View Full Version : Springfield 1911 made in Brazil....WTF??
The Norseman
02-01-2011, 18:07
Just made a big ticket purchase of a Springfield Armory Micro Compact Bi-tone in .45 ACP. I had handled the gun more than a few times in the shop. I never thought to look at the manufacturers mark in the frame. Well when I got it home and looked it over real close I was astounded to see "Made in Brazil - IMBEL" on the frame....Brazil??!! I got a huge dose of buyers remorse that instant. I had assumed (I know, I know..) that Springfield was US made. Nothing on their website would indicate otherwise and, really, they tout themselves as "The First Name in American Firearms."
At this point I don't know what to do. Should I try to return it to the gun shop? Just not care and go shoot it? I feel strongly about buying US made product, especially at this price point and nothing pisses me off like companies offshoring stuff and then pricing it as if it were made in the US.
Any thoughts? Advice?
The Norseman
Won't be able to return it most likely
BPTactical
02-01-2011, 18:30
Relax Norseman- Springfields have had the rough forgings made by Imbel for a long time. About the only entirely US made firearms are Rorbaugh and Henry. Even stalwarts like Colt, DPMS and just about everybody use some foreign made components. Hell, even a large majority of steel we use is no longer good old Pittsburgh steel but rather from Japan or China.
She was still final machined and assembled in Geneseo Ill.
The XD and XDM are built in Croatia BTW.
Unfortunatley it is just the way the business world is anymore-more raw materials come from foreign sources than we can produce and still sell a reasonably priced product. The by product of a "Global Economy".
As far as returning it, I would suppose somewhere on your reciept it states "All sales are final".
Nothing wrong with Imbel of Brazil, they are the government owned arms manufacturer in Brazil and if you are worried about quality dont-the finest FAL recievers next to a Belgian FN are Imbel "Gear Logo" recievers.
It's just the way it is anymore.
I know how you feel though-the last bike I built needed some tranny gears so I went to Harley and chunked the cash over for genuine Harley parts.
I waited 2 weeks to get them and when I unwrapped them I noticed a "Made in Japan" tag inside the box[Rant1]
Go shoot your new pistol and enjoy.
BP said it, I'd be more worried about the fact that I chose a 3" over a 5" if I were you. [Coffee]
akguy1985
02-01-2011, 18:53
it pissed me off a couple months ago when i bought some Justin boots that i assumed were made in the us. I got them home and went to open the box and there was a big made in china in my face. I do love the boots, theyre good quality but it just made me mad that theyre advertised as an american product and not made in the USA.
BPTactical
02-01-2011, 19:32
I'd be more worried about the fact that I chose a 3" over a 5" if I were you. [Coffee]
[Stooge]
I like my "Little Firebreather". If I dont hit ya the muzzle flash and blast will kill ya!
Yep I gotta admit, that little super sure is trick!!
The Norseman
02-01-2011, 19:51
Thanks for the input.... I was figuring on speaking to the shop in a reasonable manner. Might be another Micro that has " Geneseo, IL" on the frame they'd trade straight across.
Maybe I should just go shoot it. Just such a bummer to be let down like that. Maybe Lance Armstrong really is on the juice and the tooth fairy doesn't exist after all....
The Norseman
Not sure if this will help or hurt your situation but here is a little information about the Springfield 1911. Imbel makes the frames and slides for them. Some of the models ( the G.I. for one ) are actually assembled in Brazil as well. Their higher end models and built and fitted here in the states. The part that really disappointed me about my last Springfield was the fact that darn near every part other than the frame and slide were metal injection molded parts. I ended up changing out everything but the frame, slide and barrel to get rid of all of the MIM parts.
BPTactical
02-01-2011, 21:12
Might be another Micro that has " Geneseo, IL" on the frame they'd trade straight across.
The Norseman
Your's should have the same "Geneseo Ill" on it. Manufacturer/Importer marks must be on the serialized portion of the firearm per BATF regs.
I think if you try to trade in two things are gonna happen:
You will lose a chunk of cash.
You will be laughed out of the shop. You really don't have a valid argument from a shop owners point.
Shops don't "return" firearms.
You had ample time to inspect the firearm in the shop correct?
Once you leave the shop, the firearm is yours.
What make of vehicle do you drive? What brand of power tools or computer do you have?
It's reality- I understand it is disheartening but face it, we all have offshore products touch us everyday.
Ray1970- you are right on the money on the MIM parts. They are far more of an area of concern than a Brazilian frame and slide.
The gun industry seems to be a lot of smoke and mirrors at this point and the new Springfield is a good example, seems their line is Croatia, Brazil, or Taiwan, just kept the name of the actual historic armory. Winchesters owned by FN if memory serves and Reminton, Bushmaster, DPMS, Marlin, AAC, Barnes and many others old stalwarts are owned by Cerberus, who also owns GMAC, the rest of that companies info becomes obvious, when you think about that being GMs finance division, bail outs and such don't appeal to me much. They are all part of the same holding company now. Makes you wonder how far the new R15 is from a Sportical.
The weirdest part is you can by Sigs and Glock 17s from the states.
I know my family in Wisconsin was pissed when their GM plant closed so they make tahoes in Mexico now but Tacomas come from the states.
its hard to keep track of
The weirdest part is you can by Sigs and Glock 17s from the states.
I know a lot of that has to do with firearm import laws. It does, however, make Springfield's situation more puzzling to me in a way.
ldmaster
03-08-2011, 09:22
Driving my Japanese built truck down to the airport, where the love of my life (Samoan) got off a plane made in France and came running up for a kiss in her Taiwanese tennis shoes...
Not all things made elsewhere are BAD!
I try to buy US, or if not available anywhere but China. As others have stated this is getting tough. That said I love my Croatian built XDM and my blue eyed Belarussian wife!
Byte Stryke
03-11-2011, 13:23
Just made a big ticket purchase of a Springfield Armory Micro Compact Bi-tone in .45 ACP. I had handled the gun more than a few times in the shop. I never thought to look at the manufacturers mark in the frame. Well when I got it home and looked it over real close I was astounded to see "Made in Brazil - IMBEL" on the frame....Brazil??!! I got a huge dose of buyers remorse that instant. I had assumed (I know, I know..) that Springfield was US made. Nothing on their website would indicate otherwise and, really, they tout themselves as "The First Name in American Firearms."
At this point I don't know what to do. Should I try to return it to the gun shop? Just not care and go shoot it? I feel strongly about buying US made product, especially at this price point and nothing pisses me off like companies offshoring stuff and then pricing it as if it were made in the US.
Any thoughts? Advice?
The Norseman
Yeah, Returns arent going to happen unless you come up with some silly off the wall technicality such as "wrong gun in Box" or some weird thing and I dont see that happening.
Since I am such a Nice guy, I will trade you straight across, my lightly used, well cared for, U.S. Manufactured, Made in Prescott, AZ, Ruger KP944 for your foreign made latin America "Springfield Armory Micro Compact Bi-tone in .45 ACP"
[LOL]
I try to buy US, or if not available anywhere but China. As others have stated this is getting tough. That said I love my Croatian built XDM and my blue eyed Belarussian wife!
Yeah, I have a Croatian XDc, an American Ruger, Canadian Chevy and Filipina Wife
:D
BPTactical
03-11-2011, 14:31
Yeah, I have a Croatian XDc, an American Ruger, Canadian Chevy and Filipina Wife
:D
So your the one to blame for "Globalism" eh?
Zundfolge
03-11-2011, 15:50
About the only entirely US made firearms are Rorbaugh and Henry.
Ruger, Kahr (just Kahr, not their other brands like Desert Eagle and Auto-Ordnance), KelTec, Kimber, S&W, Charter and HiPoint are all 100% American Made as are many of the high end botique brands like STI (but not all their guns), Les Baer, Wilson, etc.
Ironically there are plenty of 100% US made SIG, HK, Beretta and FN guns too.
American name doesn't automatically mean American Made (nor does foreign name mean foreign made)
Kinda like my Chrysler (built in Mexico) and one of my co-worker's Toyota (100% built in Kentucky).
Byte Stryke
03-11-2011, 16:18
So your the one to blame for "Globalism" eh?
sure, you are going to find something to blame me for anyway
HBARleatherneck
03-12-2011, 05:33
my Springfield 1911 is made here in th US. Of course, its old.
Yeah, I have a Croatian XDc, an American Ruger, Canadian Chevy and Filipina Wife
:D
Nice combo!
What can you expect from a business that operates under a stolen name?
gcrookston
03-13-2011, 22:08
Personally, I don't see a problem. Armscorp forges frames for a number of manufacturers around the world and their quality is quite high. There's a better than even chance that Springfield 1911 frame was in the same bin along with a Rock Island, a Colt, an STI and half a dozen other name brands...
bobbyfairbanks
03-13-2011, 22:13
I really can't believe that this post is still rolling. What isn't made or parts of out side the US. Even toyota today is more US then Ford is. Just deal with it or make your own gun.
Byte Stryke
03-15-2011, 11:26
I personally am waiting for the trade to go through [ROFL1]
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