The History of Mossberg

O.F. Mossberg & Sons is a firearms company built on a simple, unshakeable principle: make guns that ordinary people can afford, and make them so reliable that they never need a second thought. In an industry often defined by luxury, prestige, and collector-grade pricing, Mossberg has been the consistent voice for the working hunter, the budget-conscious homeowner, and the police officer who needs a shotgun that will fire every single time without costing a month's salary. Founded in 1919 by a Swedish immigrant who had worked for both Iver Johnson and Marlin-Rockwell, Mossberg's century-long journey is a testament to the power of pragmatic design, vertical integration, and an almost stubborn commitment to serving the everyday shooter. From the legendary Mossberg 500 pump-action shotgun — the most prolific American shotgun of the modern era — to the battle-tested 590A1 that rides in US military vehicles worldwide, Mossberg firearms are the definition of "built for the real world."

Founding: Oscar Mossberg and the Swedish Immigrant's Dream

Oscar Frederick Mossberg was born in 1866 in Sweden, where he apprenticed as a machinist and developed the deep mechanical fluency that would define his career. In 1886, at the age of 20, Mossberg emigrated to the United States, settling in the industrial heartland of New England. He found work in the firearms industry almost immediately — first at Iver Johnson's Arms & Cycle Works in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, where he rose to become a plant superintendent, and later at the Marlin-Rockwell Corporation during World War I.

At Marlin-Rockwell, Mossberg managed the production of M1917 Browning machine guns for the war effort — an experience that exposed him to high-volume manufacturing at the cutting edge of firearms technology. When the war ended and military contracts dried up, Mossberg saw an opportunity. He was 53 years old — an age when most men think about retirement — but Oscar Mossberg was thinking about starting a company.

In March 1919, together with his sons Iver and Harold, Mossberg founded O.F. Mossberg & Sons in a small rented loft in New Haven, Connecticut. The company's first product was not a shotgun but a small, utilitarian four-shot .22 caliber pocket pistol called the Brownie. It was simple, affordable, and functional — exactly the formula that would define Mossberg for the next century.

The Early Years: From Pocket Pistols to Bolt-Action .22s

Through the 1920s and 1930s, Mossberg focused on a narrow but profitable niche: affordable, well-made .22 caliber firearms for the everyday American. The company produced bolt-action rifles, semi-automatic rifles, and training rifles — simple guns that a farmer could afford for pest control, that a father could buy to teach his son to shoot, and that summer camps and shooting clubs could purchase in quantity.

Mossberg's bolt-action .22s earned a reputation for surprising accuracy given their modest price tags. Models like the Mossberg 44US — a .22 target rifle that was adopted by the US military as a training rifle during World War II — demonstrated that Mossberg could build precision instruments when the occasion demanded. The 44US featured a heavy barrel, an aperture rear sight, and a trigger that rivaled rifles costing far more. Thousands of American soldiers learned the fundamentals of marksmanship on Mossberg .22s before graduating to M1 Garands and M1 Carbines.

Oscar Mossberg died in 1937, but the company he founded continued under the leadership of his sons. Through the Great Depression, World War II, and the post-war boom, O.F. Mossberg & Sons remained steadfastly focused on value-driven firearms for civilian shooters. The company was small, efficient, and vertically integrated — Mossberg made its own barrels, machined its own parts, and assembled its own guns. This control over the manufacturing process allowed Mossberg to keep costs low and quality consistent, even as larger competitors struggled with supply chains and labor costs.

Key Historical Milestones: The Shotgun That Changed Everything

The Mossberg 500 — America's Workhorse (1961–Present)

In 1961, Mossberg introduced the firearm that would define its legacy: the Mossberg 500 pump-action shotgun. The 500 was designed from the ground up to be durable, modular, and affordable — a shotgun that could hunt ducks on Saturday, guard the home on Sunday, and do both for decades without a hiccup. Its aluminum receiver kept weight down and prevented rust — a significant advantage over the steel receivers of competing shotguns. Its twin action bars ensured smooth, bind-free cycling. And its modular barrel system meant that a single 500 could serve as a 28-inch field gun for waterfowl, an 18.5-inch home defense weapon, or a rifled slug gun for deer season — all by swapping the barrel in seconds with no tools.

The 500's ambidextrous tang-mounted safety — located on top of the receiver where it can be operated by either thumb — became a signature Mossberg feature and one that left-handed shooters particularly appreciated. Its shell lifter stayed out of the way during loading, eliminating the pinched thumbs that plagued shooters of competing designs.

The Mossberg 500's success was immediate and enduring. Over 10 million units have been produced across all variants, making it the second best-selling shotgun design in history after the Remington 870 — and arguably the best-selling pump-action design still in active production today. The 500's versatility, reliability, and unmatched value have made it the default recommendation for first-time shotgun buyers for more than 60 years.

The 590A1 — The Military's Choice (1989–Present)

In 1989, the United States military conducted exhaustive testing to select a standard-issue combat shotgun. Mossberg submitted a militarized variant of the 500 — the Mossberg 590A1 — and it passed every test. The 590A1 distinguished itself from the civilian 500 in several critical ways: a heavy-walled barrel (the same profile as the M16's barrel), a metal trigger guard and safety button (replacing the 500's polymer components for extreme durability), a bayonet lug, and a Parkerized finish for corrosion resistance.

The 590A1's defining moment came during the Mil-Spec 3443E test: the military required the shotgun to fire 3,000 rounds of full-power 00 buckshot without a single malfunction. The 590A1 passed. It became the standard pump-action combat shotgun of the US Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard, and has seen combat in every American conflict from Panama to the present day. It is the only pump-action shotgun to meet US military specifications for combat use.

The Maverick 88 — Value Without Compromise (1988–Present)

In 1988, Mossberg introduced the Maverick 88, a budget-priced pump-action shotgun designed to compete with imported shotguns flooding the American market. The Maverick 88 used many of the same components as the Mossberg 500 but simplified manufacturing where possible — a cross-bolt safety instead of the tang safety, a different forearm design, and assembly in Eagle Pass, Texas (which allowed Mossberg to stamp "Made in the USA" while keeping labor costs lower).

The Maverick 88 was a gamble: could Mossberg produce an American-made shotgun that competed with Turkish and Chinese imports on price without sacrificing the reliability that made the 500 famous? The answer was a resounding yes. The Maverick 88 became the best-selling budget shotgun in America, offering Mossberg 500-quality internals and interchangeable barrels at a price point that made it accessible to virtually anyone. For many first-time gun owners, the Maverick 88 is not just their first shotgun — it is their introduction to responsible firearm ownership.

Iconic Firearms: Beyond the Pump Gun

Mossberg 930 SPX — Semi-Automatic Tactical (2003–Present)

The Mossberg 930 semi-automatic shotgun, introduced in 2003, brought Mossberg's value-driven philosophy to the gas-operated market. The 930's self-regulating gas system handled everything from light target loads to full-power buckshot and slugs without adjustment. The 930 SPX tactical variant — with an 18.5-inch barrel, extended magazine tube, ghost-ring sights, and a rugged matte finish — became a popular choice for law enforcement agencies and civilian home defenders who wanted the speed of a semi-auto without the complexity or cost of a Benelli M4.

Mossberg Patriot — Bolt-Action Value (2015–Present)

Mossberg's re-entry into the bolt-action rifle market came with the Mossberg Patriot in 2015. Chambered in everything from .243 Winchester to .375 Ruger, the Patriot featured a spiral-fluted bolt, an adjustable trigger, and a button-rifled barrel — all at a price point that undercut competing American bolt-actions by a significant margin. The Patriot's walnut-stocked variant recalled the classic American hunting rifles of the mid-20th century, while the synthetic-stocked versions offered all-weather practicality. It proved that Mossberg's value engineering applied to rifles as effectively as it did to shotguns.

Mossberg Shockwave — The Non-NFA Firearm (2017–Present)

The Mossberg 590 Shockwave, introduced in 2017, was a product of legal creativity as much as mechanical design. By equipping a 590 receiver with a 14-inch barrel and a bird's-head pistol grip instead of a stock, Mossberg created a firearm that was technically not a shotgun under the National Firearms Act — it was classified as a "firearm" and could be sold without a tax stamp or the extensive paperwork required for short-barreled shotguns. The Shockwave's compact, menacing profile made it an instant conversation piece and a legitimate close-range defensive tool. It also demonstrated Mossberg's willingness to push boundaries and find creative solutions within the legal framework.

Legacy and Modern Era: 100+ Years of Family Ownership

Mossberg remains one of the few family-owned firearms companies in the United States. Unlike Remington (which has cycled through multiple corporate owners and a bankruptcy), Winchester (whose brand is licensed to various manufacturers), or Colt (now part of the Colt CZ Group), Mossberg has remained under the control of the Mossberg family for over 100 years. This continuity has given the company a long-term perspective that publicly traded or private-equity-owned competitors often lack.

Today, Mossberg's product line is broader than ever. The Mossberg 590S introduced the ability to cycle mini-shells, standard shells, and magnum shells interchangeably without an adapter — a genuinely useful innovation. The company has also expanded into pistol manufacturing with the MC1sc and MC2c striker-fired handguns. While Mossberg may never challenge Glock or SIG in the handgun market, these pistols demonstrate the company's continued willingness to evolve.

The company operates from facilities in North Haven, Connecticut (its headquarters and main manufacturing plant) and Eagle Pass, Texas (where Maverick shotguns are assembled). The Mossberg name, now synonymous with the pump-action shotgun, continues to represent exactly what Oscar Mossberg intended in 1919: firearms that work, firearms that everyone can afford, and firearms that earn their keep through decades of hard use.

MatchMyGun Verdict

Mossberg does not make the most beautiful shotguns. It does not produce hand-engraved masterpieces or limited-edition collector's items. What Mossberg makes are tools — reliable, affordable, hard-working tools that have protected homes, served soldiers, and fed families for over a century. The Mossberg 500 and its military-grade sibling, the 590A1, are simply the most proven pump-action shotguns on the planet. The Maverick 88 is the best value in American firearms, period. And the company's continued independence and family ownership are a rarity in an industry dominated by corporate consolidation.

When someone asks "What shotgun should I buy?" the answer almost always starts with Mossberg. Not because it's the most prestigious, but because it's the one that works — every time, all the time. Oscar Mossberg's 1919 vision of an affordable, reliable firearm for the average person is alive and well, and it wears the Mossberg name. For hunters, defenders, and anyone who needs a shotgun they can bet their life on, Mossberg delivers — and has been delivering for more than 100 years.