Para USA, a handgun manufacturer known mostly for value-prices 1911s, has been acquired by Freedom Group Inc., the corporate parent of such long-gun brands as Remington, Bushmaster, DPMS/Panther Arms, and Marlin.

The Freedom Group acquired rights to the product designs, machinery, and inventory of the Pineville, N.C.,-based Para.

Para USA was founded in 1985 in Canada as Para-Ordnance by childhood friends Ted Szabo and Thanos Polyzos. Para is mostly known for its innovations with 1911s, including high-capacity, double-stack magazines, the first double-action-only 1911, and the proprietary LDA (Light Double Action) trigger. The LDA enabled hammer-down (rather than cocked-and-locked) carry for law enforcement agencies, which addressed perceived liability issues with 1911s.

In 2011, Para USA introduced 14 new 1911s in the centennial year of John Moses Browning's pistol.

The acquisition gives Freedom Group a handgun brand that complements Remington's R1 1911 pistol, according to E. Scott Blackwell, Freedom Group's chief sales and marketing officer.

"Para is a perfect complement to our industry-leading family of brands, and our success in 2011 with the Remington R1 1911," according to a statement from Blackwell. "We look forward to deploying both human and financial resources to continue to develop and supply current and future handguns for consumers and our channel partners."

Para will continue day-to-day operations at their Pineville, N.C., facility.