Most Underrated Firearm Manufacturer(s)?

Tikka. I wouldn’t say they under appreciated by the people who own them, because the people that do own them understand the quality.

Tikka has a cult-like following. But apart from that smaller following, I don’t see them all too often. They are much more popular in Europe (which makes sense) .

Baikal. Never exciting, but shotguns that can get dragged through the mud, used as a canoe paddle, and still go bang.

CZ, Radom, and Molot...

Unpopular opinion, but I think Para USA got some undeserved hate. I have owned a couple and fired many more. Never had any problems with them. And just like with Remington made Marlins, I will not own a Remington Para.

Agree with the RIA, but while EAA imports some very nice guns at good prices, unless things have changed dramatically in the last four or five years, their customer support is among the worst. I've used both and RIA has been among the best, EAA among the worst. EAA did have a nice on-line parts ordering system so if you are self-sufficient mechanically you'll be OK.

RIA replaced a broken 1911 barrel lug with a new barrel for free, paying shipping both ways on an ~10 year old, ~20K rounds pistol, door to door ~10 days.

I've had good customer support from Charter Arms. My Issue with Para USA guns has always been magazine related.

38-45 Special said:

What would you guys say is/are the most underrated firearm manufacturer(s)? For me personally, it would come down to either European American Armory (EAA) or Rock Island Armory (RIA) with Charter Arms being a BIG honorable mention. Rugged, durable, reliable, and VERY reasonably priced.

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Neither makes firearms, they are importers.
EAA imports firearms made by Tanfoglio of Italy
RIA is imports firearms made by Armscor of the Phillipines.

Hi-Point Firearms. Granted I didn't have one very long and never had to use costumer service, but the one I hand shot everything I put through it.

I’m not sure there are under-rated brands us much as polarizing brands and unknown brands.

Keltec is a good example of a polarizing brand. Some people absolutely hate them, but other people search literally for years for an opportunity to buy them. Averaged together it’s a pretty medium reputation, which I think would be fair.

Unknown brands are all over the place but we never hear about them. Mountain View Arms is an example, maybe. Ever hear of them? They make sub-16oz takedown single shot .22 rifles. I bet a lot of people would buy them for the “That’s nifty” factor if they were as well known as Chiappa (chosen because Chiappa has sold a bunch of 3lb break action single shot rifles to exactly the people who would like the MVA rifles).

But most brands? They end up with a pretty reasonable reputation, all told.

FEG, Auto Ordinance (the new one), M&A, Del-Ton.

I’ll say Charter Arms. They don’t have a very high profile advertising presence, so it is an unknown brand to many. I have had very good experience with their products, so I’ll put them in the underrated category.

Though they're no longer around I think both Star and Astra were two Spanish manufacturers that were somewhat underrated. I sometimes think that way about Bersa and Charter Arms too.

bannockburn said:

Though they're no longer around I think both Star and Astra were two Spanish manufacturers that were somewhat underrated. I sometimes think that way about Bersa and Charter Arms too.

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Those would absolutely be two of my picks, especially Star -- some really high-quality (and very cool) pistols put out over the years -- and most are still providing reliable service to their owners.

CZ used to be under the radar, but now it's everybody's trendy favorite. EAA has made quite a lot of money with its CZ-offspring. There's a number of newer manufacturers (and some old companies, but new to selling in the USA) such as SCCY, Canik, Sarsilmaz, etc., that are putting out quality handguns as budget prices that may be under-rated in terms of their relative obscurity to many who haven't kept up on state of the gun world. North American Arms has sold niche handguns for years, but I've never heard anything really negative about its products.

Right now, I'd say Colt -- the company's been given up for dead several times over the years, but keeps resurrecting its brand every few years with some stellar offerings. People (mostly those who've never even own a single recent sample, or maybe just one bad example) have been trashing Colts on the internet, rivalling the de rigueur Taurus hate, gone to amazing lengths to tarnish the company's reputation. But the well-known custom 'smiths are back onboard using Colt 1911s as bases for their work, a number of really neat 1911 models have left the factory in recent years, and in spite of all the negativity surrounding the company's name, what is not to love about the new Cobras, the new King Cobra and finally, the new Python.

Ed Ames said:

I’m not sure there are under-rated brands us much as polarizing brands and unknown brands.

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Actually, a pretty good point, Ed!

Steyr

I should have thought of Steyr as I have an M9 pistol from them. I think one of the reasons they have been under the radar for so long is that their U.S. marketing has been virtually non-existent along with their customer service. Like when Daewoo tried to sell cars here without a dealer network in place to service them.

dogtown tom said:

RIA is imports firearms made by Armscor of the Phillipines.

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A bit of annoyance. Some websites will list firearms as Rock Island others will list Armscor as the brand. I have gotten into the habit of filtering/searching for both when I am looking for something.

Huglu Shotguns under their own name are under appreciated (if not necessarily underrated as the OP asks). Beautiful wood, tight tolerances, reasonably priced. I’m glad I have mine.

bannockburn said:

Like when Daewoo tried to sell cars here without a dealer network in place to service them.

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How about when Daewoo tried to sell guns here? Surprisingly decent, but not well known even when they were being imported.

Zendude said:

I’ll say Charter Arms. They don’t have a very high profile advertising presence, so it is an unknown brand to many. I have had very good experience with their products, so I’ll put them in the underrated category.

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+1 on Charter Arms. Purchased a CA Bulldog. It didn't fire to the point of aim. Contacted their customer support, explained situation and sent some photos. They quickly sent me a box with a shipping label. Two weeks later one of their gunsmiths contacted me to get more details before making adjustments. Very knowledgeable. Due to the holidays -understandably- I received my revolver 3 weeks after the call. They provided me a target with the shots. I took my Bulldog to the range and it shot so much better. Their customer service is top notch. And their firearms, while not as sexy as a S&W, cost a heck of alot less, are reliable, and their customer service more than makes up for it.

I have to say Ruger. The make something that fits into most categories of firearms, at reasonable prices for there quality.

Enough have already mentioned Charter Arms, so I won't.

..and someone mentioned the first name that came to me, which is Bersa.

Old Dog

Right now, I'd say Colt -- the company's been given up for dead several times over the years, but keeps resurrecting its brand every few years with some stellar offerings. People (mostly those who've never even own a single recent sample, or maybe just one bad example) have been trashing Colts on the internet, rivalling the de rigueur Taurus hate, gone to amazing lengths to tarnish the company's reputation.

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I don't know but I think a lot of Colt's problems were brought on themselves at times along with some very poor management at the helm. I do believe that the last ten years have shown a definite upward trend in overall quality and it is great to see them turning out some decent revolvers once again.

Rock Island Armory and Kel-tec. two companies that a working man can find something in most categories. rifles, shotguns, pocket guns, revolvers, service sized handguns. did I mention that a working man can generally afford them?