Henry Rifle Forums

when it comes to firearms, just how important to you is it being American Made

given, we are in a position where we really have no "need" to purchase any additional firearms .... in looking at our collection, all but 2 were made in the USA .... those two are the first rifle I ever purchased (a Belgian made Browning BLR 308 ) and a 30 caliber Luger passed down from my grandfather .... reading about numerous well made brands of foreign made firearms used by our members has me wondering ... if I was to buy today, would I consider a foreign made one .. .. honestly, I don't know

If it's good quality, fits my budget and is what I'm looking for, I'll buy it. I would certainly prefer if Winchester for example was made in North America, but it wouldn't stop me from buying one if that's what I wanted. The 1860 Henry I have coming rates high for quality, is priced right and is a definite want. The H011C cost was a deterrent for me, but it's no doubt an heirloom quality firearm.

As a traditional lever gun and single action shooter, made in the U.S. is still important to me, of course. Those guns are an American tradition and part of our history and, by far, the bulk of our collection is U.S. made guns. Still, I'm too much of a shooter to let being foreign made stop me when I find a lever gun or single action revolver that I like. In fact, I'm grateful that I have as many choices as I do with lever guns and single actions, thanks to Italian and Japanese made guns and, let's face it, some of those are excellent guns. I'd be more than happy to stay all U.S. made in my single action revolvers and lever guns if American gun companies made everything I wanted in single actions and lever guns, but they don't. Simple as that.

I don't really lose any sleep over it. I do prefer buying Made In USA stuff, and guns are no exception.

I have a problem with a brand like Winchester being made in Japan. On the other hand, it doesn't bother me that my Glock was made in Austria and my CZ was made in the Czech Republic. Glock is an Austrian company and CZ is a Czech company.

Going any further, though, it can get real complicated. I also own a Browning pistol, made in Belgium. The original company got its name from American hero and genius John Browing. Their best guns, generally speaking, were made in Belgium. Now, however, Browning and Winchester are both nothing but brands owned by FN, and manufactured wherever FN sees fit. I'm not sure if it's rational, but that does bother me.

Most of my guns, however, are American made. I like it that way.

Living in America, I prefer that my purchases be American made if at all possible. If I lived in another country, your question would make me look at it differently.

I'm interested at what our friends outside the US think when they purchase a firearm.

American made is very important to me and my first choice. I do own 2 CZ pistols and a RIA. I have nothing against buying the foreign guns as long as there quality and they have a customer service plan. Al

Like all my Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles and Farms Tractors that I own or have owned, all my Guns are US Made.

Probably the main reason I was originally drawn to the Henry.

Great subject line...interesting thread.

I have my Henry "Made in America" SGC, three handguns all made in America, and one Italian-made shotgun. Although a quality s/g, I'd prefer it be "Made in the USA." But Henry now provides shotgun products, which is cool.

I read a blog site supporting purchasing American Made products. As a thought-provoking read, here is an interesting article on the challenge of building a house made out of all American Made materials. There is included an actual list of what a person would need to buy to accomplish this build: http://www.madeamericaclub.com/category ... de-in-usa/

Per the question posed in this thread, "...how important to you is it being American Made ," the answers are all simply personal choice. I liked the responses by our Henry folk. Also, I liked the expression used in the article's second paragraph on the choices made by the house builders: "It becomes an act of love for America..."

JEBar wrote:when it comes to firearms, just how important to you is it being American Made
.....if I was to buy today, would I consider a foreign made one .. .. honestly, I don't know

I have a pistol from a major name that was not made here. It was recalled and has gone back to the factory again since then. That's the only non USA gun I have. Probably not a real indicator. But it does sway me.

Personally, it never really mattered to me. My Belgium made Browning, made in 1971, I would never part with it. The rest of my shotguns and rifles were made in the U.S.A. I have two Heritage revolvers made in the U.S. and two Rossi revolvers made in Brazil. They all work. My son just bought a new Browning BLR .308 that is absolutely georgeous in every way, from a LGS. As we all know they are now made in Japan and made well, and if I had the funds that he has, it would be my next lever action but possibly in a .30-06.

I wish I could say it matters..... But I'm a fan of German made Sigs and CZ's.