North America Arms Corp NAACO History

[wjklassen]

Hello, everyone:

I'm researching the history of the North America Arms Corp which operated in Toronto from about 1958 to 1962. It produced .22 and centre-fire rifles and shotguns at its plant there. If anyone has any documents (catalogues, original advertisements, correspondence, etc.) that you would be willing share with me, I would appreciate it. Also any information regarding the circumstances under which the company went bankrupt and what became of its remaining inventory of parts and other assets would be of interest to me.

Thanks for your help.

Bill Klassen
Whitehorse, Y.T.

 

[MiG25]

I've got the 1961 Catelogue, it is 40 pages plus a 4 page price list.

 

[Rob]

Good luck with your research. I will keep my eyes open for anything that might help. I saw this empty can at auction the other day.

 

[Wilbur1005]

Bill, find an old copy of Trigger Talk and most of the information about the company is in there. They also imported Sako VL63s and had the butt plate stamped NACCO as well as the barrel. Regards
Wilf

 

[gunrunner100]

Bill, find an old copy of Trigger Talk and most of the information about the company is in there. They also imported Sako VL63s and had the butt plate stamped NACCO as well as the barrel. Regards
Wilf

I may have this publication, as I remember reading it some time ago. I'll take a look.

 

[MiG25]

Regarding "Trigger Talk" does anyone know how many issues were published or if it was a one off?

 

[Wilbur1005]

Trigger Talk only ran for two years and the digest form morphed into the catalogue format for Peterbrough Guns which was a major wholesaler for firearms in eastern Canada. I am attaching a few jpegs of Trigger Talk.

View attachment 490914 View attachment 490915 View attachment 490917 View attachment 490916

 

[conor_90]

I've got the 1961 Catelogue, it is 40 pages plus a 4 page price list.

Any scans or pictures from it?

Thanks

 

[wheaty]

They also made the Brigadier pistol that could morph into a carbine.

 

[Crashman]

I had a single shot 22 from North American Arms when I was a kid, looked like it could easily be made into a bolt action repeater with a detachable magazine. The safety was wonky on it so I traded it off for a Carcano 6.5mm. Shot a few critters with that little rifle, it had great ergonomics as I recall.

 

[MiG25]

Any scans or pictures from it?

Thanks

It's the same as posted above, but the "Trigger Talk" has taken a beating and is incomplete.

 

[conor_90]

I was hoping for a few pictures of the hunting and milsurp rifles for sale.

 

[MiG25]

I'll see what I can do, I don't think there are any milsurps though.

 

[Why not?]

If you want to drop by, Bill, I can show you a lovely NAACO .222 built on a SAKO L46 receiver that I gave Marg before we were married. That's almost 54 years ago, so 1967.

Ted

 

[MiG25]

Can anyone identify all the models? Obviously the rifles are numbered by 10's and the shotguns by 5's.

 

[conor_90]

Thanks for sharing

I’ve never seen a NAACO branded finnwolf but the bolts seem to have had a pipeline straight to northern BC

 

[MiG25]

Thanks for sharing

I’ve never seen a NAACO branded finnwolf but the bolts seem to have had a pipeline straight to northern BC

The Model 90 may have been the cheapest new rifle on the market that wasn't a 30WCF.

 

[rattrapper]

I have a NAACO Grizzly Model 30 with the Lyman target sights. This rifle has no markings ,no calibre or manufactures marks.
The story I got was it belonged to a guy that either worked or did some work for NAACO.
Trigger talks editor was Doug Landry and when I was in school I was friends with his son.Mr.Landry was a talented artist and
a good guy.

 

[wjklassen]

I've got a Model 90D in .30-06 that has a NAACO barrel on an FN action with a Sako trigger group in a fine walnut cheek piece stock with hand cut checkering.

 

[wjklassen]

Further to Wilf's note, if anyone knows of a NAACO-branded Sako Finnwolf lever rifle, I'd like to contact the owner. I've never seen one of those.
Thanks.
Bill