Most Underrated Firearm Manufacturer(s)?

I really enjoy nice guns, and I'll take nicely checkered walnut and deep blued steel over synthetic any day. I'm also not a big fan of non-metallic handgun parts. But I can't argue with the accuracy of Savage rifles in general. Not sure they're underrated, but a lot of people have turned their noses up at them for years (myself included).
I have 3 of them now and couldn't have bought one nice rifle for the price.

Olympic Arms: As far as I know from the early 80 on up through the early 90 they were the only ones manufacturing AR15 rifles except Colt.

Olympic Arms was responsible in the early years for popularizing the AR15 platform and getting them out there in civilian hands. Sure these vintage guns aren’t up to today’s standards but they were reverse engineering everything. There wasn’t the internet out there at the time with blueprints everywhere and every little machine shop cranking out parts on CNC mills.

We also owe them for probably more than half of all the pre 86 transferable M16 machine guns in circulation.

Dan

Mooseberg.
Since I gave my Wingmaster to my nephew and sold my Winchester 1897 to a collector, I've been short of a pump action.
The memory of my last 500(20 years ago) is still attractive to me. Very attractive.

High Standard.
Iver Johnson
Star
Chiappa

Most underrated has to be Glock.

38-45 Special said:

What would you guys say is/are the most underrated firearm Importers/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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Glock..mention it almost anywhere and you get all sorts of derisive comments...

The one I get a kick out of, 'ugly'..as in..."that hammer I use everyday is so ugly'''. BUT, funny enough, few have anything to do with reliability..

Gads...

Perhaps this thread needs a reminder of definitions of the word:

Definitions of underrated

rated or valued too low

underestimate the extent, value, or importance of (someone or something)

to rate or evaluate too low; underestimate

Someone that has skill/ talent but never gets recognition or a chance to show it

Not given enough recognition for its quality

better or more important than most people believe


Now that you've read these, explain again how you think Glocks are underrated?

Turkey is producing some good pistols nowadays. Love my C 100.

H&R ? I see some good reviews on the pardner 12ga. pump home defense. I was looking at one at Dunham's for under $200. Didn't seem all that bad. I'm really thinking of picking one up just to have around the house, just in case. Made in China, but for the price??

Llama.

Revolvers

Old Dog said:

Perhaps this thread needs a reminder of definitions of the word:

Definitions of underrated

rated or valued too low

underestimate the extent, value, or importance of (someone or something)

to rate or evaluate too low; underestimate

Someone that has skill/ talent but never gets recognition or a chance to show it

Not given enough recognition for its quality

better or more important than most people believe


Now that you've read these, explain again how you think Glocks are underrated?

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THIS.

Any firearm manufacturer that's "underrated"?......... Probably out of business for the very reasons they were underrated.
There are a number of manufacturers named in this thread that couldn't maintain a level of quality that allowed them to stay in business.

I'm astounded by suggestions that Browning, Glock, Mossberg, Savage and several others would be considered underrated.....if you think so, you need to get out more.
Not to mention that some of yall don't know that some of the "manufacturers" you named aren't even manufacturers....just importers.

Terry G said:

I was obsessed and couldn't stop buying CZ's for a while. I'm seeing a counselor about it now.

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By now I'll bet your counselor has become a CZ fanatic too.

I find CZ to be a tad overrated if anything. Especially pertaining to their rimfires. So it goes.

I’ll go ahead and make the unpopular ascertation that Taurus is underrated. Their quality has stayed the same for many years and yet they are getting closer and closer to the same level as S&W.

Older Rossi's. Not sure about the new stuff.

Zastava makes an authentic 98 Mauser action of good quality but you rarely, if ever, see them on the shelves nor hear anyone talking about them. Howa also builds a good rifle at a decent price but as a brand they are practically invisible.

I think both of these companies don’t get the recognition they deserve, so that makes them underrated.

tws3b2 said:

H&R ? I see some good reviews on the pardner 12ga. pump home defense. I was looking at one at Dunham's for under $200. Didn't seem all that bad. I'm really thinking of picking one up just to have around the house, just in case. Made in China, but for the price??

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H&R's Pardner Pump.
I impulse bought a youth model 20ga a few years back for the kids.
So far the kids havnt killed the chinese made shotgun.
They use it hunting mainly in the winter here in NW Arctic Alaska.
Love that its compatable with steel shot, something their old STEVENS 258a was not.

So far heard good things about the Turkish made shotguns.
Like Weatherby's Turkish made PA-08 pump.

I know that RIA makes a philippine made copy of the High Standard Sport King shotgun.
The reviews have been hot/cold.
Some say tear them down and debur.
Otherwise a little known shotgun modeled after a popular shotgun.

One little known and often disparaged firearm was the Taurus rimfire rifles.
Every one I had shot first hand was more accurate than they should have.
I think its the Taurus muzzle crown type.
For a very limited time Taurus produced a copy of the Winchester model 63 semi-auto, the only plastic on that rifle is the butt plate, they are rough but once broke in are great shooters.

CZ

Going to throw another underrated maker in here. Walthers. I have never had a problem with any of them over the years to warrant contacting them. Last week the thread protector fell off my Q4 Tac. I called the customer service line today, half expecting to write down a list of where to buy one. Nope, they are tossing one in the mail and I will have it in about a week.

This could go on forever, and probably will.

F.lli Pietta srl of Brescia

Armi San Marco

I'd say Palmetto State Armory. Good stuff, good prices. Nuff said.

My vote goes to FN

They make quality firearms but few people seem familiar with them.

Italian replicas don't get a fair shake. Uberti and Pietta can be real nice six shooters...with a little tuning.