[Schuey2002]

This is the latest scoop from the 2003 Shot Show. I just pulled this info. off of HKPRO.com..

This conversation was between Tom ( aka Hkpro ) and HK co-owner Keith Halsey...

Comments by company co-owner Keith Halsey finally put to rest what many had been hoping for, myself included. Halsey said, "Buying the company from BAE Systems provides the leadership with the opportunity to focus on strengthening our premier market position. We plan to expand in the U.S. and look for HK to establish a design and manufacturing facility here very soon. In fact, we are actively seeking candidate locations."

Halsey added, "Heckler & Koch will become a much more American-focused company and we could not ask for a better mix of innovative new products or a more talented team of employees to to ensure the continued success of HK-both here in the U.S. and overseas."

This is great news!

Dancin' Snoopy time ! :D :D :D

[Soap]

AWESOME!

[762x51]

COOL! :cool:

[Boats]

My one piece of unsolicited advice to them would be to locate in a gun-friendly state. I cannot imagine why Beretta USA located in Maryland for instance when they could have located in Virginia.

[Schuey2002]

Boats, I have this gut feeling that they will build one somewhere in the south..:)

[Sox]

They come on down here to Georgia!

[Kharn]

Boats: Beretta is the main employer in that county, and I believe they got massive tax breaks to be there. Whenever Beretta makes noise about moving, its fair to assume the tax breaks get bigger. Supposedly, they have been asking around in Virginia for reliable forklift drivers, so who knows whats in store.

I dont know how close to the front of the line I will be for the HK91 and HK94, but I want one of each. Under $1500 each would be awesome, too.

Kharn

[Nightcrawler]

Hmm....

This calls for a celebration. Might have to get that USP45 after all. It'll compliment my CZ97 nicely, and you can never have too many .45s, right?

[Destructo6]

I'll drink to that! Tom's silence regarding the rumors had me guessing they were true.

[10-Ring]

YooHoo SkunkabiRRy - did you hear that?!? HK USA coming to a neighborhood near you! Oh be still my heart :D :D :D

[4v50 Gary]

Imagine if we could get a junior college to start a class on assembly line techniques. It could be a two week course that entails theory of production line assembly, safety (of course), quality control and then one week on the line. Grades are given in consultation with inspectors and production managers. Best of all, if you get an "A", you walk away with a gun you built. "B" and "C's" are awarded with certificates for a gun at a discount purchase. What a dream.

[Zak Smith]

HK,

Build a post-ban version of your G36 that will accept pre-ban AR15/M16 mags. It'll jump off the shelves.

-z

[gun-fucious]

hey George Hill is moving to VA and HK USA is in Virginia...

Heckler & Koch, Inc.
21480 Pacific Boulevard
Sterling, Virginia 20166
United States of America

http://www.hecklerkoch-usa.com/pages/corporate/con_frameset.html

[Skunkabilly]

The only word that doens't escape me right now:

REEEEEEEEEEEEEHAW!!!

I just splurged and bought a can of coke in celebration. $.60, man that's worth 5 rounds of 9mm!!!

[Arcli9ht]

WOOOOO HOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! G36C here I come!!! :: Does a little dance::

/Arcli9ht

[Schuey2002]

Here is the link to HKPro's coverage of the 2003 Shot Show..
http://www.hkpro.com/shotshow.htm
**edit** this link seems to be mixed with the HK21 link.. :uhoh:

Skunk, this is yet another reason to move out of California..
:neener:

[NewShooter78]

Hmmmm...so does this mean I'll be able to afford a USP now? If it does, I can't wait

[Kahr carrier]

Thats good news.:D

[..]

hopefully this will bring down their inflated prices. looks like they are following the lead of glock.

[tetchaje1]

Hmmmm...so does this mean I'll be able to afford a USP now? If it does, I can't wait

I wouldn't count on it. If HK has been charging an arm and a leg for the USPs, and people are buying them, then they won't drop the price on pistols manufactured here. It just means more profit margin for them.

[Kharn]

Another thought: If H&K sold stock, I'd be buying every share I could get my hands on.

Kharn

[Skunkabilly]

HK under old management may of well been run by Beavis and Butthead.

Seems the new ownership seems to want to cater to the Americans more, but let's see how much is LE/Mil and how much is civilian.

[Kharn]

Skunk: The new guys probably realize there's a lot more profit to be made selling HK94s to civies at $1500 than there is to be made selling MP5s to LEOs at $~900, unlike the former owners.

Kharn

[Chris Rhines]

I never thought I'd see this!

- Chris

[Mark D]

I would be excited about this if I knew the 94 ban was for sure not going to be followed by another piece of tyrannical legislation.

If I will be allowed to purchase it by my "betters", put me down for a model 21 in october of 2004.

[Nightcrawler]

The HK 21 is a belt-fed machine gun. Regardless of the 94 ban, I don't think you'll be able to get one of those.

[Glock Glockler]

Exxxxxcellent (Mr. Burns voice)!

[Skunkabilly]

Skunk: The new guys probably realize there's a lot more profit to be made selling HK94s to civies at $1500 than there is to be made selling MP5s to LEOs at $~900, unlike the former owners.


Good for them, I am more than willing to help pay for their kids' education!:)

[SIGarmed]

Well I have one of their pistols, but I don't know if I'm really excited. Will they ever offer something new that isn't a neutered "assault rifle"? Will they make a civilian G36 that is what an AR is to the M16? No I'm not talking about that ugly grey .223 thing that only accepts 10 rounds mags either.

I really doubt if they'll make the guns that we want for the civilian masses. I hope they quit being so PC with their civilian offerings.

On the other hand having a factory here might influence their thoughts on the American market, or maybe it won't. Things could get a little cheaper priced though especially if more of their products sold here. Who knows?

[Kharn]

You could (theoretically) buy a semiauto HK21 with all the evil features that was made yesterday, federal law doesnt consider a beltfeed to be a detachable magazine.

Kharn

[Schuey2002]

I misspoke, it wasn't a conversation between Tom and Keith, rather it was an Official HK Press release that I quoted..

This conversation was between Tom ( aka Hkpro ) and HK co-owner Keith Halsey...

Just wanted to clear that up...;)

[NIB]

Even with a US plant we still won't be able to get HK 91s and G36s behind enemy lines in Kali.

:banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[Hutch]

Kharn, IIRC, while the detachable mag issue may count for points against the rifle, the links themselves are regulated as "high capacity ammunition feeding devices". That being said, I wonder if newly mented MG60 links are marked LE and Government Use Only. Doubt it.

[rock jock]

What does this mean with regard to buying a MP5? Could we buy a newly made short-barreled version with a Class 3 tax stamp (non-FA)? How many of you would be willing to buy a 16" barrelled version? No one today makes a decent 9mm carbine.

[Schuey2002]

Rock jock, this won't affect anything. You still won't be able to buy a Post-ban (1986) machinegun..Not unless you want to get your Class 3/SOT ..

If they crank out HK94 type rifles, you could buy one and have it SBR'd... :)

[Mark D]

Up until 1988 when Bush Senior screwed American gun rights, you could walk down to your friendly neighborhood gun shop and order a semi-auto HK-21. If you felt inclined, you could even order HK's vehicle rings, pintle mounts and tripods.

Vollmer was doing HK-91 to HK-21 mods for many years after the 88 ban, as the end result, even though belt-fed, was considered to be a semi-automatic RIFLE. NOT a machine gun. A quick Google.com search will show you that semi-auto 1919 30 cals, M2 50 cals, and even M-60's are readily available TODAY. All of these are consider SEMI-AUTO RIFLES.

[dustind]

does anyone have an idea when the new plant will be built? a rough estimate maybe?

[Russ]

Maybe with our relatively cheap American labor, they will be able to sell a P7 for less than $1,200. Probably wishful thinking.

[10-Ring]

Why would HK charge less for American made product? Even American made Bimmers cost the same or more than their German counterparts.
I had read an article in business school once from a German business exec. The point he was making was that there is a perceived quality & value level w/ some products that a lower price just wouldn't support....imagine that, you're paying for value! :rolleyes:

[Spark]

The guy I spoke with from HKITD stated that "the reason USP's & such are so expensive is because they are hit with export taxes from Germany, and Import taxes from the US;" in other words, when the factory is built here, and production ramps up, prices will come waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay down.

Make no mistake - the brass isn't stupid. They know how much money they have lost because low cost Glocks have become the dominant pistol of law enforcement. They'd much rather make the same profit on a $499 firearm built in the US than a $799 one built in Germany - especially when the lower priced one allows them to get more units out there.

HK knows they have been taking a brutal beating - and with the trend to switch from 9mm MP5's to 5.56 M4's for CQB, they need to reposition in order to keep those checks rolling in. Civilian G36's and cheap USP's means more money in the kitty - and more HK fans.

Kevin

[seeker_two]

A true chance for an affordable P7...:D

I'd like to see them come to Texas, myself. Talk about a "gun-friendly state"...:evil: :evil: :evil:

[Skunkabilly]

Spark, interesting what you said about the civilian G36s. Makes it sound like it's a step closer to reality!

[Jeff OTMG]

This is what I reported on www.shotshowreports.com

"First, I reported years ago that H&K was considering opening a manufacturing facility in the U.S. and it looks like that is moving ahead. Since they do a bunch of work with the U.S. govt and govt agencies this facility will be used for military and law enforcement production. Once those needs are met, it is possible that some firearms might be made for the regular consumer market. It is unknown which models or in what configuration those would be."

The primary location candidate is Virginia.

[Schuey2002]

Here's another H&K press release.

HECKLER & KOCH ENTERS A NEW ERA

On December 6, 2002, Heckler & Koch entered a new era with the sale of the company by British-based BAE Systems to a combined group of European investors and long-time company managers.

Led by two longstanding Heckler & Koch managers, Ernst Mauch and Dr. Dirk Holzknecht, the company will continue to serve the international military and law enforcement markets. HK’s new management also emphasized their commitment to the U.S. civilian market.

HK is firmly established as the technological leader in small arms design and manufacturing with such advanced products as the USP pistol, G36 weapons system, the UMP and MP5 submachine guns, and the new MP7 PDW.

"Heckler & Koch is committed to continue building on the achievements of recent years through product innovation, customer satisfaction and the development of leading edge solutions" said Ernst Mauch, President of HK GmbH (Germany).

Guided by Ernst Mauch and Dr. Dirk Holzknecht, the new management group is comprised of a dedicated core of professionals that form a leadership team with extensive experience in product development, engineering, manufacturing, and finance.

The sale included Heckler & Koch’s headquarters and manufacturing operations in Oberndorf, Germany and its affiliates in Switzerland, Britain, and Sterling, Virginia—home of Heckler & Koch, Inc.

Strategic integration in the U.S.A. will be led by Keith Halsey, a long-time industry participant. Peter Simon, a German-born retired U.S. Army officer and experienced manager of high technology firms will direct HK, Inc.'s day-to-day operations.

At a company wide meeting in Virginia, Halsey stated,“Buying the company from BAE Systems provides the leadership with the opportunity to focus on strenghtening our premier market position.We plan to expand in the U.S. and look for HK to establish a design and manufacturing facility here very soon. In fact, we are actively seeking candidate locations.”

Halsey added,“Heckler & Koch will become a much more American-focused company, and we could not ask for a better mix of innovative new products or a more talented and loyal team of employees to ensure the continued success of HK—both here in the U.S. and overseas.”


(Mods: I don't know if this has been posted before.. If it has, feel free to edit this.) ;)

[mete]

You guys are in a time warp, this is old news Shot Show is in the winter, this is August.

[P226]

Mete

This is a old post look at the dates,all are from feb right
after the Shot Show.Schuey2002 found another press
release and instead of posting a new thread found the old
one and added it to it.

[Sven]

Worthwhile bump. I personally am happy to hear about H&K's plans to open a plant here, and look forward to any additional info.

[Combat-wombat]

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

OH YEAH!!! :D

[veloce851]

Hmmm maybe its time to polish up my resume`. I have many years experience in the composites field.

No word on where it will be located huh?

[Jeff Timm]

Gun-fuscious say:

hey George Hill is moving to VA and HK USA is in Virginia...

Unfortuneately, that's in Beltway Bandit Territory. Not down near Norfolk in human territory.

Geoff
Who is waiting with considerable tension a decision which may send him to hell on earth, toontown on the Patomac, BS City in the Swamp...aka Washington DC.

[Skunkabilly]

http://www.hecklerkoch-usa.com/pages/military/images/g36.jpg

:D
:D
:D
:D

[Orbital-Burn]

nice, except all their badass guns are already banned. I'd love to buy a PSG-1 or a semiauto G-36 with real magazines but it'll never happen without a regime change.

PS Skunk, if you read the HKPRO site you'll find HK quit importing the SL-8

http://www.berettausa.com/product/spotlight/images/spotlight_cx4storm.jpg

[MAKOwner]

Hmm, I'm betting they will not sell any of the good stuff to mere civilians...

[dustind]

Led by two longstanding Heckler & Koch managers, Ernst Mauch and Dr. Dirk Holzknecht, the company will continue to serve the international military and law enforcement markets. HK’s new management also emphasized their commitment to the U.S. civilian market.:what: :) :D :cool: :eek:

I hope they mean that.

I am happy, SB-89(semi auto mp5k) and G36 variant (SL series??) here I come.

I can not wait, now all we need to do is to kill that AW ban, and we will be set.

[dustind]

The import ban would be moot if HK builds a plant in the US. I think they will sell to civilians, they have new owners, and there is too much money for them not to.

[cool45auto]

Sweeeet!!!

[Robert inOregon]

Sorry for the mental masturbation interruption, but the new US plant is only going to produce glorified AR magazines and nothing more.

[Hkmp5sd]

What does this mean with regard to buying a MP5? Could we buy a newly made short-barreled version with a Class 3 tax stamp (non-FA)?

Yes, you can then buy a newly manufactured HK-94 (semi-auto version of MP5) with a <16" barrel registered as a NFA SBR.

I wonder if it's too early to pre-order a HK SP89 for delivery on Sept. 14, 2004. Might finally get my MP5K!!

the new US plant is only going to produce glorified AR magazines.

That doesn't make sense. It would not be cost effective for H&K to build a plant in the US to make AR magazines. No way could they make them cheaper than they currently sell for, especially with the AW ban going away next year.

The only logical reason to build a plant in the US is to bypass the import restrictions on firearms. For any other reason, they would build in Mexico and benefit from cheap labor and avoid all of the regulations the US puts on manufacturers.

[coldshot03/04]

H&K ALABAMA WELCOMES YOU!!!!!!

Trying to get their attention.:D

[natedog]

Now all we need is the '86 ban to go bye bye.... :rolleyes:

[Jeff OTMG]

It is interesting that this is announced 13 months before the expected sunset of the ban. They will be a domestic manufacturer and no longer be subject to the executive order of 1989. Good luck on getting the 1986 machine gun production ban lifted.

[Erik]

"The only logical reason to build a plant in the US is to bypass the import restrictions on firearms."

I believe the main reason they are committing to a US factory is to land lucrative federal contracts, though of course there are fringe benefits.

(You do nto have to have a state-side factory, but it helps. Politics is business, sometimes, and visa versa.)

[Hkmp5sd]

I believe the main reason they are committing to a US factory is to land lucrative federal contracts, though of course there are fringe benefits.

Any federal contracts are a big *maybe*. Their bigger market would still be the civilian market and most of their long guns have be denied importation rights for civilians since 1989. If the AW ban goes away, they will have an even larger market for their firearms. Just looking at the number of US made HK clones shows there is a market for these guns. A US plant would put the real HKs back in competition.

[HBK]

A friend of mine in the Army said that H&K has a contract to start supplying the US military with rifles in 2005.

[4v50 Gary]

Build the plant in the South?:scrutiny: Does this have any relationship to the statement made to me by one Southerner, "It ain't over yet.";) Pray for the AWB BS to end so we can all have HK 36s & Cmags. :)

[Bainx]

So....this means, instead of paying way, way, way too much for their way over rated pistol, I just get to pay way too much.;)

[ahenry]

Any federal contracts are a big *maybe*. I’d be willing to lay some money that the biggest non-military federal contract ain’t no maybe. ;)

[Dorian]

looking at the number of US made HK clones shows there is a market for these guns

I think is VERY true.

and wouldn't it be a HK 96, not a HK 36?

G3=HK 91
G33=HK 93
G36=HK 96?


WHO CARES!?!!?! IT's a civilian g-36! :) :) :)

[Kharn]

Bainx: Do you think they're going to lower the prices just because they moved to the US? IIRC, something like $100-$200 of the price of a USP is import duties and tariffs. Thats easy money for them to pocket; even if it costs them $50 more per gun to make them in the US, they can forget the import taxes and can just pocket the rest (without lowering the MSRP of the pistol).

Kharn

[Spark]

Let's see, they can directly go after Glock's dominance of the LE market by dropping the prices to Glock levels, or they can keep the prices super high and hope that their name continues to draw more people to their brand. The import / export tariffs are a major hinderance to their capturing more of a market share. Moving here get's rid of them. HK has pulled some stupid moves, but give them some credit.