Para Ordnance was purchased by Freedom Group and moved to Pineville N.C., a small suburb of Charlotte, pop. ~7800.
January 30, 2012
Freedom Group Buys Para USA
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by CTD Mike
Related Topics: Industry News
Freedom Group continues to acquire major firearms manufacturers at an astonishing pace. Earlier today they announced the acquisition of Para USA. Para Ordnance was located in Canada when they became the first successful manufacturer of high-capacity pistols based on John Browning’s 1911 design. In 2009 they moved their manufacturing facility to Pineville, North Carolina and changed their name to Para USA. No details were given on the specifics of today’s buyout in the official press release by Freedom Group.
CTD Mike's shooting buddy Josh loves his 18 shot Para
According to today’s press release, Para will continue building guns in Pineville. However, Freedom Group has a reputation for consolidating manufacturing in two areas, Ilion, New York and Mayfield, KY. Freedom Group closed down the Bushmaster plant in Windham, Maine and moved production of Bushmaster rifles to Ilion. Former Bushmaster employees let go by Freedom Group later started their own rifle production at the old Bushmaster plant under the name Windham Weaponry.
More recently, Freedom Group fired the top three people at Advanced Armament Corp, giving rise to rumors that AAC will also be moving to New York to consolidate with Remington. Freedom Group’s Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, E. Scott Blackwell denies those rumors.
Freedom Group’s press release states that Para will supply handguns “for consumers and our channel partners,” so expect to see Para built pistols sold under other brand names also owned by the company. Remington currently builds R1 handguns at their Ilion plant, so it appears that Remington 1911s will compete directly with single stack Para 1911s for the time being. Will we see a double stack, high capacity 1911 with the Remington name on it? Will Para stay in North Carolina or will they be relocated? What will Freedom Group buy next? Only they know for sure.