Remington Arms

Remington Arms Company, Inc. Charter: We are a customer-driven consumer products company focused on becoming a global leader in outdoor recreational products. Our guiding principles are: quality, integrity, innovation, teamwork, respect for the individual, safe working environment. We will direct our resources to building and leveraging our distinctive capabilities in the areas of manufacturing, consumer marketing, and customer service. We will support these efforts with responsive financial controls, integrated technology, and proactive regulatory involvement. Key Dates: A partnership led by investor Marcellus Hartley buys out the company and reorganizes it as Remington Arms Company. Remington completes a move of its headquarters from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Wilmington, Delaware. Company assumes control of the Stren fishing product line from Du Pont. Remington Arms Company, Inc. is one of the oldest manufacturers of firearms in the United States and the largest U.S. producer of rifles. The company also sells the Stren brand of fishing line and other fishing products. A worldwide supplier of small arms, Remington holds a special place in American popular culture, its name having grown synonymous with the taming of the American West in the 19th century. In addition, the company is known for its long history of innovation, and counts the famous breach-loading rifle among its many advancements in technology. Eliphalet Remington, Jr., the progenitor of Remington Arms, was born in 1793 to Eliphalet and Elizabeth Remington. The family moved west--from Connecticut to New York--in 1800 to find land and start a farm. They settled in what is now Ilion, New York. In addition to the farm, Eliphalet set up a forge and blacksmith shop to help him build his farm equipment. Eliphalet, Jr., was drawn to the shop early, and displayed a canny Yankee ingenuity. For example, when the Remington family wanted some silver spoons for Eliphalet, Jr.'s sister, Mary, they sent the young Eliphalet to a silversmith with pieces of rough silver. After watching the silversmith for a day, Eliphalet, Jr., returned with the silver pieces. He then proceeded to make the spoons himself, to everyone's satisfaction, in the family's blacksmith shop. Remington acted similarly when he decided to make his own hunting rifle. Unable to afford the purchase price of a new rifle, he fashioned his own from scrap iron. Locals were so impressed with Remington's homemade firearm that they began paying him to make rifles for them. Within a few years Remington's skills were recognized throughout the region and he was deluged with orders for custom-made firearms. Throughout the 1820s Eliphalet, Jr., and his father shipped rifles to customers throughout New England by way of the Erie Canal. In 1828 he expanded the business by purchasing 100 acres of land closer to the canal. With financial backing from friends, he set up a new forge and blacksmith shop. Unfortunately, Eliphalet, Sr., was accidentally killed while transporting equipment to the new location. Remington's operation continued to blossom during the 1830s as his guns became known for their high-quality craftsmanship. The company received a major boost in 1845 when it landed its first government contract. Also in 1845, Remington crafted the first gun barrel in America to be fashioned from solid steel. Remington's steel rifles quickly garnered a reputation for precision. Orders poured in. Beginning in the 1850s, Remington started designing and manufacturing revolvers. For several years the company sold its popular Beal revolver. It followed that model with the Rider revolver, one of the first self-cocking revolvers. In 1856 Eliphalet and his three sons officially joined forces to form E. Remington and Sons. The demands of wartime production proved to be too much for the 68-year-old Remington. He died during the first few months of the conflict, leaving his three sons to fill his shoes. Philo, the oldest of the thr