Ithaca Gun Company
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Ithaca Guns, USA LLC is a manufacturer of high-quality shotguns and rifles, founded in Ithaca, New York in 1880. The factory was first located in the Fall Creek neighborhood of the city, on a slope later known as Gun Hill, where the nearby waterfall supplied the main source of energy for the plant. In later years, the company came under criticism regarding environmental pollution of Fall Creek, which led to a Superfund remediation effort. The company has been through numerous reorganizations, name changes, and closures over the years. In June 2005, the indebted Ithaca Gun Company closed its doors and its assets were sold at auction in November of 2005. Currently, a limited liability corporation is resuming operations in Upper Sandusky, Ohio.
Over the years, Ithaca made numerous firearms, most notably the Ithaca 37 shotgun. Ithaca became famous for building a firearm based on expired patents owned by Remington. In 1989, Remington ironically purchased a design from Ithaca, the Mag 10 shotgun, which they produced as the SP-10. Ithaca also produced the M1911 pistol and the M3 Grease Gun for the United States military during the Second World War.
