Remington Arms

Remington Arms Company, LLC

Company type	Private (formerly)
Industry	Firearms and ammunition manufacturing
Predecessor	E. Remington and Sons
Founded	January 1, 1816 (1816-01-01) in Ilion, New York, United States
Founder	Eliphalet Remington
Defunct	2020 (2020)
Fate	Filed for bankruptcy; assets divided and sold
Successor	RemArms, LLC (firearms); The Kinetic Group (ammunition); Marlin Firearms acquired by Sturm, Ruger & Co.
Headquarters	Madison, North Carolina , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Anthony Acitelli (CEO)
Products	Firearms, ammunition, related accessories
Parent	Remington Outdoor Company (until 2020)

Remington Arms Company, LLC stood as a prominent American producer of firearms and ammunition. Once a division of Remington Outdoor Company, which filed for bankruptcy in 2020, its assets were subsequently divided among several purchasers. The brand was segmented into two distinct operations: Remington Firearms, under the ownership of RemArms, LLC., and Remington Ammunition, controlled by The Kinetic Group (Czechoslovak Group).

Established in 1816 by entrepreneur Eliphalet Remington as E. Remington and Sons in Ilion, New York, it ranked among the oldest firearms manufacturers in the United States and held the record for the longest uninterrupted production of its original firearm design. By 2015, according to ATF statistics, it was recognized as the largest rifle manufacturer across North America. Additionally, Remington was noted for developing or adopting more cartridge types than any other global firearms or ammunition company.

The company’s main office was situated in Madison, North Carolina, with operations spanning worldwide to serve a diverse customer base. Its range of products encompassed firearms, ammunition, and related accessories, generating roughly $950 million in revenue as of 2004. Under the leadership of CEO Anthony Acitelli, Remington prioritized sustaining its competitive edge through innovation and expanding its market presence within the firearms sector.

Origins in the 19th century

The origins of Remington trace back to 1816 when Eliphalet Remington II (1793–1861) crafted a flintlock rifle initially for his own use. After participating in a shooting competition that year and impressing other marksmen with his rifle’s performance, he received several orders which marked the formal start of his gunsmithing enterprise. By 1828, Remington had moved its operations to Ilion, New York—the site of its current firearms manufacturing facility.

On March 7, 1888, following the divestiture of its typewriter division (which later became Remington Rand), ownership of E. Remington & Sons transferred from the Remington family to Marcellus Hartley and associates. This consortium included Hartley and Graham from New York, proprietors of significant sporting goods retailers and firearm manufacturers such as Union Metallic Cartridge Company and Winchester Repeating Arms. Subsequently, the firm was renamed Remington Arms Company.

Developments in the 20th century

During World War I, Remington contributed substantially to the U.S. military effort but encountered financial difficulties due to surplus inventory that was eventually acquired by the government.

In the era of the Great Depression, chemical corporation DuPont acquired Remington to capitalize on its expertise in gunpowder production. Following this acquisition, Remington absorbed Peters Cartridge Company—evident from ammunition marked with the "R-P" headstamp.

By 1940, responding to military production demands, Remington partnered with DuPont to construct and operate multiple government-owned ammunition factories including Lake City Army Ammunition Plant and Denver Ordnance Plant. Throughout World War II, it manufactured essential weaponry such as the M1903A3 Springfield rifle.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Remington diversified beyond firearms by acquiring Mall Tool Company in 1956, expanding into other product lines like chainsaws.

In 1962, Remington introduced the Model 700 bolt-action rifle—a flagship product that spawned numerous variants utilized by law enforcement and military agencies worldwide. Notably, it served as the U.S. Army’s standard sniper rifle from 1988 until 2010 and remained in use by international forces including the Israel Defense Forces.

A new ammunition plant was established in Lonoke, Arkansas in 1969 to increase production capacity. By the mid-1980s, all ammunition manufacturing was centralized at this location following closure of the Bridgeport facility. Additionally, a clay target manufacturing plant opened in Athens, Georgia in 1987.

In 1993, DuPont divested Remington to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice for $300 million. At that time, combined sales of rifles and shotguns reached around $900 million but were impacted by declining hunting participation since 1986. Although long guns represented approximately three-quarters of sales—though decreasing by 1993—the handgun segment emerged as the fastest-growing category within the firearms market.

This era signaled a strategic transformation for Remington as it shifted focus toward product diversification and adapting to evolving market trends within the firearms industry.

21st century

In June 2007, Remington Arms was purchased by the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management for $370 million, which included taking on $252 million in debt. This acquisition brought Remington under Cerberus' Freedom Group umbrella. Between 2003 and 2005, Remington had experienced financial losses and significant indebtedness. By 2015, Freedom Group underwent rebranding to become Remington Outdoor Company.

Later in December 2007, Remington expanded its portfolio by acquiring the rifle manufacturer Marlin Firearms. Despite the ammunition shortages across the U.S. during 2008–2009, sales of ammunition remained robust, driven by consumer worries about potential regulatory changes anticipated under President Obama’s administration, as noted by CEO Ted Torbeck.

In October 2009, Remington Military Products added suppressor maker Advanced Armament Corporation to its holdings. The following year, Remington introduced the Hypersonic Steel shotgun shell, incorporating proprietary wad technology to achieve high velocity. Also in 2010, after a 12-year absence from the handgun sector, Remington reentered with the launch of the Remington 1911 R1. That same year saw the debut of the Versa Max semi-automatic shotgun featuring a patented "Versa Port" gas system capable of accommodating various cartridge lengths.

In 2012, Remington secured a contract from the U.S. Army to manufacture 24,000 M4A1 carbines at a unit price of $673, amounting to over $16 million. The following year, Remington reintroduced air rifles with the "Remington Express," marking its first air rifle offering since 1928.

On February 17, 2014, Remington announced plans for a new production facility in Huntsville, Alabama, transferring two manufacturing lines from its plant in Ilion, New York. This relocation was largely influenced by the restrictive NY SAFE Act enacted after the Sandy Hook tragedy. The Huntsville factory was anticipated to contribute positively to Alabama’s economy and focus on producing AR-15 style rifles and 1911 pistols. Approximately 100 jobs were moved from New York to Alabama amid union concerns regarding Ilion’s operational future.

Starting in late 2017, Remington encountered declining sales and reputational challenges following a CBS 60 Minutes report exposing defects in its X-Mark Pro trigger system linked to fatal accidents. Burdened with nearly $950 million in debt, the company filed for bankruptcy protection in March 2018. It emerged within two months through a court-approved restructuring plan that transformed over $775 million of debt into equity and eliminated existing common stock shares.

Families of nine victims from the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012 initiated wrongful death lawsuits against Remington related to its Bushmaster rifle. Although initially dismissed due to federal immunity provided by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), the Connecticut Supreme Court revived the case in 2019 under state laws concerning unfair trade practices focused on unethical marketing tactics. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review this ruling. On February 15, 2022, Remington settled with the Sandy Hook families for $73 million, with insurers covering the payment.

Breakup

On July 28, 2020, Remington once again filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, resulting in its assets being divided and sold:

• Vista Outdoor acquired both the Remington brand and the Lonoke ammunition manufacturing facility, integrating them into its ammunition production and marketing divisions.
• The firearms segment of Remington (excluding Marlin Firearms) was sold to Roundhill Group, LLC, now operating as RemArms, LLC. This entity licenses the "Remington" brand from Vista Outdoor.
• Sturm, Ruger & Co. purchased Marlin Firearms.