In the late 19th century, the small town of Fulton, New York, became the birthplace of Hunter Arms Company. Created by a pair of ambitious individuals, John and Andrew Hunter, the company started its operation in a modest foundry. The brothers’ vision was to craft a line of shotguns that would be unrivaled in quality and craftsmanship, making the name “Hunter Arms” synonymous with excellence in the field of firearm manufacturing.
By the late 1930s Hunter Arms’ survival was in question. It filed for bankruptcy as World War II was coming to an end. The business was subsequently sold to Marlin Firearms in 1945, and management ran it as the L. C. Smith Gun Company. By 1950 the Fulton plant was closed and the L.C. Smith Gun Company was fully integrated into the Marlin factory in Connecticut.