[Just Jim]

Well in my trips to the gunshop I have been told Colt and Smith are having someone else make some of their guns. Seems Smith is having Stag Arms make the ARs for Smith and Colt is having US Firearms make their SAAs for them.

Walther seems to have started this by having Smith make their PPKS guns along with Colt buying parts from Uberti for thei SAAs. To me it's getting to the point that you don't know who is the gun maker anymore and that all you are buying is a brand name.

I have no problem with someone else making the guns if there is an open disclosure of this deal. I buy a name because I think I am getting the quality that is associated with the name. I now wonder if all of them aren't buying their parts from China to sell to us:banghead:

What do you think??:what:

jj

[jerkface11]

The Smith AR's were only made by Stag at the very beginning Smith makes them in house now. Can't speak for the rest of it though.

[Kimber1911_06238]

Stag also made RRA ar's at first too. They seem to help everyone with start up production

[Just Jim]

The Smith AR's were only made by Stag at the very beginning Smith makes them in house now. Can't speak for the rest of it though.

I didn't know that of course but it fits in cause you don't really know as a consumer who is making what anymore. Did Smith buy Stag to get this to happen or did they buy all new machines??

jj

[Kimber1911_06238]

stag is owned by a local CT machine shop....from what I've heard they make all kinds of stuff, like tooling to manufacture ar's, etc. I think they might have sold manufacturing equipment to RRA, smith, colt, etc. not totally sure about that though.

[Eric F]

I really dont care who makes it so long as it works. My best example of the subject is STI for those unfamiliar thay are the top of the line 1911 manufacturer. Well recently they went to RIA in the philipines. They now make a gun called the spartan super high quality but some of the purist out there dog STI out as a sell out but quality is the same

[Just Jim]

I have seen Stag ARs for $400 less that Smith ARs . If they are both made by the same guy maybe Smith isn't a good deal.

jj

[Kimber1911_06238]

i think they were originally, but as jerkface said, now smiths are made in house. Possibly on stag manufacturing machines/tooling.

I agree that the smith probably isn't worth the extra cash.

Smith is a better known company, but i'm not sure how well their ar's are selling compared to the other companies

[Just Jim]

I really dont care who makes it so long as it works. My best example of the subject is STI for those unfamiliar thay are the top of the line 1911 manufacturer. Well recently they went to RIA in the philipines. They now make a gun called the spartan super high quality but some of the purist out there dog STI out as a sell out but quality is the same

Seems that the companies that go overseas buy cheap parts and labor but don't pass the savings on to the consumer. That is business but I want it out front by the companies so we can make a judgement if the product is worth the price.

Does the Philipenes have good steel??

jj

[Just Jim]

Smith is a better known company, but i'm not sure how well their ar's are selling compared to the other companies

Smith is running a big sale on their ARs. If you buy an ARMP the for $99 more they will give you an MP handgun in 9mm or 40 cal. Plus they are throwing in a coule of extra mags or a knife or a watch. Still if Stag is $400 cheaper I could buy an AR and stuff to go with it.

jj

[Kimber1911_06238]

with that kind of deal, it doesn't seem like they are selling all that great.

[Just Jim]

Seems odd that companies like Springfield has their parts for their 1911 made in Brazil yet the cost of their guns is way up there for a TRP. Everyone seems to be outsourcing their parts but charging the big bucks for cheap parts. Are we really getting what we are paying for??

jj