View source for Para USA

{{Short description|Private firearms manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company
| name           = Para USA, LLC
| former_name =  Para-Ordnance
| logo           = File:Para_USA_logo.png
| type           = [[Private company|Private]]
| foundation     = 1985
| fate           = Acquired (2012)
| defunct        = 2015 (closure of brand)
| location       = [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], [[United States]]
| founders = Ted Szabo and Thanos Polyzos
| industry       = [[Arms industry]]
| products       = [[Firearm]]s
| parent = [[Remington Outdoor Company]]
}}
[[File:Custom 1445.jpg|thumb|Custom P14-45]]
[[File:PO 10-54 (6971790685).jpg|thumb|Para Ordnance 10-45]]
'''Para USA''' (Para) was an [[United States|American]]-owned [[firearm]]s manufacturer. It was the successor to '''Para-Ordnance''', founded in Canada in 1985. It specialized in making [[M1911]]-style semi-automatic pistols and components. The company was acquired by Remington Outdoor Company in 2012. In 2015, the Para brand ceased production and was folded into Remington.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/breaking-remington-kills-para-usa-brand/ |title=Remington Kills Para USA Brand |website=thetruthaboutguns.com |date=2015-02-09}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=October 2024}}
==History==
Para-Ordnance was founded in Canada in 1985 by two childhood friends, Ted Szabo and Thanos Polyzos. Szabo was born in Hungary and his family fled the country when the Soviets invaded during the Hungarian Revolution in 1956.<ref name="findarticles1">{{Cite web |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_8_53/ai_n19313650/ |title=Para-Ord's designer, Ted Szabo, passes at 60 &#124; Guns Magazine &#124; Find Articles at BNET |access-date=2011-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918231036/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_8_53/ai_n19313650 |archive-date=2008-09-18 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Polyzos was born in Greece and later emigrated to Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gunweek.com/2002/feature0520.html|title=Para-Ordnance 7.45 Companion Takes Browning Design to DAO|author=Phil W. Johnston|date=2002|publisher=Gunweek.com|accessdate=2015-01-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115191139/http://www.gunweek.com/2002/feature0520.html|archive-date=2016-01-15|url-status=dead}}</ref> On March 28, 2007, Ted Szabo died at the age of 60. The company's first product was a plastic [[Paintball marker|paintball gun]], the Model 85 "Dye Marking Tactical Machine Pistol", designed for police and military training purposes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Handguns|work=Gun Digest|date=July 2, 2012|page=76}}</ref>
Para-Ordnance Mfg Inc. had a factory in [[Markham, Ontario]], Canada. When last reported, the company was estimated to have an annual revenue of over 9 million dollars and employ a staff of 60.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manta.com/ic/mt6c14m/ca/para-ordnance-mfg-inc |title=Para-Ordnance Manufacturing Scarborough ON, M1X 1C3 – |publisher=Manta.com |date= |accessdate=2015-01-22}}</ref> In January 2009, it was announced that the U.S. headquarters for Para-Ordnance's U.S. subsidiary (''Para USA'') would be set up in [[Pineville, North Carolina]]. Eventually, Para Ordnance moved to North Carolina and became a totally U.S. company, Para USA.<ref name=HandgunsMag>{{cite web |url=http://www.handgunsmag.com/2012/01/30/breaking-news-freedom-group-acquires-para-usa/ |title=Breaking News: Freedom Group Acquires Para USA - Handguns |publisher=Handgunsmag.com |date=January 30, 2012 |accessdate=2015-01-22 |archive-date=2013-01-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130125215350/http://www.handgunsmag.com/2012/01/30/breaking-news-freedom-group-acquires-para-usa/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In January 2012, Para USA was acquired to become a part of the [[Freedom Group]], a consortium of firearms manufacturers owned by [[Cerberus Capital Management]], a New York private equity investment firm.<ref name="HandgunsMag"/> Remington is Para USA's immediate corporate parent.
Since 2007, [[Remington Arms]] had been part of the [[Remington Outdoors Group|Remington Outdoor Company]] (ROC NYSE),<ref name="forbes.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/frankminiter/2014/05/16/americas-oldest-gun-maker-thumbs-its-nose-at-a-two-faced-senator/|title=Americas Oldest Gun Maker Thumbs its Nose at a Two Faced Senator Charles Schumer |first=Frank |last=Miniter |magazine=Forbes}}</ref> which is owned by Cerberus Capital Management. Freedom Group had previously purchased [[Marlin Firearms]] and [[DPMS Panther Arms]] in 2007. Cerberus combined DPMS and other firearm companies with [[Remington Arms]], [[Bushmaster Firearms International]], and Cobb Manufacturing to form the [[Freedom Group]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://accurateshooter.wordpress.com/2007/12/15/cerberus-acquires-dpms/ |title=DPMS Acquired By Cerberus. Joins Bushmaster and Remington. |work=AccurateShooter.com}}</ref>
In 2014, the six subsidiary companies that would relocate and consolidate into [[Remington Arms]]'s new state-of-the-art non-union production facility in [[Huntsville, Alabama]] were: Advanced Armament Corp, Lawrenceville, Georgia; Montana Rifleman, Kalispell, Montana; TAPCO, Kennesaw, Georgia; LAR Manufacturing, West Jordan, Utah; [[DPMS Panther Arms]], St. Cloud, Minnesota; and Para USA (Para-Ordnance), Pineville, North Carolina.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2014/05/remington_arms_alabama_ny_safe_act.html |title=Remington Arms moving two assembly lines from Ilion to Alabama because of NY Safe Act, senator says |work=Syracuse.com |date=May 16, 2014}}</ref> Remington stated that it would consolidate its production from those six locations into Huntsville in order to increase efficiency, and reduce production and labor costs.<ref>[http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/remington-to-move-production-of-two-gun-lines-from-new-york-to-alabama-20140516 Remington to move production of two gun lines from New York to Alabama] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506041509/http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/remington-to-move-production-of-two-gun-lines-from-new-york-to-alabama-20140516 |date=May 6, 2016 }}</ref><ref>[http://yellowhammernews.com/nationalpolitics/remington-arms-moving-1200-jobs-ny-alabama Remington Arms moving 1200 jobs from NY to Alabama] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222025001/http://yellowhammernews.com/nationalpolitics/remington-arms-moving-1200-jobs-ny-alabama |date=December 22, 2016 }}/</ref><ref>[http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_25779348/minnesota-st-cloud-based-gun-maker-moving-alabama Minnesota St. Cloud based gun maker moving to Alabama] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120011442/http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_25779348/minnesota-st-cloud-based-gun-maker-moving-alabama |date=January 20, 2016 }}</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20140520205409/http://www.sctimes.com/story/money/2014/05/16/st-cloud-gunmaker-moving-alabama/9175723/ St. Cloud gunmaker moving to Alabama]</ref>
In February 2015, Remington Outdoor Company announced that the "integration" of Para USA into Remington would occur with the move of Para USA to Remington's Huntsville, Alabama facility in March 2015. This also included the cessation of the Para name as a separate brand in the Freedom Group.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.remington.com/pages/news-and-resources/press-releases/2015/corporate/remingtonannouncesparaintegration.aspx |title=Remington Announces Para Integration |date=February 9, 2015 |accessdate=June 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624182209/http://www.remington.com/pages/news-and-resources/press-releases/2015/corporate/remingtonannouncesparaintegration.aspx |archive-date=2015-06-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Products==
Para offers a wide range of products for the law enforcement, [[military]], and [[civilian]] markets.
Para-Ordnance was the originator of a high capacity magazine [[M1911]]-style [[pistol]]. Para-Ordnance was also the manufacturer of the first double-action-only 1911-style pistol. The company has created a true double-stack 1911 pistol, in addition to single- and double-stack pistols in [[.45 ACP]], [[.40 S&W]], [[9 mm Parabellum]], and [[.38 Super]] calibers.  Para pistols have found a variety of uses, including competition, law enforcement, [[concealed carry]], and general shooting. The introduction of the LDA (Light Double Action) allowed law enforcement agencies to use 1911-style pistols while still addressing the perceived liability issues of a single-action pistol.
In 2009, Para-Ordnance purchased the rights to the LR-300 and announced its version as the TTR "Tactical Target Rifle", which featured an over-the-barrel delayed gas blowback system, dubbed DIGS, which lessens recoil when compared with a traditional gas system. The TTR also relocated the recoil spring assembly over the barrel and under the handguard, allowing it to have a true folding stock.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.policemag.com/channel/weapons/articles/2009/02/para-usa-tactical-target-rifle.aspx |author=Mike Detty|title=Para USA Tactical Target Rifle |work=POLICE Magazine |date=February 1, 2009 |accessdate=January 1, 2015}}</ref> Production ceased in 2011 when Para USA exited the rifle market.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2011/10/03/para-usa-exits-rifle-market/|title=PARA USA Exits Rifle Market|date=October 3, 2011|author=Johnson, Steve|work=The Firearm Blog|accessdate=January 23, 2012}}</ref>
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:P14-45 Mag.JPG|A P14-45 magazine.
File:Reconcommandr.jpg|A Para USA Recon Commander High Capacity Ion Bond finish
File:Commelite.jpg|Para USA Elite Commander Alloy Frame Ion Bond finish
</gallery>
==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [http://para-usa.com/ Official Para USA Homepage]
{{Freedom Group}}
[[Category:Defunct firearms manufacturers of the United States]]