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A USA Knife And A Foreign Gun
- Thread starter emann
- Start date
Because the US has so many laws and lawsuits concerning firearms its hard for the American firearm industry to expand.
Another reason is America is very young when it comes to manufacturing firearms. Beretta alone has been making firearms since 1526 or for 497 years.
Another reason is America is very young when it comes to manufacturing firearms. Beretta alone has been making firearms since 1526 or for 497 years.
To be even more specific, it seems that most folks want a USA made knife and a European made firearm.
And I can hardly blame them...
IMO, some of the best firearms are made in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, and The Czech Republic.
The USA makes fine firearms too, but it seems the European weapons are just a notch above.
But when it comes to knives, I don't see much from Europe that I feel is exceptional (except the Victorinox SAK).
By and large, the best blades come from the USA, Japan, and Taiwan IMO.
Allen.
And I can hardly blame them...
IMO, some of the best firearms are made in Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, and The Czech Republic.
The USA makes fine firearms too, but it seems the European weapons are just a notch above.
But when it comes to knives, I don't see much from Europe that I feel is exceptional (except the Victorinox SAK).
By and large, the best blades come from the USA, Japan, and Taiwan IMO.
Allen.
- Joined
- May 9, 2005
- Messages
- 1,767
allenC said:
Airguns too. In fact there really aren't any high-quality adult airguns being manufactured in the United States.
The reason is largely cultural. Rifles can be possessed in the US easily enough, and airguns are traditionally seen as kid's toys. So the result is you see a lot of cheap plastic stuff that's not very accurate, powerful, and suited for hunting. Adult airguns make up a pretty small portion of the market here.
The best are made in the UK and Germany IMO.
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2001
- Messages
- 4,717
Well, IMO, the two gun companies that have done the most to betray the American consumer were/are also two of the largest. (Colt/S&W)
Colt used to make fine guns and have waffled so much between whether or not to sell a consumer line, and have wacked their product line down to almost nothing, they've lost a lot of footing in the market. All that and a 25% higher price.
Then, S&W sells out the entire industry & their customers by getting into bed with the Clinton administration, alienating a ton of people.
Ruger still has a great following but have not been as succesful in the semi-auto pistol market. Mainly out of their fear to produce smaller handguns. I think Ruger makes fine wheel guns, rimfire pistols and rifles for the most part. The 10/22 is arguably the hottest .22 rifle on the market.
Kahr - great guns, mediocre service.
Kimber - decent pistols, junk rifles (IMO) and lackluster customer service.
Keltec - Innovative and cheap with great service, will probably be put out of business if the Dem's get back in office, ala Intratec.
Springfield - great following but always the "underdog" it seems.
Sig, HK, Glock, CZ (& Taurus even) - pretty tough competition for somewhat lazy American team.
I have guns from most of the manufacturers mentioned, (except Springfield and I sold all of my Kimbers) I love them all and have no plans for dumping them. But if I had to give them all up for one it would most likely be a Euro gun I'd keep.
In guns, much of the innovation is happening over seas. In knives, we're the innovators. Who knows if and when that will shift.
Colt used to make fine guns and have waffled so much between whether or not to sell a consumer line, and have wacked their product line down to almost nothing, they've lost a lot of footing in the market. All that and a 25% higher price.
Then, S&W sells out the entire industry & their customers by getting into bed with the Clinton administration, alienating a ton of people.
Ruger still has a great following but have not been as succesful in the semi-auto pistol market. Mainly out of their fear to produce smaller handguns. I think Ruger makes fine wheel guns, rimfire pistols and rifles for the most part. The 10/22 is arguably the hottest .22 rifle on the market.
Kahr - great guns, mediocre service.
Kimber - decent pistols, junk rifles (IMO) and lackluster customer service.
Keltec - Innovative and cheap with great service, will probably be put out of business if the Dem's get back in office, ala Intratec.
Springfield - great following but always the "underdog" it seems.
Sig, HK, Glock, CZ (& Taurus even) - pretty tough competition for somewhat lazy American team.
I have guns from most of the manufacturers mentioned, (except Springfield and I sold all of my Kimbers) I love them all and have no plans for dumping them. But if I had to give them all up for one it would most likely be a Euro gun I'd keep.
In guns, much of the innovation is happening over seas. In knives, we're the innovators. Who knows if and when that will shift.
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2004
- Messages
- 11
Well, since I'm not a big revolver or 1911 fan and I don't like Ruger or S&W autos(ugly and don't forget that Ruger also sold out gun owners), about all I have left to choose from is Kel-tec or Kahr. Both are great CCW pistols and I would like one of each, but not what I'm into right now.
Give me a Walther, Sig, CZ, or HK 9mm and I'm a happy man.
Give me a Walther, Sig, CZ, or HK 9mm and I'm a happy man.
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2000
- Messages
- 15,403
I have to agree. I own an Italian made Beretta 92FS and it is head and shoulders above the USA made version. The fit and finish are the best I have ever felt or seen on this model of pistol. I have shot both an Italian made and a USA made 92FS and the difference is remarkable. The Italians action is alot smoother and my groupings were tighter from the stationary bench at 10 yards. The USA shot well but my groupings strayed by 1/8 to 1/4 inch off center at the same distance. This is not a considerable amount but in a firefight it might mean going home or going to the morgue. Internally the weapons are identical but the machining on the Italian is a bit better. The only thing the USA has over the Italian is the wearability of the finish. The USA seems to hold it's finish better with repeated holster removal and insertion.allenC said:
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2004
- Messages
- 4,029
While I agree that alot of european arms are very nice indeed, they lack one thing that the old US guns have. CLASS. If you think a foriegn made gun is nicer than an old S&W N frame or a pre-70 series Colt 1911, you need your head checked. Granted today, most of the big companies turn out mass produced junk, but that wasn't always the case. I dare anyone to find a more classy made pistol than an early Colt Commercial 1911(or any early Colt for that matter). I have several firearms dating pre-1950.....works of art everyone of them.
Can you guess which gun in this picture is American made?
You're wrong if you only guessed the Springfield. Both are American made. The Walther PPK/S is made in America by Smith and Wesson under license from Walther.
As for firearm quality - Colt used to be tops. S&W used to be tops. Law suits and cheap foreign labor have hurt them badly. With EDC/CNC modern machinery and restructuring, they are slowly coming back. If you disdain them from their mistakes they made back during the Clinton era and refuse to help them while they struggle onto the right path, you're just as bad as they were.
S&W make fine firearms right now - especially their 1911's. Kahr makes a good gun, especially for the money. Ruger has always made quality weapons, if not attractive weapons. Taurus makes great guns - for the price. While the European makers offer fine handguns in the $500-900 range, they do fall short of the Americans when it comes to the $900 range and up. Numerous custom 1911's, revolvers from Casull and Bowen, various custom lever action makers as well, all exceed what the Europeans have to offer. Bear in mind that even though Beretta has been in the business for longer than the USA has been around - they mainly made shotguns and longarms. They did not become a significant force in the handgun industry until long after Samuel Colt, Smith and Wesson, John Moses Browning, Thompson, Springfield, et al were on the scene. And Beretta has never become much of a rifle or machinegun producer like the US or German companies have. And, in case you may have forgotten, the Beretta M9(9mm military version of the 92FS) is made in America, with some Marines and most special force units using a version of the .45 ACP 1911 when given the choice. Afterall, if it won't knock over a bowling pin, how do you expect it to do VS something larger?
WYK
You're wrong if you only guessed the Springfield. Both are American made. The Walther PPK/S is made in America by Smith and Wesson under license from Walther.
As for firearm quality - Colt used to be tops. S&W used to be tops. Law suits and cheap foreign labor have hurt them badly. With EDC/CNC modern machinery and restructuring, they are slowly coming back. If you disdain them from their mistakes they made back during the Clinton era and refuse to help them while they struggle onto the right path, you're just as bad as they were.
S&W make fine firearms right now - especially their 1911's. Kahr makes a good gun, especially for the money. Ruger has always made quality weapons, if not attractive weapons. Taurus makes great guns - for the price. While the European makers offer fine handguns in the $500-900 range, they do fall short of the Americans when it comes to the $900 range and up. Numerous custom 1911's, revolvers from Casull and Bowen, various custom lever action makers as well, all exceed what the Europeans have to offer. Bear in mind that even though Beretta has been in the business for longer than the USA has been around - they mainly made shotguns and longarms. They did not become a significant force in the handgun industry until long after Samuel Colt, Smith and Wesson, John Moses Browning, Thompson, Springfield, et al were on the scene. And Beretta has never become much of a rifle or machinegun producer like the US or German companies have. And, in case you may have forgotten, the Beretta M9(9mm military version of the 92FS) is made in America, with some Marines and most special force units using a version of the .45 ACP 1911 when given the choice. Afterall, if it won't knock over a bowling pin, how do you expect it to do VS something larger?
WYK
- Joined
- May 24, 2001
- Messages
- 1,480
emann,I'm the odd guy out.I carry a US made firearm and a Japanese knife.tom. 
I love the Barrett company.
He basically told the LAPD departments to shove it, when the .50 ban was coming to pass in california. He will no longer sell any of his rifles to the LAPD or any other California PD.
Another big reason is the American culture. Most Americans dont want to pay top dollar for a high quailty item that will last them the rest of their lives. They want to buy cheap, and when that breaks, they can always buy another.....why do you think we have so many Wal-Marts? The European culture is differant.
He basically told the LAPD departments to shove it, when the .50 ban was coming to pass in california. He will no longer sell any of his rifles to the LAPD or any other California PD.
Another big reason is the American culture. Most Americans dont want to pay top dollar for a high quailty item that will last them the rest of their lives. They want to buy cheap, and when that breaks, they can always buy another.....why do you think we have so many Wal-Marts? The European culture is differant.