph to a site close to the newly constructed Erie Canal. This site, in Ilion, New York, is part of the property on which the Ilion firearm plant sits today.
	1858	The Remington Revolver was the only firearm to offer a challenge to the dominant Colt revolvers. It was considered by many to be every bit the gun a Colt was, and then some. It is said that soldiers of the Civil War would trade a handful of Colts for one Remington Army. After the war, the Remington out-sold the Colts as a surplus weapon because the soldiers had seen how the two guns stood up side by side to combat use.
	1860	Marcellus Hartley founded the Schuyler, Hartley & Graham Sporting Goods Company, which would later become one of the largest sporting goods companies in the world.

	1865	The partnership of E. Remington & Sons was incorporated as a stock company. Over the years, the partnership and the succeeding corporation developed the first hammer less solid breech repeating shotgun, the first hammerless autoloading shotgun, the first successful high-power slide action repeating rifle, and the first lock breach autoloading rifle. In 1865-66, Remington produced (production history) the state-of-the-art Rolling Block Rifle. http://www.sportsmanscorner.com/product_display.asp?item_number=97568

	1867	In an effort to diversify their holdings, Schuyler, Hartley & Graham purchased two small New England cartridge companies. These companies were later closed, and the equipment moved to a new site in Bridgeport, Connecticut. On August 9, 1867, the Union Metallic Cartridge Company was incorporated. It was particularly noted for its development of metallic cartridges. It and its successor company subsequently developed the first paper shotshells successfully manufactured in the United States, the first primer adapted to smokeless powder; the first battery cup for best quality paper shotshells; the first cartridges for automatic pistols REM R44MG3 44 MAG 240 SJHP 25/20; the first standard high-power smokeless cartridges for big game autoloading rifles; the first .410 bore gauge shotshell in the United States REM SP410 410GA 4 25/10 ; the first nickeled primer; the first oil-proof automatic pistol cartridges; and the first completely wetproof loaded shells, including top wad, crimp and body. Ammo site and Handgun production history

	1873	E. Remington & Sons embarked on a new venture, and in September of 1873, the first Remington typewriters were produced.

	1886	Remington sells the typewriter business. This business would later become Remington Rand, then Sperry Rand.

	1888	In March 1888, E. Remington & Sons was acquired by Marcellus Hartley and partners. E. Remington & Sons was reorganized, and the new company was named the Remington Arms Company. In later years, in order to better utilize the potential of the Remington Plant, the company would produce sewing machines and cash registers. It later became REMCO.
	1894	The double barrel shotgun was produced. Shotgun History:
	1912	The Union Metallic Cartridge Company of Bridgeport and Remington Arms Company were combined into one company and became Remington U.M.C.

	1915	Construction started on an expansion of the Ilion facilities, and by the spring of 1916, the new Ilion plant was in full operation. The Ilion plant constructed during this time is essentially the same plant that exists today.

	1920	Remington Arms Company was incorporated in Delaware. In order to better utilize the excess manufacturing capacity created during World War I, Remington began to branch into new fields, including the cutlery business (pocket and hunting knives), household utensils, and cash registers.

	1926	Remington began distributing and selling decorative patches bearing the Remington logo. This eventually led to Remington's clothing and accessory business.

	1931	Remington sold the cash register business to the National Cash Register Company.

	1933	As a result of financial pressures brought on by The Great Depression, Remington's management offered a controlling interest in the company to E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Inc. (DuPont). On May 24, DuPont purchased a 60% share of the company. In August, Remington acquired the Chamberlain Trap & Target Company, which included a plant in Findlay, Ohio. Its 'Miracle Trap' became a standard in the industry and was used exclusively at the 1934 Grand American Handicap - the premier classic trapshooting event.

	1934	On May 15, 1934 Remington purchased the Peters Cartridge Company for $2.5 million. The Peters Cartridge Company operated an ammunition facility located in Kings Mill, Ohio. On June 1, 1934 the assets and business related to the sale and manufacture of the Parker shotgun were purchased from the Charles Parker Company for $100,000. The Parker Shotgun Company operated a facility in Meridian, Connecticut. This operation was later closed and the Parker shotgun production moved to the Ilion plant.

	1936	Early in 1936 Remington and Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd. joined in the organization of Companhia Brasileira de Cartuchos SA for the purpose of acquiring the assets and business of Fabrica Nacional de Cartuchos e Municoes. The latter company had been manufacturing sporting ammunition since 1927 in its plant located in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Remington granted the new company the right to use its trademark and technical information in Brazil. Remington maintained a 49.99% interest in Companhia Brasileira.

	1940	Several years before World War II, the government asked Remington to collaborate on a plan for the expansion of ammunition production. The plan called for a number of new plants to be constructed by the government and to be contractor operated. The program was activated in the summer of 1940 when Remington was asked to recommend plant sites. With the aid of DuPont, a study was made covering 51 sites, and in September, Remington was asked to undertake the establishment and operation of the first plant, a second a few weeks later. These were the Lake City and Denver ordnance plants. In the spring of 1941, a third plant in Salt Lake City, Utah was assigned to Remington, and later a fourth, Kings Mills, and in the spring of 1942, a fifth, Lowell. These plants belonged to the government; however, they were operated by Remington under fixed-fee contracts, whereby Remington was responsible for assuring the adequacy of a capacity through construction advice with respect to design engineering and construction, the procurement of equipment, training of personnel, and operation of the plants.

	1946	In November 1946, Remington closed the Remington Arms Union Metallic Cartridge Company, Ltd., a wholly owned English subsidiary. This subsidiary operated a shotshell loading plant at Brimsdown, England. Operations consisted of loading empty paper shotshells, imported from the parent company, with powder and other components. This company also handled importation of rimfire and centerfire ammunition and sporting firearms from the U.S.

	1950	Remington and Crucible Steel Company of America form Rem-Cru Titanium, Inc., a joint venture. Rem-Cru operated a plant in Midland, Pennsylvania for the purpose of melting, alloying, fabricating, and selling titanium and its alloys. Remington later transferred its 80% share of Rem-Cru to Crucible Steel in exchange for 150,000 shares of Crucible common stock. In January, 1950 Remington announced its new Model 870 "Wingmaster" shotgun, which has become the largest selling pump action shotgun in the world. REM 5053 870 12GA WNGMSTR

	1956	To complement its own powder-activated tool business, Remington acquired the Mall Tool Company for $9.8 million. This company operated plants in Chicago and Park Forest, Illinois and in Toronto, Ontario. Mall products included complete lines of portable electric, gasoline, and pneumatic-powered tools and flexible shaft equipment. Mall Tool Company was dissolved in 1958, and its activities integrated with Remington, which included the powder-activated tool business which had been previously developed in Bridgeport. The Canadian subsidiary name was changed to Remington Arms of Canada, Ltd. and its product line expanded to include firearms and other Remington products. Remington purchased the commercial farm and wildlife refuge of the late Glenn L. Martin, consisting of 2,970 acres of property near Chestertown, Maryland. The property was named Remington Farms. Remington Farms has changed over the years through the addition of additional acreage and the construction of guest accommodations. While Remington Farms is utilized for hunting and conference activities, its primary mission continues to be to demonstrate wildlife restoration and conservation techniques.

	1960	Remington introduces plastic body shotshells.

	1961	A review of economic potential of foreign markets for Remington products resulted in investment by Remington in two new affiliates during 1961, one in Germany and the other in Mexico.

	1962	The new Model 700 bolt-action rifle was announced and soon became the most popular bolt-action rifle in the market. REM 6911 700 BDL DM SS SYN

	1963	The Model 1100 autoloading shotgun was introduced. This gun was the result of a three-year development program.REM 5248 1100 20GA 21 IC RS ST As part of a program aimed towards diversification outside of traditional product lines, Remington acquired a 55% interest in Brewer Pharmical Engineering Corp. located in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. Remington's investment in Brewer amounted to $1.4 million. Brewer manufactures and distributes an electro-mechanical system for physical control, invoicing, and inventory control of drugs in hospitals.

	1964	Remington Arms International GmbH, formed in 1961 to distribute chain saws and accessories in Europe, was dissolved due to the development of more effective independent distributors in Europe.

	1966	Remington commemorated the 150th anniversary of its founding. Demand for Remington "Blue Rock" clay targets exceeded the capacity of the Findlay plant. A small factory building was purchased in Ada, Oklahoma for a new clay target plant. Production began in early 1967.

	1967	Cartuchos de Portivos de Mexico, SA, in which Remington had a 40% interest, declared its first cash dividend. The manufacture and marketing of centerfire pistol and revolver ammunition had been added to the production of shotshells, rimfire cartridges, and lead shot.

	1969	Remington completed the sale of its power tool business to DESA Industries, Inc. Two plants were included in the transaction.

	1970	Remington constructed a new ammunition plant in Lonoke, Arkansas. The site was considered to be near the geographic center of the sporting ammunition market. A new facility to produce clay targets was completed at Athens, Georgia, beginning production in 1971. The assets and business of Brewer Engineering Corp., in which Remington held a 58.4% interest, were acquired by Parke-Davis and Company in exchange for common stock.

	1971	Remington contracted to purchase additional property and building in Ilion, New York from the Univac division of Sperry-Rand. This property would later be developed to provide additional firearms manufacturing capacity. The company purchased 396,000 shares of its common stock from the trustees of Columbia University for $4 million cash. The Mexican government closed all the country's retail outlets for firearms and ammunition which forced Cartuchos de Portivos de Mexico SA to suspend most of its ammunition operations.

	1973	Remington introduced the 3200 Over and Under shotgun. Remington made an unsuccessful effort to acquire AB Norma Projektilfabrik of Sweden, a producer a centerfire ammunition and components. Negotiations had been completed and a closing date set when plans were discontinued because of concerns by the anti-trust division of the Dept. of Justice.

	1974	Remington formed a German sales subsidiary, Remington Arms GmbH in Wurzburg. The subsidiary was liquidated in 1988.

	1975	Construction of a new target plant in Findlay, Ohio began on company owned land adjacent to the existing 100 year-old facility. Construction was completed in 1976. Remington purchased 589,000 shares of its common stock from Fidelity Union Trust Co., the executor of the estate of Geraldine R. Dodge. DuPont's percentage ownership of Remington increased to approximately 70%.

	1978	Cartuchos de Portivos de Mexico SA, in which Remington owned a 40% interest, changed its name to Industria Technos SA.

	1979	Remington acquired the Hazen, Arkansas plant from the Van Heusen Shirt Co. Some of the Powder Metal operations moved from the Ilion plant to Hazen, and the plant became operational in 1980.

	1980	DuPont purchased the remaining shares of stock of Remington, and the company became a wholly owned subsidiary.

	1981	Remington dissolved its Canadian subsidiary.

	1984	Remington announced that it would move its headquarters from Bridgeport, Connecticut to Wilmington, Delaware to reduce costs and improve communications with DuPont. Approximately 50 people from various administrative functions were moved to Wilmington from late 1984 to early 1986.

	1985	Remington turned over the operation of the Lake City Arsenal in Independence, MO to Olin Corporation. Remington had operated this facility for the U.S. government for more than 45 years.

	1986	Remington sells its Abrasive Products business and the Barnum Avenue site in Bridgeport, Connecticut to RemGrit Corporation.

	1990	DuPont transferred ownership of Remington Arms Company to a wholly owned Delaware holding company, DuPont Chemical and Energy Operations, Inc. (DECO).

	1992	Remington assumed marketing responsibility for DuPont's "Stren" fishing line and associated fishing products. Remington introduces a number of new products: The stainless steel version of the Model 700 centerfire rifle REM 6911 700 BDL DM SS SYN The Model 11-87 Sporting Clays autoloading shotgun REM*5263 11-87 NP SPT CLY 12 Light Contour barrel versions of the Model 11-87 shotgun REM 5287 1187 PREM 12GA MAG The Model 870 Marine Magnum shotgun REM 5012 870 MARINE MAG 12GA 18CY Camouflage versions of various shotguns and rifles REM 5094 870 SPS 12GA 21RC

	1993	DuPont sells the assets of Remington to RACI Acquisitions, a company organized by the New York investment firm of Clayton, Dubilier and Rice, for approximately $300 million on December 1. Remington introduces the Model 522 Viper autoloading rimfire rifle and the Peerless Over/Under shotgun. REM 9792 522 VIPER 22 AUTO

	1994	Remington introduces a version of the 870 Express shotgun with a synthetic stock REM 5545 870 EXP 12 24 RCMD PL A stainless steel version of the Model Seven rifle, and the Model 700 Sendero rifle. REM 6911 700 BDL DM SS SYN Remington announces that it will build a new facility for research and development in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The new facility will open in 1995.

	1995	Remington announces that its headquarters will move from Wilmington, Delaware to Rockingham County, North Carolina. Forty-nine employees relocate. Remington announces the discontinuation of its Apparel business. The Remington Shooting School is organized at a gun club near its plant in Ilion, New York. Remington introduces the Model 700 rifle with detachable box magazines. http://www.firinglineinc.com/html/d2m2700.html REM 6913 700 BDL DM SS SYN Also introduced is a replica of its 1816 flintlock. Rifle History:

	1996	Remington builds a new headquarters facility near Madison, North Carolina. Construction is completed in mid-year. Remington announces plans to develop new Firearms manufacturing facility in Graves County, Kentucky, with plans to invest several million dollars in plant and equipment. Remington introduces a number of new products: The Model 700 ADL rifle with a synthetic stock REM*9683 700 VAR SYN 220 The Model 1100 shotgun with a synthetic stock REM 5248 1100 20GA 21 IC RS ST The Model 700 muzzleloading rifle REM 7572 700 ML BLK PWDR Model 700 rifles with muzzle brakes REM 7586 700 ML BLK PWDR http://www.sportsmanscorner.com/product_display.asp?item_number=97586 The Model 700 Sendero Stainless Fluted rifle REM 6913 700 BDL DM SS SYN

	1997	Remington opens a new Firearms plant near Mayfield, Kentucky to supplement the Ilion plant. The new Mayfield site is the first new Remington Firearms plant built since 1828. Remington introduces the Model 597 rimfire rifle family and manufactures the gun at the new Mayfield facility. The 597 REM 6560 597 22MAG AUTO is a new design focusing on functional reliability and benchmark accuracy. Remington Rifle Manufacturing History: Remington reintroduces the Remington No. 1 Rolling Block Creedmoor rifle in .45-70 Government. Not a replica, but a reintroduction, the Creedmoor was produced by Remington in the latter half of the 19th century. REM 7568 NO 1 ROLLING BLOCK In the spring of 1997 an unprecedented event occurred when the Remington Society of America members loaned over 750 rare and unusual firearms from their personal collections to form the exhibition It Never Failed Me: The Arms and Art of the Remington Arms Company at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming, home of the Cody Firearms Museum. This show has been chronicled in a handsome, full-color catalogue,

	1998	Remington adds the new 3 1/2-inch Super Magnum to its best selling line of Model 870 Express pump-action shotguns. These guns are built with the brute strength and reliability of our legendary Model 870 Wingmaster, but with the added versatility of being able to handle 12-ga. 2 3/4 to 3 1/2-inch loads. REM 5577 870 EXP 12 28 VR RC Remington Shotgun Manufacturing History:

	1999	Remington produces the first new centerfire magnum case in 87 years--the .300 Remington Ultra Mag. Chambered in nine different Model 700 configurations the new .300 Remington Ultra Mag represents the first commercially available non-belted magnum. Summer of 1999 begins a new chapter for Remington with the advent of its new television series--Remington Country Viewers will see hunters capture America's most popular game while celebrating the outdoors, sportsmanship, ethics, and conservation, as well as receive shooting tips from the Remington experts". Also some additional information on Remington corporation and all of their competition. A summary of Remingtons achievements: . "America's Oldest Gun Maker" "The history of Remington Arms Company, Inc. mirrors the history of America. From the moment that Eliphalet Remington II forged his first gun barrel, Remington firearms became the symbol of quality, accuracy and dur4ability in firearms, traits that continue to this very day. Tradition has it that in 1816, twenty-three years old Eliphalet spent a number of off-hours fabricating a gun barrel in his father's iron working forge. Realizing that it would make a truly accurate piece only if it were rifled, he carried it to nearby Utica New York, possibly to the gun shop of Riley Rogers. Completing the rifle, young Eliphalet was soon pressed to make barrels for those who wanted a gun that shot where it was aimed. Soon he and his father were in the barrel making business. While The exact number of complete rifles made by the father and son team is unknown, Remington barrels became most sought after by New England gunsmiths. By 1828, the company had grown sufficiently enough that land was purchased adjoining the newly completed Erie Canal, in a place that would later be called Ilion. Soon after, the elderly father died while clearing the land for construction of a factory to produce both barrels and complete firearms. In July 1845, E. Remington and Son accepted its first contract to manufacture weapons in quantity-5, 000 U.S. Model 1841-percussion rifles, also known as Mississippi Rifles. The Army Ordnance Department was so impressed with the workmanship of the Remington rifles that they extended the contract to a total of 20,000 arms. All were delivered prior to 1855. In 1846, the Remington armory entered into another government contract to manufacture 1,000 Jenks breechloading carbines with Maynard tape-primers for the Navy Bureau of Ordnance. It was clear that a sound business could be built manufacturing quality arms for the government, and additional contracts followed during the 1850's. The Civil War brought undreamed of prosperity to the company. Numerous contracts for percussion revolvers, rifle-muskets and muzzleloading rigles kept the factory busy morning and night. Eliphalet II did not live to see this growth, as he passed away in July 1861. His sons, Philo, Samuel and Eliphalet then ran the company: E. Remington & Sons, of Ilion, New York. The Civil War was the catalyst for military inventions of every description. Remington stayed on the leading edge of technological innovation by designing breechloading carbines to replace the Federal Government's array of antiquated muzzleloading arms. Thus, E. Remington & Sons armory became the leaders that propelled American shooters into the breechloading era of the mid-1860s. Development of the Remington Rolling Block Rifle to capture a new market Immediately following the Civil War, E. Remington &Sons began the transition from making military pistols, carbines and rifles, to making firearms for a peacetime economy. The mid-1860s were years of dramatic change for America, particularly as a result of westward expansion. The great migration west impacted not only the brave men and women who made the journey, but also the thousands of easterners and mid-westerners who supported the migration: the wagon makers, the provisioners, the cloth makers, and those who made firearms and munitions. The settlement of the West also fueled American interest in hunting and target shooting. Those living away from the crowded cities relied upon their hunting skills to keep fresh meat on their tables, and keep their hard-earned money for other necessities. Gus was needed that could shoot straight and would provide years of utility in the field. By the late 1860s, target shooting had steadily grown from local contests of skill to organized events that drew competitors from other counties and even neighboring states. Unfortunately, most accurate weapons of the 1850s and '6-s were handcraft, muzzleloading rifles that were unaffordable to most citizens. America's passion for shooting soon demanded better firearms at more affordable prices. Remington responded to these needs with the soon-to-be famous Remington Rolling Block Rifle. The concept of a single-shot wriggle that was unusually strong, yet easy to manipulate is attributed to Leonard Geiger, with primary improvements by Joseph Rider. E. Remington &Sons acquired the rights to produce firearms based on Geiger's patent during the Civil War, and more than 20,000 Remington split-breech carbines were made for the Federal Government utilizing the improvements by Rider, a design employee of Remington. By the war's end in 1865, Rider had begun to experiment on an improved breech mechanism, and 1866 made the first prototype rolling block. E. Remington &Sons would later refer to rifles, carbines and shotguns utilizing this breech mechanism as "No. 1" firearms. Orders for military firearms from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Spain and other countries, as well as orders from the U.S. Army and Navy, spurred further development of the "rolling block." By 1868, Remington was ready to offer civilian versions to the waiting public. The first "rolling block" rifles had one primary weakness - - they were chambered to fire only relatively impotent rimfire ammunition. In the early 1870's, Remington introduced centerfire "rolling block" hunting rifles that were capable of killing game at ranges of 250 yards or more and capable of hitting a target at twice that distance. Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer, among the other notables, proudly hunted with a .50-70 centerfire Remington "rolling block " sporting rifle as early as 1873. To create a target rigle, Remington modified its nearly indestructible hunting rifle by adding precision front and rear sights and changing the stock to target configuration. Possibly the greatest challenge to Remington designers was to make a target rifle capable of hitting it intended target not at 500 yards, but at 1,000. The mission to make a rifle fought the 1,000 yard Creedmoor matches was given to Lewis L. Hepburn, Remington gunsmith and an expert rifle shot in his own right. By late 1873, Hepburn produced the most accurate breechloading rifle the world had ever seen - the famous Remington Creedmoor target rifle. While few sportsmen of this era could afford a gun that cost $100 or more, even fewer needed a gun that would shoot at distances greater than half a mile. What American sportsmen wanted, and what Remington provided, was a centerfire, mid-range-sporting rifle that was equally capable of being used for hunting or serious target shooting. Remington Mid-Range Sporting & Target Rifle Remington mid-range sporting & target rifles were manufactured from 1873 to 1888. During this fifteen year period, tens of thousands of rolling block rifles were produced for commercial sale, including those made on their No.1 sized frame and on the smaller No. 1½ and No. 2 frames. The term &mid-Range rifle " was first used in Remington's advertising in 1877, and they were chambered only for centerfire ammunition, including the .40-70, the .44-77, the .45-70 Gov't, or the .50-70 Gov't cartridges. In their first year of production, Remington produced "mid-range sporting and target rifles & quote; with either 28 inch and 30 inch barrels and in five different configurations. The following list, from the 1877 Remington catalog, reflects prices for rifles with 30 inch barrel lengths: Sporting stock, combination peep & Open rear, Beach front sight.........$37.00 Sporting stock, tang peep rear, Beach front sight.................................$42.50 Creedmoor stock, pistol grip, tang peep rear, Beachfront sight..............$53.50 Sporting stock, pistol grip, tang peep rear, wind gauge front sight...........$54.00 Sporting stock, pistol grip, Vernier rear, and wind gauge front sight..............$62.00 Sporting stock, pistol grip, Vernier rears, wind gauge front sight, rubber butt and tip, and checkered fore end..........................$73.00 By 1880, Remington had substantially reduced the prices for their mid-range No. 1 sporting and target rifles. Their basic gun then cost $32.00, five dollars less than it cost three years earlier, and their top-of-the-line mid-range cost $53.00, a reduction of twenty dollars. By 1883, prices had dropped even further: their basic mid-range cost $26.00, and their top-of-the-line rifle cost $46.00. Remington mid-range sporting and target rifles were built to exacting specifications in the 1870s and '80s. E. Remington &Sons produced guns that were as aesthetically pleasing as they were functional. The "rolling block action was as strong as any action ever built, and Remington barrel makers fabricated the Octagonal or part round-part octagonal barrels to fire fullets that struck where they were aimed. They were the finest sporting and target rifles of their day". Remington has been able to stay in business since 1816 ;because throughout their corporate history they have always met their customers needs and captured the market. Bibliography: 1.http://www.pressanykey.com/cs156/x97/Sschwart/Remington.html 2.http://www.iar-arms.com/remingblkpwdr.htm 3.http://oldguns.com/remlong.htm 4.http://www.sportsmanscorner.com/product_display.asp?item_number=97568 5.http://www.desaint.com/tradition.html 6.http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/22384683.htm 7.http://gunshop.com/semmer.htm 8.http://www.firinglineinc.com/html/d2m2118.html 9.http://www.visitnc.com/ 10.http://www.remington.com/AboutUs/companyinfo.htm 11.http://www.mich.com/~wittsend/hunters/196.html 12http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/nation/guns/part3/gunside4.html 13.http://www.teleport.com/~ldddad/firearms.htm 14.http://www.biplaneprod.com/ 15.http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/me/19990614.me.05.ram

A detailed overview of each year of Remington's history:

Development of the Remington Rolling Block Rifle to capture a new market

Remington Mid-Range Sporting & Target Rifle

Bibliography: