HCH
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Does S&W manufacture M&Ps or just assemble them from vendor supplied parts?
Does S&W manufacture M&Ps?
- Thread starter HCH
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Titegroups
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As far as I know they do. Havent heard anything to the contrary. I bet the stainless comes from china.
Not really sure what your getting at...I'm sure they manufacture some items but it is not uncommon for a manufacturer to design and engineer parts then contract with various companies to build items to their specs. Then have them shipped to a plant and assembled.
Heck even automobiles, aircraft and other major items work this way...think about GM and how many vendors they have for all their vehicles. I work for an aircraft company and less than 10% of the aircraft is actually built in house.
Heck even automobiles, aircraft and other major items work this way...think about GM and how many vendors they have for all their vehicles. I work for an aircraft company and less than 10% of the aircraft is actually built in house.
N4KVE
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Actually, most popular gun companies today have their factory mags built my Mec-Gar. It's one less manufacturing step, & obviously saves them money. GARY
CA Escapee
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I've always found Mec-Gar's, whether as an OEM magazine or under the Mec-Gar name to be excellent.
Another company that makes magazines for the S&W 1911's is ACT-MAG. (also made in Italy) I've seen the ACT, S&W, and Novak's labels on their magazines.
No problems with either company.
Bill
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shawn mccarver
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I am not sure how much is manufactured in house. I was told at the SHOT Show after the M&P had been on the market for a couple of years that slides, for one major component, are made by additional vendors (besides S&W) because of demand. The factory person told me that the "punch dots" inside the slide are codes to tell which vendor made the slide in question.
lightsluvr
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I'm pretty sure that S&W wholly owns Walther. So that would be kinda like saying GMC makes Chevrolet. (or vice versa)
LL
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Nakanokalronin
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It dosn't explain much, but this is the only vid I can find: Ever wonder how a Smith & Wesson M&P is made? | Julie Golob
I'm sure many will be like "Well if this is true, why can't I find an M&P X or Y anywhere?"
I'm sure many will be like "Well if this is true, why can't I find an M&P X or Y anywhere?"
It dosn't explain much, but this is the only vid I can find: Ever wonder how a Smith & Wesson M&P is made? | Julie Golob
I'm sure many will be like "Well if this is true, why can't I find an M&P X or Y anywhere?"
That was great! Not the video I remember (pre-sheild) but very similar. Now that is a sight pusher!
Thanks.
They used to import for them and make some guns under license , but don't own them.
shawn mccarver
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Lothar-Walther, not the firm of Carl Walther, made some Performance Center barrels, but I doubt they make all of the barrels for S&W.
S&W does not own Walther.
Walther is owned by Umarex.
S&W and Walther had a business relationship which, for the most part, has now ended. S&W did import Walther, but Walther now has its own US office. S&W still makes the PPK and PPK/S line of pistols at its Houlton, Maine plant. That continues to this day. Walther makes the M&P22 pistol for S&W and that continues to this day.
Walther made the frames for the S&W99 Series of pistols, which were close copies of the Walther P99. The biggest difference, I think was in the SW990L, the DAO with the very light trigger. S&W's version did away with the slide mounted decocker, which remained on the equivalent Walther model, albeit in a smaller circle shaped button rather than the rectangular decocking button.
Over the years, S&W made Walther marked handcuffs and Walther marked revolvers for sale by Walther, the last revolver being the R99, essentially a 3 inch round butt Model 66 or 19. That would have been a nice one for us, S&W. Are you listening?
Anyway, that more or less covers the business relationship between S&W and Walther.
S&W does not own Walther.
Walther is owned by Umarex.
S&W and Walther had a business relationship which, for the most part, has now ended. S&W did import Walther, but Walther now has its own US office. S&W still makes the PPK and PPK/S line of pistols at its Houlton, Maine plant. That continues to this day. Walther makes the M&P22 pistol for S&W and that continues to this day.
Walther made the frames for the S&W99 Series of pistols, which were close copies of the Walther P99. The biggest difference, I think was in the SW990L, the DAO with the very light trigger. S&W's version did away with the slide mounted decocker, which remained on the equivalent Walther model, albeit in a smaller circle shaped button rather than the rectangular decocking button.
Over the years, S&W made Walther marked handcuffs and Walther marked revolvers for sale by Walther, the last revolver being the R99, essentially a 3 inch round butt Model 66 or 19. That would have been a nice one for us, S&W. Are you listening?
Anyway, that more or less covers the business relationship between S&W and Walther.
Fastbolt
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Shawn covered most of the highlights of the Strategic Alliance between S&W and Walther. FWIW, the products of both companies were enriched by the partnership over time.
I forget the name of the company essentially "down the road" from S&W that makes the M&P frames (made the Sigma frames, so it's a long association).
S&W does use some vendor supplied parts & assemblies (just like they're the vendor/supplier for some parts for other companies, including other gun companies).
S&W's forging & heat-treating facilities are among the largest on the East Coast, and they do a lot of work for other companies.
They make their own forged & through-hardened slides & barrels.
Last I was told, they use MIM houses for the MIM parts, BUT, they own the MIM molds used (which is very expensive, but allows a high level of control over QC), and the MIM houses are still located in the continental US.
I forget the name of the company essentially "down the road" from S&W that makes the M&P frames (made the Sigma frames, so it's a long association).
S&W does use some vendor supplied parts & assemblies (just like they're the vendor/supplier for some parts for other companies, including other gun companies).
S&W's forging & heat-treating facilities are among the largest on the East Coast, and they do a lot of work for other companies.
They make their own forged & through-hardened slides & barrels.
Last I was told, they use MIM houses for the MIM parts, BUT, they own the MIM molds used (which is very expensive, but allows a high level of control over QC), and the MIM houses are still located in the continental US.
Maximumbob54
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That's not so bad. I heard Taurus has the MIM contracts.
Hudgehog
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I can't speak for 100% of their stainless, but I know that they buy machining scrap from the largest purchaser of Stainless in America, which is made to very tight specifications. Don't know if there is a trade/agreement secret so I won't say the name of the manufacturer that it comes from.
