Made in the U.S.A. only

[jerkface11]

I buy the gun I want. If it's american fine if not fine. If american companies want me to buy their guns they need to make the guns I want. For example I wanted a compact 10mm. If there is an american company making one i don't know who it is and i'm sure they want an arm and a leg for it. So i got a witness (made in italy).

 

[CountGlockula]

For me, made in Austria.

 

[beaucoup ammo]

I try to buy EVERYTHING American. However, it's become increasingly difficult. While a gun manufacuter may be head quartered in New England, some parts come from other countries. I do my best.

 

[Dave Dembinski]

Never think about it. I buy what I like.

Yeah, although now that I think about it all my guns are American-made with the exception of the Mosin that I shot once and have ignored for years now. Remington, Marlin, Ruger, NEF. Kind of weird.

 

[cbsbyte]

I buy what I like, the country of origin has little to do with my purchasing.

 

[spooky_t]

For all of you who think that, by purchasing used guns, you're not supporting a particular manufacturer/country - think again.
When you purchase any gun from a private owner (be it the 1st or 100th owner) you're indirectly buying it from the original maker.
Think of it this way. The gun shop buys guns from the maker/distributor... whatever and someone buys it from the gun shop. That original retail purchaser, indirectly paid the gunmaker.
It's no different when you buy it - even thought you may be far removed from that original owner. No matter how little you pay for it, you have compensated all of the previous owners indirectly. All the way back to the maker.
Theoretically, the only way you can own a gun and *not* support the original manufacturer is to have it given to you.
Just a thought. Hope I did ruin it for anyone.
But I guess we all do or think what we need to to justify what we buy.

 

[30-06 lover]

In order to be successful you must do it better or cheaper. America used to lead the world because they were both better and cheaper. Sadly America does not produce as good of quality as they used to, and if it is good quality, you pay more for it than a comparable item from another country. I buy what I like the best. Sometimes it is American, sometimes its not. I recently bought a HK USP over the Sig and Springfield XD. The Sig was excellent quality, but didn't hold as many rounds. The XD held as many rounds (CA guy that can only get 10 round mags), but didn't feel as good in the hand. Same with my truck. I went to Chevy and they were lower in price, but their Colorado was lacking in what I wanted a mid size truck to have. I went to Toyota and bought a Tacoma due to its features and performance. I say buy the best/what you like, and if American companies don't innovate and catch up, that is their fault.

 

[Feanaro]

If I were looking at two guns that were exactly alike except that one was made in the USA, I would pick that one. It's rarely that simple. If an American product doesn't have the features I want, I won't buy it.

For all of you who think that, by purchasing used guns, you're not supporting a particular manufacturer/country - think again. When you purchase any gun from a private owner (be it the 1st or 100th owner) you're indirectly buying it from the original maker.

And how much money does the maker get out of this? The maker gets no direct compensation and little in fringe benefits. The initial buyer doesn't directly compensate the manufacturer but he fuels demand for more of their products and causes the gun dealer to order more. The first effect is not nearly as strong on the used market and the second doesn't exist.

Generally i'll buy a brand in hopes they make the product in the same place the company is based (HK-Germany, Glock-Austria, Taurus-Brazil, etc.). Bothers me when the companys outsource.

Don't go buying any new HK pistols then. They outsourced to the United States.

 

[tinygnat219]

Nope. I have very few "Made in the USA" weapons. Reason? Too @($@P#(*&$@)$ Expensive. :banghead:

 

[Caimlas]

I'm probably not a very good example of buying American - even though I don't shop at Walmart. Of the new or newly used guns I've bought, only 1 of the 4 have been American made (Rock River Arms) - the others being Tikka, H&K, and Taurus. There's also the milsurps: Star BM, a couple SKSs, and what have you, and the "made in America" guns I've inherited.

And, the ones I'd like to get are made by CZ, Springfield, and a couple other companies. Part of my restraints are financial, but I've honestly not seen much of a quality difference, either. Considering how few guns I purchase, it's not going to make much (if any) difference.

 

[30 cal slob]

i discovered with horror and revulsion one day that i had purchased a jap gun. namely a browning made in nippon.

i have a policy of no "rice-shooters" in my collection, so i promptly got rid of it.



-slob (tongue planted firmly in cheek)

 

[RubenZ]

I would probably buy more American if I knew the products were 100% American but most aren't.

 

[Anna's Dad]

Its certainly not the deciding factor for me, but I do feel a little better when the gun I decide to buy is made in the U.S.

From memory, I believe I own or have owned the following:
USA - 13
England - 1
Japan - 1
Bulgaria - 1
Germany - 4
Croatia - 1
Italy - 1
Switzerland - 1
Russia - 2
China - 1

Looks like about 50% made in the USA but certainly well more than any single other country.

I bet you can figure out that I own/have owned a Springfield XD and a few Makarovs based on that country list!

 

[spooky_t]

FEANARO, That's why I specified "indirectly". Any time you buy a privately owned weapon you're compensating the seller for what he bought prior to you. And no the manufacturer doesn't see any further profit - directly, but the person who sold it to you does. And the before them, and the person before them, etc.
It's an abstract and certainly a trivial point I know. But I was just hassling the few who had posted earlier that they take confort, or they justify, buying a particular make/origin of firearm by getting it second hand.

 

[buck00]

No way. I am patriotic but you can't love a variety of guns and try to buy USA-only. Maybe you could do it if you are just into hunting, but not a true mil surplus collector.

 

[Savage92]

I prefer American made however I do own Itallian and Canadian (Savage Mark I) guns. I wouldn't buy a Russian Winchester Wildcat or a Serbian Remington Five. The way I see it is that it's okay for Itallian or other foreign companies to make their guns where they live but I don't like it when an American company moves their production to russia or anywhere else. I also wouldn't buy guns made in vietnam, iraq, korea, china or most other asian countries.

 

[Tommygunn]

Let's see ....
Rossi .38 snubbie from Brazil.
Browning B-92 from Japan (Miroku)
Walther PP from Germany.
Various Black Powder revolvers from Italy
Uberti 1873 Winchester .44-40 from Italy
Browning A-5 from Belgium
CZ-75 from Czechoslavokia
Remington 20 ga. Mod. 17 U.S.A.
Remiungton 550-1 also U.S.A.
Sharp's repro 54 cal. repro from Italy
Winchester 9422 from U.S.A. and 1894 in .30-30 USA.
Remington 700 .30-'06 U.S.A.
Nagant 1895 Russian revolver.
well .... a variety.

 

[FourTeeFive]

I just like quality... period

I have mostly American, Austrian, and Italian guns. One Russian one. But as an example, I prefer the workmanship on my Italian Berettas over the American made ones.

On an aside, buying American these days doesn't mean the money stays here. Many American products are manufactured from offshore assemblies (STI, I believe?). Or perhaps the "American" firms are owned offshore in some cases. Very hard to tell. For example, you're often helping American workers more by buying a Honda or Subaru that is made here than you are by buying a Ford made in Mexico!

 

[Prince Yamato]

I really wish the "buy American" blowhards would dry up already - it's just feel-good chest thumping in today's world.

Amen. But it is funny to read the Cold-War era rhetoric about Chinese goods being of poor quality when China is on the verge of usurping the rest of Asia in terms of producing quality goods at an effective price (get ready for the sub $8000 car relatively soon). I'd buy it. I'm of the opinion that most of the "pro-American"isms are really just xenophobia and latent racism in disguise. They also do a lovely job of painting most gun owners in this light. If this was 30 years ago, you'd be reading, "I'll never buy Japanese or Korean products, they're junk!". And low and behold, everyone buys them now as an example of quality products.

I support whoever isn't ripping me off with an overpriced product of inferior quality.

 

[MikeH]

A tally of all the guns I've bought so far:

China = 7
USA = 5
former Yugoslavia = 3
Czech Reublic = 2
Russia = 2
Austria = 1
Germany = 1 (albeit Russian captured)
Romania = 1 (but but but ... it has enuff US parts for 922.r)

If I didn't get into milsurp, I would have far fewer non-US guns.

 

[Savage92]

If this was 30 years ago, you'd be reading, "I'll never buy Japanese or Korean products, they're junk!". And low and behold, everyone buys them now as an example of quality products.

So you would buy a gun made in Iraq?

I know I wouldn't.



Only Countries I'd buy a gun from:

USA
Italy
Canada
Germany

and possibly
Czech Republic


didn't list a lot of european countries because either don't like any guns made there or most just make expensive double shotguns.

 

[hemiram]

Right now, I have guns from the following countries:

Beretta 950 .25- USA
Dan Wesson Model 15 .357- USA
Dan Wesson Model 715 .357- USA
EAA/Tanfoglio Witness .45- Italy
Bernardelli Po18 Compact 9mm- Italy
Astra A75 .40- Spain
Astra A100 9mm- Spain

In the past, I've had guns from:

Canada
US
Hungary
Brazil
Spain
Italy

As far as guns go, I wouldn't buy anything made in China, at this time at least. I try to buy American made if possible, but a lot of the time you can't do it, unless you buy used. Most of the guns I want to buy now are made in the US, but they are all used S&W revolvers. Anything semiauto will come from CZ, or maybe Beretta, later. If I could swing it, I would be buying a pre lock S&W Model 29 or 629, and a 28 too.

I would never buy one of the coming cheapo Chinese cars, and won't be buying any other foreign made cars/trucks in the near future. American cars are not bad at all anymore, and I can match nightmare US and Nightmare Honda/Toyota stories all day. I won't buy anything front wheel drive either, the three FWD vehicles I have owned did things due to them being FWD I didn't like at all. The foreign vehicles I like, well, I can't afford them, and the ones I can afford, I really hate.

 

[Detritus]

I support whoever isn't ripping me off with an overpriced product of inferior quality.

AMEN!

i have no problem buying quality, foreign produced products, esp since i don't exactly have deep pockets.

of the guns i've owned only 4 out of 17 have been foreign made.

and before it's over i'm pretty much positive that i'll have at least three more. two brazilian (two Springfield "loaded" 1911s one each in 9mm and .45), and one made in the phillipines (STI Spartan)

it's not what country it comes from that matters to me it's how much quality i can get for my limited budget.

 

[chaim]

I generally buy what I like (usually I look for value- the best combination of price and quality), but if it is US or Israeli made it is a bonus. This is true of guns and everything else.

Clothing- it is nearly impossible to find "made in the USA" anymore (though I do plan to have a suit custom made as a reward after I lose around 80lbs).

Cars- I've owned a couple American cars in the past (Ford, Oldsmobile), but mostly Japanese (2 Sentras, 2 Tercels), one S. Korean (2004 Sonata) and currently one from Germany (2003 BMW 325i). Though, with the exception of one Sentra and the Sonata, the rest of the foreign made cars were bought used (partially intentional, though with 2 foreign made cars bought new, obviously I consider them when buying new).

Furniture- Mostly made in the USA

Electronics- Do we even make any here anymore?

Guns-
Benelli shotgun, made in Italy. However, I liked my US made Mossberg I used to have more than the Benelli so it probably will be traded on a US made Mossberg soon.

Hanguns- Brazil (2), Argentina (1, but the Bersa is about to go), Czech Republic (currently 1, 1 sold a few years ago), Italy (2 BP replicas), Germany (love my SIGs, 2), Philippines (1), and the US (several)

Rifles- 1 mil-surp (Romanian SKS), but otherwise I think all I own and all I have owned but sold are made in the USA (this will eventually change with a Howa or CZ bolt rifle I will probably buy in the next year).

 

[FourTeeFive]

China quality varies greatly

it is funny to read the Cold-War era rhetoric about Chinese goods being of poor quality when China is on the verge of usurping the rest of Asia in terms of producing quality goods at an effective price

I deal with manufacturing issues from China and I can tell you that quality varies a lot. There are many cultural differences and the concept of changing something during production isn't a big deal to many Chinese. Thus we get millions of Mattel toys being recalled, etc. Chinese electronic manufacturing plants of higher quality tend to have production managers from other countries who have ties with the particular brand being made at that facility. There is good Chinese manufacturing and there is really bad Chinese manufacturing, and then the majority which is mediocre Chinese manufacturing. I don't mind buying a disposable Chinese-made DVD player from Panasonic, but I'll pass on buying a Chinese-made weapon in terms of expecting fine quality and long-term reliability.