Looking for an American 1911.

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The profits from US companies flow back to the US. It's an issue only to those of us who are US Citizens.
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Most companies are publicly traded, foreign stock holders get profits just as American stock holders do, you buy into a European gun companies stock and you will get the profits.

The workers at DW are making an American designed gun, using American tools, the workers are Americans. The OP was asking about those things I think.

Top to bottom? Are you kidding me? You can't live in a bubble, I buy tools for my shop, 60% of them are from outside the US, I buy materials, steels, nonferrous metals, most of it is not from America.

DW started in America, the only outside influence has been economic, foreign investors. I think most people would be surprised at how much American industry is foreign financed. The fact is that China now owns more of America than Americans do, we've sold out for cheap goods, we've allowed ourselves to be deceived by appearances, it looks like a $4000 Rolex, but it aint.
I'm not one of the buy America first crowd, I believe in buying the best quality for the price, and where it's made is secondary. In a perfect world quality and price would rule. We live in a land that is run by government interference, and that's why we cannot compete.

It's almost impossible to put up with all the rules government puts in the way of American companies, believe me, I deal with it every day. If my company had to deal with a union I'd have to fold.
If you people want America to rise to what she once was refuse to buy union made goods, vote anything but Democrat, and refuse to buy high priced products with cheap parts like MIM and plastics in them. DW is a leader in quality and price for that quality. There isn't a better 1911 for the money.

That's American free market excellence.
 
If you want to try to convince yourself that a Czech company's US operations make them "American" - have at it.

But I think your trying to sell the readers a pig in a poke - it's a difficult sell to make. No one really conceives of BMW or Honda as "American" car companies despite where the model they drive was built...

I've worked in international equity markets, and ownership of a company tends to VERY closely monitor the country of origin - that the potential exists for foreigners to buy shares does not a priori make a company a foreign to it's home.

The OP was asking about those things I think.
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Neither of us know exactly what the OP had in mind. It's just worth adding to the discussion of "American Made" whether you are thinking it all the way through. Most people do not.
 
Personally I care where the product is made AND where the profits go. However as previously stated, you can't always obtain quality products or products at all that are truely 100% American. But, in terms of 1911's you dont have to sacrifice one bit of quality when buying 100% homegrown. I bet DW makes a great gun, but I have a hard time believing they are better than an STI, equal maybe. Heck, my 2 STI's were made 2 hours from my front door.
 
I'm pretty sure the thumb safety is investment cast, but I could be wrong
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You're probably correct. I looked at a little closer since your post and it could very well be investment cast; still it wasn't cleaned up very well. The Colt was a gift from wife, so I fixed the safety and can replace the MSH, but the crappy roll mark really chaps my rear. It reads like a billboard for shoddy process or lack of quality control.
Regards,
Greg
 
I'm pretty sure the thumb safety is investment cast, but I could be wrong
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You're probably correct. I looked at a little closer since your post and it could very well be investment cast; still it wasn't cleaned up very well. The pistol was a gift from wife, so I fixed the safety and can replace the MSH, but the crappy roll mark really chaps my rear. It reads like a billboard for shoddy process or lack of quality control.
Regards,
Greg
 
If you want to try to convince yourself that a Czech company's US operations make them "American" - have at it.

But I think your trying to sell the readers a pig in a poke - it's a difficult sell to make. No one really conceives of BMW or Honda as "American" car companies despite where the model they drive was built...
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We are talking about an American company that was purchased by a European company, it's a stretch to say it's not an American company, the ownership changed, most of the money spent on a DW stays here.

I think you are making way to much about the CZ aspect, they didn't develop the guns, they don't make them in Europe nor any of the parts as far as I know, so what's your problem?

DW is the best value 1911 for the price in America in my opinion. They have no MIM, and don't import any frames from the Phillipines (Which I have no problem with either, but since we are talking about American made guns here,,) like one brand people are talking about here.

I personally don't think the answer to excellence is in buying American unless they are better or lower priced, I believe buying the best product for the best price is the way to a better future for gun quality, and as I said in another forum, buying poor quality guns just because they are made here rewards mediocrity and ensures that the future will include more and more badly made or high priced American products. I'm ashamed of my country's products, we should be making the best guns for the price. DW does that.
 
gonna go ahead and bump this topic because I'm very interested in seeing if anyone else has anything to say.

I'm also in the market for some flavor of 1911, and I'm curious as to what the bad things are with Kimber pistols (specifically their new-gen production). I keep hearing that people say bad things, but have yet to hear any of these bad things.
 
12) Auto Ordnance (by Kahr in Mass)
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Last I checked, those are also phillipino

If you want to try to convince yourself that a Czech company's US operations make them "American" - have at it.
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For the purpose of buying American made, the country in which corporate HQ is located is irrelevant. Many American-owned companies have their products built overseas. That makes those products imports. Likewise, as far as I'm concerned, if American workers built the product, it is American made, even if the corporate ownership is out of country.

Sure, I would prefer that the company be both American-owned and the products be manufactured here. But if I have to take one or the other (we usually do), I will choose to have had American hands manufacturing and assembling the components.
 
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12) Auto Ordnance (by Kahr in Mass)
Last I checked, those are also phillipino
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Nope, that is incorrect.

Auto Ordnance was made previously in New York. Company was then bought by Kahr. They are now made in Massachusetts. I'm not saying anything about the quality of the pistol, just that they are made in the USA.
 
I stand corrected, JTQ. I just had remembered picking one up at Sportmans warehouse a few years back (2005, I think) and seeing "phillipines" stamped on the frame. I could be mistaken about what I saw (or maybe they were at some time before Kahr took over?). I know the AO company had a pretty spotty reputation awhile ago.
 
Have someone build you one from caspian/foster parts. Handpick every part in the gun...
 
I went shopping for an American made 1911 myself. I was looking for 38 Super which further limited the field. Finally ended up with a Kimber. I'm very impressed with the function, fit & finish of this gun.
 
John Taffin wrote an article in American Handgunner praising the new and improved Colts.

If, as Taffin shilled, Colt has purchased modern tooling, then these may be the best Colts you will get in decades.

Because Colt will let the equipment fall into disrepair as that Company has always done.
 
Every single Springfield 1911 frame is made in Brazil. Period.
I was under the assumption that my "NM" model was made in the us, and got in heated arguments over at the 1911 forum about it. I was proved WRONG on that one by the SA rep on the forum. They are ALL made in Brazil. The nicer they are, the more of the components are made in the US.
Another one to choose is Caspian. They are US-made.
 
S&W

Is totally american made!!! They were building major components for Kimber before they went on their own (and then quality took a dive IMO).

I am a bit troubled that many are not familiar with the S&W line... and actually think SA 1911s are made in the USA:banghead:. SA 1911s are great guns (as are STI, DW, Colt, etc.), but the main components are manufactured in BRAZIL and have been for a really, really long time.
 
Kimber,,,,,,,,I keep hearing that people say bad things, but have yet to hear any of these bad things.
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You've never heard about the high MIM content?


Dan Wesson is sourced from S.America I thought, and finished up here? Still the DW Valor is a favorite of mine.
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I don't believe that, you may be thinking about Springfield. I hang out in the DW section of the 1911 forum, and have never heard of that one.
 
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