Whats up with SA's 1911s being made in Brazil ?!

[Tang419]

Was looking at a new Champion, and an Ultra Compact, both say made in Brazil under the bottom of the frame.

Americas oldest gun maker huh ?


Did notice the TRP guns dont say this.

[ILikeFtLbs]

The TRP frames and slides were made in brazil too. Doesn't matter though. Brazil makes great steel!

[Jim Watson]

America's oldest gun maker - no.
Springfield Armory Inc. has no connection with the US Army's Springfield Armory except for stealing the name to confuse you over Brazilian and Croatian guns.

Some of the high end SAs are not marked in Brazil because enough of the final machinining and assembly are done in the US to count as domestic production. But the forged parts are still imported.

Decent guns, still.

[Kruzr]

Read the "slogan" again. It says the oldest name in American gun making. Bob Reese, the father of the two brothers who currently own Springfield, bought the rights to the name in 1974 so he could sell the M1A's he was making. In the early 80's, SA began producing the mil-spec 1911's under the operation of the two sons, David and Dennis.

All SA frames including those of the Pro are made by Imbel in Brazil. All the current Mil-Specs and Loadeds are also assembled in Brazil. The TRP's have some parts fitted here in Genesco. The Pro is built in Genesco on oversize frames by Imbel.

[thurn55]

Do the new Loaded/Mil-Spec/GI 1911s get test fired in Geneseo at all, or just in Brazil? Is Geneseo basically a warehouse with a custom shop and warranty department? What still needs to be done to the TRP when it arrives from Brazil?

Springfield Armory - Are You Ready? [rhetorical question :supergrin: ]

[vanilla_gorilla]

The frames are forged by Imbel, yeah, the same company that makes the FAL, the "right arm of the free world" and one of the (IMO) best in the mass-producing business. They are imported and the gun is put together in Geneseo.

[Kruzr]

Originally posted by vanilla_gorilla
The frames are forged by Imbel, yeah, the same company that makes the FAL, the "right arm of the free world" and one of the (IMO) best in the mass-producing business. They are imported and the gun is put together in Geneseo.
According to Deb at Springfield in a post she made in response to the question on the 1911 forum, only the TRP get some assembly in Genesco. The Pro is completely assembled in Genesco. All other SA's are assembled in Brazil. The loaded models are not test fired since Springfield doesn't have a test range. The TRP's are function tested and the Pro's are shot for accuracy at a public range where SA rents time.

[CTfam]

Sorry, but this is news to me. How long have they been out of brazil? I was looking at a full size stainless model. Either that or a Smith-Wesson. I might have to go with an american company.... Does that make me a bad guy?:patriot:

[Big Time]

I always thought Brazil was part of America,South America? Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong. Thank you.

[vanilla_gorilla]

I fail to see what the problem is with buying a Springfield. It's a good quality firearm that can be dependable and a lifesaver. Mine is carried everyday, and I don't care what country made it.

Kruzr, I was told by an employee on the phone that the guns were assembled here, but I didn't pay enough attention to remember his name. I could have misunderstood, but I could almost swear that's what he said. Regarding their range, when I called for warranty work on my sights, I was told that their warranty work is often affected by the weather, since they do have to go to an open range. When I sent mine back, it was a simple job that gt delayed in returning to me by a few days because the weather did not allow for test firing...or at least that was the story I got.

[Skpotamus]

The springfield rep for my district said almost nothing is made in the US anymore. All of the frames and slides come from Brazil, which is why it was so hard to get any new springfields a few months ago.

They still make good guns, and always have. I do think my S&W's are better made 1911's, but I wouldn't turn my nose up at a good springfield anyday.

[CTfam]

Originally posted by Big Time
I always thought Brazil was part of America,South America? Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong. Thank you.

Yes sir you are correct. Brazil is located in South America. By "American company" I meant U.S.A. Sorry for not being more specific. Anyways, I have heard nothing but good things about springfields as well as S&W's and instead of flipping a coin I might just go with the North American CO. But who cares. My glock is my favorite and its not an american co.

[Kruzr]

Springfields with an NM serial number are assembled in the US and won't say Made in Brazil on the dust cover. All others are completely assembled at Imbel.
They will also have a one piece barrel instead of the normal two piece one.

[epsylum]

I don't care, SA still makes a good 1911 for the money (yes, I still prefer them over the Taurus and I have shot one).

[Novemberalpha47]

I have owned 7 Springfield 1911's and 3 XD's. No complaint outta me about Brazil or Croatia. I have a IMBEL FAL and wouldn't trade it for anything made in the USA. They have great steel and they build quality firearms. All you S&W 1911 fans should know that the first ones were made out of everyone else's parts. It wasn't really a Smith and Wesson at all. I would trust my life with a Springer anyday. Same as I would almost anything that came from Germany or Austria. Get over the fact it wasn't "Made in USA" or whatever. Harley's are made in the USA and they leak oil and can't last a 1/4 of the time a Japanese bike does.

[army_eod]

Better not hear any whining about Brazilian Taurus guns now.

My Glock is made in Austria.

My Smith 1911 is made in the USA and is one of the best .45 ACPs I have seen.

[anyplainjoe]

The Taurus and SA 1911s seem to work just fine.

[Kilroy]

Americas oldest gun maker huh ?

Springfield Armory milked that claim for years. Only recently have they been taken to task for it, and then explained in recent catalog.

[Herb Twoleaf]

Originally posted by Kruzr
Springfields with an NM serial number are assembled in the US and won't say Made in Brazil on the dust cover. All others are completely assembled at Imbel.
They will also have a one piece barrel instead of the normal two piece one.

Yup. One piece stainless barrel & bushing to match.

[Glocks&Ducs]

Originally posted by Kruzr
Springfields with an NM serial number are assembled in the US and won't say Made in Brazil on the dust cover. All others are completely assembled at Imbel.
They will also have a one piece barrel instead of the normal two piece one.

Not always true. I had heard this before, so I was closely inspecting a Mil-Spec at the gun shop. It has the NM serial number, a two piece barrel, and it still says IMBEL on the dust cover. There have been several versions of the NM Mil-Spec. I think it just depends on what they felt like doing at the time. I have understood it, however, that all NM Mil-Specs are built in the US using IMBEL parts. I have even seen Mil-Specs with the two piece carbon barrel, instead of the stainless barrel(two piece or one piece) that usually come with the Mil-Specs.

[vanilla_gorilla]

Originally posted by Kilroy
Springfield Armory milked that claim for years. Only recently have they been taken to task for it, and then explained in recent catalog.

Springfield did not ever claim to be the oldest American gunmaker, that I am aware of. They have claimed to be the oldest name in American gunmaking. And they are correct. Their name IS the oldest, even though it's not been with the present owners for that entire time.

[Glocks&Ducs]

Originally posted by vanilla_gorilla
Springfield did not ever claim to be the oldest American gunmaker, that I am aware of. They have claimed to be the oldest name in American gunmaking. And they are correct. Their name IS the oldest, even though it's not been with the present owners for that entire time.

Any semi-educated person knows what Springfield Armory was doing with the SA name. It's called marketing, and they were called on it. If they didn't feel the need to explain, they wouldn't have done so.

[El_Ron1]

Originally posted by vanilla_gorilla
Springfield did not ever claim to be the oldest American gunmaker, that I am aware of. They have claimed to be the oldest name in American gunmaking. And they are correct. Their name IS the oldest, even though it's not been with the present owners for that entire time. http://www.bersapistols.com/images/springfield%20logo.jpg

"I didn't inhale".
"I did not have sex with that woman..."
"What is is?"

[Kruzr]

Their name IS the oldest, even though it's not been with the present owners for that entire time.

Springfield Armory was the U.S. Government Armory from the 1790's to about 1970. Uncle Sam was the only owner.

Bob Reese bought the rights to the name (and nothing else) as a way to sell his clone rifles in 1974. His sons jumped in with the pistols 10 years later. There is absolutely no relation to the "real" Springfield Armory.

Today, they are essentially an importing company. The only SA's listed as US manufactured in the ATF stats in 2004 are the Custom Shop guns and they are listed under David Reese, Genesco, IL.

[freakshow10mm]

Remington is the oldest arms MAKER in the USA and "Springfield Armory" is the oldest arms NAME in the USA. Beretta is the world's first firearm manufacturer, largest company in terms of assets, and the world's most continuously running commercial enterprise.

[spober]

knock Taurus products.haw haw haw,tee hee hee:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :animlol: :animlol: :animlol: :animlol: :animlol: :laughabove: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[gncc600]

Thats why I stick with COLT!:tongueout:

[1-2man]

Don't worry, we actually own Brasil (the proper spelling. :supergrin: ) Their defecit to us is so high, they could (and probably never will) repay it. BTW, eu so Brasileiro (I'm Brazilian. ;) )

[js1392]

Sorry, I just have to do this:

It's Geneseo - pronounced Jenn-ess-say-oh

Not GenesCo!

Too many people keep refering to it as Genesco. I can only assume that the letter "e" just didn't stamp all that deep.

Okay, I'm done with my rant.

Feel free to blast away at me now.