The family behind Yankee Hill Machine, leaders in the U.S. firearms-suppressor category, and in business since 1951, has announced that its 75th anniversary – also known as a Diamond Jubilee – will be celebrated by the company throughout 2026.

"It's a great honor for the Graham family to have been part of this company since its earliest days," said current YHM president/owner Chris Graham. "I know my grandfather James Graham would be tremendously proud to see that the small machine shop he helped establish during the Korean War has grown into a brand nationally recognized for quality, while dramatically expanding its scope of product offerings."

The company was founded by U.S. Army veteran James H. Graham and Wallace Judd in early 1951 in a part of Northampton MA known locally as Yankee Hill, from which the business would take its name.

"That original small business was primarily focused on turning out nuts and bolts, and custom machining projects," said Graham. "But things changed in the 1960's, when we started moving into military procurement, making cleaning rods and related products for the new M-16 rifles."

In 2005, YHM took another major step forward, turning out its first-ever firearm suppressors.

"Suppressors weren't new at that time, but they were a comparatively unknown and underutilized firearm accessory, " adds Graham. "We perceived a need for an affordable, durable suppressor that the average shooter could afford. We concentrated on delivering a high-performing suppressor while keeping prices as low as possible, and that – along with being a 100% American-owned, designed, and sourced business – is what's behind the YHM value proposition we've maintained until this day."

As 2026 begins, the Grahams plan to celebrate the 75th anniversary by attending the 2026 SHOT Show in Las Vegas as a family from January 20-23. Second-generation leader James J. Graham will join with third-generation leaders (his sons Kevin and Christopher, former co-owner and current president/owner respectively,) to formally kick off the year of celebration.

Chris Graham summarizes with the following statement: "We're deeply honored that our family will be together for SHOT 2026, the biggest single event in the U.S. firearms industry. It's always a thrill to meet with our many distribution partners, the media folks who cover the goings-on in this business, and of course the many fans and customers who've helped build YHM into an American brand that everyone can be proud of. Now, with 75 successful years behind us, we're focused intently on growing and improving over the next 25 and being even bigger and better for our 100-year anniversary."

KEY DATES IN YHM HISTORY

• 1951 – Yankee Hill Machine is founded in a garage in Northampton MA by James H. Graham and Wallace Judd, making nuts, bolts and screws for the local and regional market
• c. 1964 – Yankee Hill Machine moves out of the garage and into space at a 19th-century brick mill
• c. 1967 – First M-16 cleaning rods fabricated for US National Armory under contract
• 1984 - James J. Graham takes the lead at YHM
• 1985 – First Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) machines arrive at YHM
• 1990 - First YHM-designed firearm accessories made and sold to industry partners (sights, muzzle devices, barrels, etc.)
• First YHM products are offered for retail sale under the YHM name.
• 2002 - First YHM website goes live
• 2002 – YHM attends first SHOT Show
• 2005 – First YHM-made suppressors are offered on the national market
• 2007-06 – YHM suppressor line rapidly expands; first national distribution partners join
• 2008 – First YHM-branded firearm is offered
• 2006 – YHM team attends first NRA Show
• 2012 – YHM expands suppressor manufacturing
• 2013 - Christopher and Kevin Graham become co-owners of YHM
• 2017 – YHM moves into steel building complex in Easthampton MA
• 2018 – YHM is completely CNC-focused for all machining operations
• 2022 – The YHM Turbo 3 becomes the first company suppressor to be officially rated Gold as part of the National Tactical Officers Association "Member Tested and Recommended" program.
• 2024 – Chris Graham becomes sole president/owner of YHM 2025
• YHM introduces the VICTRA-12, the company's first shotgun suppressor