ditto1958 said:
I dunno. I have a Glock. It says "Austria" on it and I'm fine with that. I have Brownings from Belgium, and CZ's from the Czech Republic. They say where they're made, and I'm good with it . My Ruger SR1911 proudly states "Made in U.S.A." on it, and I'm very happy with that. Why can't SA be more straightforward about where their stuff comes from? If it's good, people will buy it.
Good point(s).
On a similar note, my all time favorite 9MM pistol is what is most commonly called "The Browning High power", a moniker which I find to be rather strange being's how John Browning didn't design it, and the Browning company itself has never even produced one. Yet the legend(s) to the contrary persist, as does the snobbery concerning the "assembled in Portugal" marking found on the newer (Browning-marketed) versions, which itself is also misleading in that FN established an assembly plant for assembling HP's years before that particular marking began appearing on the guns being sent to the USA...
Which brings me to this:
Where's the "Made in the USA" versions?...well, there ain't none, and never has been despite the fact that the Patent expired years ago.
And besides, given the tendency shown by US manufacturers towards substituting castings, stampings, and MIM for forgings and bar stock, plus their increased use of engineering-shortcuts which stem from the 'lean manufacturing' business model (and the attendant lack of QC which also goes with it)...would someone who grew up with real FN 'High Powers' even want one?...The point to that latter part being that once upon a time, regardless of 'which gun', 'which clone', or 'which model' we're talking about, "Made in the USA" meant a lot more than it means today regardless of whether it's a Colt, S&W, Remington, or even a Chevy truck...
...so everyone please...try to overlook my seeming 'lack of patriotism' if I happen to pick one gun over another based on something other than where it was made or 'who' may be marketing it...be it a '1911 clone', 'Browning clone' (now there's a play on words), a lever gun, bolt gun, RIA, CZ, Rossi, SA Inc, FEG or whatever...or for that matter, some day decide that my next truck should be a Toyota...
just sayin'.
DGW