Gordon Ingram

Lore & Background

Gordon Bailey Ingram was born on December 30, 1924, in Los Angeles, California. His first foray into weapons design came after his military service, when he designed the Ingram Model 6 in 1949 as a civilian. He later designed and manufactured the MAC-10 in 1964 and the MAC-11 in 1970, earning him the moniker 'father of the machine pistol.'

Ingram co-founded the Military Armament Corporation with Mitchell WerBell III, who designed the suppressor for the MAC-10. Ingram's design accomplishments spanned over forty years and included the Ranchero and Durango series of rifles, which were chambered in pistol-caliber rounds but did not share magazines with each other or with the MAC series.

Reader's Guide

Gordon Ingram's significance lies in his creation of the MAC-10 and MAC-11 machine pistols, which re-popularized the submachine gun and earned him recognition as 'the father of the machine pistol.' His designs, produced through the Military Armament Corporation, became iconic in the firearms world. Ingram's work also included the Ranchero and Durango rifle series, which emphasized interchangeability of ammunition and magazines. His collaborations with defense sector figures like Mitchell WerBell III further cemented his influence. Ingram's legacy endures through his innovative approach to compact automatic weapons and his role in shaping modern submachine gun design.

Did You Know?

• Gordon Ingram designed the Ingram Model 6 in 1949 as a civilian, after leaving the Army in 1945.
• The MAC-10 was designed in 1964 and the MAC-11 was introduced in 1970.