The Shooter’s Companion

Shotguns·makers·models·history

An independent reference on sporting shotguns, for shooters, collectors, buyers and sellers.

Remington

Drawing of a canal and towpath passing workshops in Ilion beneath the wooded slopes of the Mohawk Valley.
Drawing: Ilion in the Mohawk Valley.

Origins

Eliphalet Remington began making barrels in 1816.2 By 1828 his orders had allowed him to establish a factory beside the Erie Canal in Ilion, New York.3, 4 In 1856 Remington and his three sons formed E. Remington and Sons.5 The company entered bankruptcy in 1886, and in 1888 a partnership led by Marcellus Hartley bought it and reorganised it as Remington Arms Company.5

Du Pont bought a 60 per cent stake in 1933 and completed its purchase in 1980.5, 6 It sold Remington to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in 1993.7 Cerberus Capital Management took ownership in 2007.8

Factories and partners

Remington's early factory stood beside the Erie Canal in Ilion, New York, in the United States.3, 4 Its later address was 14 Hoefler Avenue.4 RemArms closed the site on 4 March 2024 and moved out in August 2025.9 RemArms announced plans for its global headquarters, a manufacturing operation and a research and development centre in LaGrange, Georgia.10

On 8 October 2026 Powell Max announced that newly made firearms from LaGrange were expected to reach US distributors and retailers that autumn.11 The initial rollout was expected to include Model 700 rifles and Model 870 shotguns.12 Powell Max held an initial 1.5 per cent stake in Blackrod Holdings, which holds the exclusive rights to manufacture and sell Remington Firearms.13

Timeline

1816

Eliphalet Remington begins barrel making.2

By 1828

Remington establishes a factory beside the Erie Canal in Ilion.3

1856

Remington and his sons form E. Remington and Sons.5

1886

The company enters bankruptcy.5

1888

Marcellus Hartley's partnership buys and reorganises the company.5

1920

Remington Arms Company, Inc. incorporates.5

1932

Remington introduces the Model 32 .14

1933

Du Pont acquires a 60 per cent stake.5

1950

Remington introduces the Model 870 pump shotgun.15

1956

Remington introduces the Model 58.16

1959

Remington introduces the Model 878 Automaster.16

1963

Remington introduces the Model 1100 .17

1973

Remington introduces the Model 3200.18

1980

Du Pont completes its purchase of Remington.6

1987

Remington introduces the 11-87.19

1993

Du Pont sells Remington to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.7

2007

Cerberus acquires ownership.8

2015

Remington introduces the V3.20

4 March 2024

RemArms closes the Ilion site.9, 4

August 2025

RemArms physically vacates the Ilion site.9, 4

8 October 2026

Powell Max announces expected autumn retail deliveries from LaGrange.11

Families and models

Remington introduced the Model 32 over-and-under in 1932.14 Production ended about a decade later, as costs rose and America entered the Second World War.21 Remington introduced the Model 3200 in 1973.18

Remington's gas-operated autoloaders progressed from the Model 58 in 1956 through the 878 Automaster in 1959 to the 1100 in 1963.16 The 11-87 developed from the 1100 in 1987, adding a self-regulating gas system and RemChoke .19 Both the 1100 and the 11-87 are gas-operated.22 The V3 followed in 2015, using VersaPort with two short recoil springs beside the .20

Reading the names and numbers

The name 11-87 belongs to the model derived from the 1100 and introduced in 1987.19 RemChoke is the name of its screw-in tubes.19 Remington's barrel date codes use the letters B L A C K P O W D E R X for the months January to December.23 Under this code KP reads as May 1923 and RYY as November 1952.24

Marks

Remington's green gun boxes and logo gave rise to the name Big Green.25 The code on a Remington shotgun barrel gives the barrel's month and year of manufacture.26 Because a barrel is easily replaced, its code dates the whole gun only if the barrel is original to it.26

Drawing of the action of an over-and-under shotgun.
Drawing: Detail of an over-and-under action.

Sources

  1. Remington announces LaGrange headquarters and manufacturing, Maker statement. Governor of Georgia / RemArms, 2021-11-08. maker website
  2. Remington 1816–2016 bicentennial history, Founding. NRA Publications / Remington, 2016. magazine
  3. Remington 1816–2016 bicentennial history, Ilion factory context. NRA Publications / Remington, 2016. magazine
  4. Remington Site C brownfield application, Ilion location. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation / applicant, 2026-01-12. book
  5. Remington Arms Company history, Early dates. Company Histories. book
  6. Remington Arms Company history, Du Pont purchase. Company Histories. book
  7. Remington Arms Company history, CDR. Company Histories. book
  8. Remington 1816–2016 bicentennial history, Ownership. NRA Publications / Remington, 2016. magazine
  9. Remington Site C brownfield application, Closure. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation / applicant, 2026-01-12. book
  10. Remington announces LaGrange headquarters and manufacturing, LaGrange plan. Governor of Georgia / RemArms, 2021-11-08. maker website
  11. Remington LaGrange production announcement, Production plan. Powell Max Limited / GlobeNewswire, 2026-10-08. maker website
  12. Remington LaGrange production announcement, Initial models. Powell Max Limited / GlobeNewswire, 2026-10-08. maker website
  13. Remington LaGrange production announcement, Ownership rights. Powell Max Limited / GlobeNewswire, 2026-10-08. maker website
  14. Remington Model 332 Over-Under review, Model 32 introduction. American Rifleman, 2003-08. magazine
  15. Remington 1816–2016 bicentennial history, Model 870. NRA Publications / Remington, 2016. magazine
  16. Remington Autoloading Shotguns: The Epic, Gas designs. Jeff Johnston / American Rifleman, 2019-12-26. magazine
  17. Remington Model 1100 museum record, Introduction. NRA National Firearms Museum. magazine
  18. Remington Model 332 Over-Under review, Model 3200. American Rifleman, 2003-08. magazine
  19. Remington Autoloading Shotguns: The Epic, 11-87. Jeff Johnston / American Rifleman, 2019-12-26. magazine
  20. Remington Autoloading Shotguns: The Epic, V3. Jeff Johnston / American Rifleman, 2019-12-26. magazine
  21. Remington Model 332 Over-Under review, Model 32 end. American Rifleman, 2003-08. magazine
  22. Remington Model 1100 and 11-87 owner's manual — gas operation, Gas operation. Remington Arms Company; copy hosted by Rem870.com. manual
  23. Serialization / Date of Manufacture: Remington barrel codes, Month codes. Blue Book of Gun Values, hosted by NRA Museums. book
  24. Serialization / Date of Manufacture: Remington barrel codes, Examples. Blue Book of Gun Values, hosted by NRA Museums. book
  25. Remington Autoloading Shotguns: The Epic, Green identity. Jeff Johnston / American Rifleman, 2019-12-26. magazine
  26. Serialization / Date of Manufacture: Remington barrel codes, Original barrel. Blue Book of Gun Values, hosted by NRA Museums. book

Revised 2026-10-14