American Hunter – August 2019

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ergonomic and robust. Shortly into delib-
erations, we settled on a short barrel, the
better to carry and swing just about any-
where without interference. We wanted
to use a fat bolt handle to ensure a hunter
could find it and operate the rifle under
stress or when wearing gloves. We
thought a one-piece scope base factory-
installed would be a nice touch, so all a
hunter needed to do upon purchase was
find rings to mount his favorite scope.
We wanted to use a composite stock and
a weatherproof finish on the metalwork.
Finally, we didn’t want to break the bank.

As a rifle for everyman, this needed to

remain in somewhat affordable territory.

To be honest, these are not the only

characteristics we debated. Wood stocks,

blued metal, TriNyte coating, long

actions—it was all on the table at one point

or another. Such is the nature of the pro-

cess we engaged. I think we got it right.

To do so of course we had to go to Ilion.

Ilion, .., has been the home of

Remington ever since company founder

Eliphalet Remington made his first barrel

there, in the “forge in the gorge,” in .

The famous Remington Arms factory that

now sits at the center of town can trace

its heritage to the s. At the time the

Erie Canal was being built. Eliphalet con-

vinced the company digging it to run the

canal right down the street in front of his

factory, so he could carry barrels from

now sits at the center of town can trace

its heritage to the s. At the time the

vinced the company digging it to run the

canal right down the street in front of his

factory, so he could carry barrels from Photo: Russell Graves