As time marched on and the automobile replaced horse-drawn vehicles, Capewell looked for new opportunities, and, in 1939, began a collaboration with the U.S. government to develop specialized hardware for military paratroopers. We are proud to say that Capewell hardware has been standard equipment on U.S. military parachutes ever since the first Army Airborne parachute units were trained at Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1942.

The U.S. Army adopted the Capewell Parachute Release which—for the first time—allowed jumpers to quickly release their chutes once on the ground to prevent being dragged by the wind. Nearly six decades later, “Capewells” are still indispensable safety equipment for military and sport parachutists worldwide.

For its first 100 years, Capewell thrived on two basic but essential products: the horseshoe nail and the parachute release. Remarkably, both products are still in production today.