LSB#: 200807DE17 Make: Para-Ordnance Model: P12.45 Serial Number: RK2073 Year of Manufacture: 1990s-Early 2000s Caliber.45 ACP Action Type: Single Action SA Semi-Automatic Pistol Fed by Detachable Magazine Markings: The right side of the frame is marked with the serial number, “PARA-ORDNANCE INC. LAUDERDALE FL”, and “MADE IN / CANADA”. The right side of the slide is. The Para-Ordnance P14-45 (14.45) is an improved derivative of the successful United States Armed Forces' M1911 pistol.Created by Para-Ordnance (now Para USA) in the 1980s, it was the first ever M1911 derivative to feature a high-capacity double-stack magazine. In the late 1980s, Toronto-based Para-Ordnance started selling 'high capacity conversion kits' for M1911A1 pistols, consisting of an. Based on the serial number I'd guess that your pistol was manufactured somewhere around 1996. You can call Para toll free 888-999-9386 and get the manufacture date. Then post here so I can add it to the list. Para USA (Para) was an American-owned firearms 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.
| Para-Ordnance | |
| Private | |
| Industry | Arms industry |
|---|---|
| Fate | Acquired (2012) |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founders | Ted Szabo and Thanos Polyzos |
| Defunct | 2015 (closure of brand) |
| Headquarters | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States |
| Products | Firearms |
| Parent | Remington Outdoor Company |
Para USA (Para) was an American-owned firearms 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.[1]
History[edit]
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.[2] Polyzos was born in Greece and later emigrated to Canada.[3] On March 28, 2007, Ted Szabo died at the age of 60. The company's first product was a plastic paintball gun, the Model 85 'Dye Marking Tactical Machine Pistol', designed for police and military training purposes.[4]
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.[5] 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.[6]
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.[6] Remington is Para USA's immediate corporate parent.
Since 2007, Remington Arms had been part of the Remington Outdoor Company (ROC NYSE),[7] 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.[8]
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.[9] 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.[10][11][12][13]
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 Huntville, Alabama facility in March 2015. This also included the cessation of the Para name as a separate brand in the Freedom Group. [14]
Products[edit]
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.[15] Production ceased in 2011 when Para USA exited the rifle market.[16]
Gallery[edit]
Para Ordnance Serial Number Years 7
A P14-45 magazine.
A Para USA Recon Commander High Capacity Ion Bond finish
Para USA Elite Commander Alloy Frame Ion Bond finish
References[edit]
- ^{{cite web|url=https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/breaking-remington-kills-para-usa-brand/%7C
- ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2011-09-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^Phil W. Johnston (2002). 'Para-Ordnance 7.45 Companion Takes Browning Design to DAO'. Gunweek.com. Archived from the original on 2016-01-15. Retrieved 2015-01-22.
- ^'Handguns'. Gun Digest. July 2, 2012. p. 76.
- ^'Para-Ordnance Manufacturing Scarborough ON, M1X 1C3 –'. Manta.com. Retrieved 2015-01-22.
- ^ ab'Breaking News: Freedom Group Acquires Para USA - Handguns'. Handgunsmag.com. January 30, 2012. Retrieved 2015-01-22.
- ^Miniter, Frank. 'Americas Oldest Gun Maker Thumbs its Nose at a Two Faced Senator Charles Schumer'. Forbes.
- ^'DPMS Acquired By Cerberus. Joins Bushmaster and Remington'. AccurateShooter.com.
- ^'Remington Arms moving two assembly lines from Ilion to Alabama because of NY Safe Act, senator says'. Syracuse.com. May 16, 2014.
- ^Remington to move production of two gun lines from New York to AlabamaArchived May 6, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- ^Remington Arms moving 1200 jobs from NY to AlabamaArchived December 22, 2016, at the Wayback Machine/
- ^Minnesota St. Cloud based gun maker moving to AlabamaArchived January 20, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- ^St. Cloud gunmaker moving to Alabama
- ^'Remington Announces Para Integration'. February 9, 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-06-24. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
- ^Mike Detty (February 1, 2009). 'Para USA Tactical Target Rifle'. POLICE Magazine. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
- ^Johnson, Steve (October 3, 2011). 'PARA USA Exits Rifle Market'. The Firearm Blog. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
External links[edit]
| Para-Ordnance P14-45 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Semi-automatic pistol |
| Place of origin | Canada United States |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Ted Szabo |
| Designed | 1980s |
| Manufacturer | Para USA (originally Para-Ordnance) |
| Unit cost | $884 (Expert 14.45) $919 (Expert 14.45 Stainless) $1,299 (Black Ops 14.45) $1,449 (Pro Custom 14.45) |
| Produced | 1990-present |
| Variants | Expert 14.45 Expert 14.45 Stainless Black Ops 14.45 Pro Custom 14.45 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 2.42 lb (1.1 kg) |
| Length | 8.5 in (216 mm) |
| Barrel length | 5 in (127 mm) |
| Cartridge | .45 ACP |
| Action | Short recoil operation |
| Feed system | 14-round detachable box magazine |
Auto Ordnance Serial Number Lookup
The Para-Ordnance P14-45 (14.45) is an improved derivative of the successful United States Armed Forces' M1911 pistol. Created by Para-Ordnance (now Para USA) in the 1980s, it was the first ever M1911 derivative to feature a high-capacity double-stack magazine.
In the late 1980s, Toronto-based Para-Ordnance started selling 'high capacity conversion kits' for M1911A1 pistols, consisting of an updated frame with a thicker grip to accommodate a double-stack magazine that was supplied with the kit, which doubled M1911's 7-round magazine capacity to 14; and a new trigger assembly with suitable dimensional changes to fit into the widened grip frame. With the success of the kits, Para-Ordnance began manufacturing complete M1911 pistols of its own in 1990.[1]
It was a M1911 variant that could do everything at a reasonable price.[2]
In 1999, the double-action-only LDA modification, was introduced.[1]
The P14-45 (later 14.45) is the standard model, and as its name hints, it is chambered in .45 ACP and has a magazine capacity of 14. Other versions include P16-40 (16.40) chambered .40 S&W and features a 16-round magazine, and P18-9 (18.9) which is chambered in 9×19mm Parabellum and features an 18-round magazine.
The Expert is the basic model of 14.45, it features a 5' match-grade barrel, beavertail grip safety, polymer grips and is available in black nitride or stainless finish.[3][4]
The Black Ops is the tactical model, differing from the Expert by having a ramped barrel, integral accessory rail, Trijicon Tritium night sights, ambidextrous thumb safety, VZ Operator Machined G10 grips and is coated in IonBond PVD.[5] The Black Ops model is also available in 'Recon' variant with a 4.25' barrel, and Combat variant with high-profile sights and a 5.5' barrel.
The Pro Custom is the competition model. It features a match-grade ramped barrel, adjustable sights, ambidextrous thumb safety, and like Black Ops, has G10 grips and coated in IonBond PVD.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ ab'Para-Ordnance P14-45 - Modern Firearms'. Modern Firearms. 2010-10-22. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
- ^'Para USA P14-45 | Gun Review'. Personal Defense World. 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
- ^'PARA: Expert 14.45'. para-usa.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-11. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
- ^'PARA: Expert 14.45 Stainless'. para-usa.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-12. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
- ^'PARA: Black Ops 14.45'. para-usa.com. Archived from the original on 2018-08-04. Retrieved 2018-08-09.
- ^'PARA: Custom 14.45'. para-usa.com. Archived from the original on 2016-07-19. Retrieved 2018-08-09.