Para-Ordnance

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Para-Ordnance Mfg. Inc.

Type	Private
Founded	1985
Headquarters	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Key people	President Ted Szabo
Industry	Defense
Products	Firearms
Employees	~ (65)
Website	www.paraord.com

Para-Ordnance is a firearms manufacturer located in Toronto, Canada.

[edit] Overview

Para-Ordnance is known worldwide as the originators of the high magazine capacity M1911 style pistol. Para-Ordnance offers a wide range of quality-engineered products for the law enforcement, military, and civilian markets. The company has created the first true double action 1911 pistol, in addition to single- and double-stack pistols in .45 ACP, .40 S&W, 9mm, and .38 super calibers. Para pistols have found a variety of uses, including competition, law enforcement, concealed carry, and general target shooting.

Para Ordnance was also the manufacturer of the first double action only 1911-style pistol. The introduction of the LDA (Light Double Action) allowed Law Enforcement agencies to use 1911 style pistols while still addressing liability issues of a single action pistol.

In recent years Para-Ordnance has made moves to establish themselves as a major handgun production company, competing with companies such as Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory, Inc., and Kimber Manufacturing. One of their more notable moves was the sponsoring of professional shooter Todd Jarrett, winner of several world-wide pistol shooting competitions.