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We’ve been running into YHM cans for over 20 years, making them one of the oldest in the relatively young suppressor business, but the company actually goes back much further

The family behind Massachusetts-based Yankee Hill Machine, which has become a leader in the U.S. firearms-suppressor category, will be celebrating the company’s Diamond Jubilee throughout 2026.

I’ve known the Graham family for years and have stopped in at their booths at SHOT, NRA, CanCon, etc for well over a decade.

The company was founded in an old garage by U.S. Army veteran James H. Graham and Wallace Judd during the Korean War in early 1951. Based in a part of Northampton known locally as “Yankee Hill,” the shop’s name was an obvious one.

For its first decade they were focused on turning out nuts and bolts and custom machining projects, then during Vietnam moved into military procurement, making cleaning rods and related products for the Army’s new M-16 rifles in 1967. By that time, YHM was based in an old 19th century brock mill.

After 1984, when James J. Graham, the founder’s son, took over, things really started to change.

• 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

We’ll be hanging out with YHM off and on through the upcoming year to help celebrate their 75th.