How are the pistols that are made in the Houlton factory?
- Thread starter SKELVIS
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Sebago Son
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By all accounts the folks up in Houlton build a fine pistol. Being contastly motivated by the prospect of Springfield shutting them down, I think that they put a little extra effort into doing a good job...
novalty
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I would say they are equal to those manufactured in Springfield, MA.
84Carrera
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Not to be a sadsack here but there have been, continue to have, quality problems at least with the S&W produced PPK. To the OP check out the PPK thread on this forum and there are more than a few threads on a Walther forum concerning the PPK. Myself, I hope it all does get straightened out as I love the fact the are still made in America.
SHAMUSPI
Member
Smith bought and installed all brand-new CNC machines in their Maine plant. According to a video at S&W, these machines do everything in one place, so eliminating excess tolerances "building up" when the parts are removed and installed in a different machine. The S&W spokesman stated that tolerences are held as tight as "one-tenth of one-thousandths" of an inch. 
Fastbolt
Member
As mentioned, we were told that S&W bought and installed some new CNC equipment for that plant, and did some additional upgrades, when they were moving the 3rd gen production capability there (meaning they're still making them upon order for established/existing LE agency customers). They moved the 3rd gen production out of Springfield to make room for the TC manufacturing equipment being moved there, and some increased production capability in the M&P model lines.
The SW1911 production has already been occurring at Houlton for the last 3-4 years, if I recall correctly.
Their .22's are made there, including the M41's.
As far as the production of the licensed PPK & PPK/S pistols? From what I've heard I'd suspect that's more of a couple of design change/revision issues that have required adjustment than a production capability issue.
As long as the production cell assemblers have been taught to fit the extractors & sear release levers correctly, and to check for any tolerance issues in the area of the drawbar head's radius & trigger pin contact (causing Skips-DA), I can't see why there would be any issues in moving the production to the other plant.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if it turned out that occasional 3rd gen guns to come out of Houlton were even better. New equipment, increasingly better tolerances and manufacturing of new parts, etc.
The SW1911 production has already been occurring at Houlton for the last 3-4 years, if I recall correctly.
Their .22's are made there, including the M41's.
As far as the production of the licensed PPK & PPK/S pistols? From what I've heard I'd suspect that's more of a couple of design change/revision issues that have required adjustment than a production capability issue.
As long as the production cell assemblers have been taught to fit the extractors & sear release levers correctly, and to check for any tolerance issues in the area of the drawbar head's radius & trigger pin contact (causing Skips-DA), I can't see why there would be any issues in moving the production to the other plant.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if it turned out that occasional 3rd gen guns to come out of Houlton were even better. New equipment, increasingly better tolerances and manufacturing of new parts, etc.
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Thanks for the responses I actually went and picked it up today seems very well made and fits my hand very nice.The casing inthe box had a test date of 11/10/11.I'll probably go to the range one day this week and test it out.fits in my waistband alot better than the Glock 26 I was carrying.
Fastbolt
Member
Congrats.
The 3913 & variants are probably the best example of state-of-the-art for a lightweight, compact single column magazine 9mm defensive pistol ever made.
I hope the Houlton plant continues the practice that was often done in Springfield for LE orders, where a deliberate number of extra guns were usually made for each production run. Those extra guns would often be sold if an agency decided to add some more guns to an existing order, an individual officer wanted to order one, or, they were sometimes sold off to distributors when the company decided to reduce vault inventory.
The 3913 & variants are probably the best example of state-of-the-art for a lightweight, compact single column magazine 9mm defensive pistol ever made.
I hope the Houlton plant continues the practice that was often done in Springfield for LE orders, where a deliberate number of extra guns were usually made for each production run. Those extra guns would often be sold if an agency decided to add some more guns to an existing order, an individual officer wanted to order one, or, they were sometimes sold off to distributors when the company decided to reduce vault inventory.
VTHokiesDuckHunter
Member
Skelvis:
do you mind me asking where you find this gun for sale? Was it a LEO only shop?
do you mind me asking where you find this gun for sale? Was it a LEO only shop?
Silver77
Member
S&W 3913
I just ordered a X-LE Calif. Dept. of Corrections trade in 3913 that I believe they said was a 1999 production. Probably paid a little to much at $449 shipped, but the close up pictures look very good. I should have it by next weekend.
I just ordered a X-LE Calif. Dept. of Corrections trade in 3913 that I believe they said was a 1999 production. Probably paid a little to much at $449 shipped, but the close up pictures look very good. I should have it by next weekend.
There has been so much noise about problem Walthers coming out of Houlton that there is now in some quarters a presumption of mediocrity about those guns, and possibly any gun made there. The naysayers are now pre-programmed when it comes to evaluating good reports: this is a matter of faith first and observation second. The doubters won't see high quality until they first believe it might actually exist.
Just in case an established doubter is in a mood to reflect upon an actual good report, I'll say that my Houlton .380 PPK/S is a fine little gun that has given me no problems.
I'm no excuse maker. When I see poor workmanship or shipping prep in a gun I buy, I will sound off about it. A couple of modern revolvers I bought in recent years needed some additional tuning and cleaning after I got them home. I mean, waste steel from the thread cutting process stuck in the frame and pinned there by the barrel? Wavering frame cuts adjacent to the hammer? I bet buyers of new guns in the 1930s didn't have to put up with stuff like that. At least the forcing cones and rifling in my revolvers weren't gouged the way they have been in other guns I have seen documented.
Houlton products are just fine, in my experience.
Just in case an established doubter is in a mood to reflect upon an actual good report, I'll say that my Houlton .380 PPK/S is a fine little gun that has given me no problems.
I'm no excuse maker. When I see poor workmanship or shipping prep in a gun I buy, I will sound off about it. A couple of modern revolvers I bought in recent years needed some additional tuning and cleaning after I got them home. I mean, waste steel from the thread cutting process stuck in the frame and pinned there by the barrel? Wavering frame cuts adjacent to the hammer? I bet buyers of new guns in the 1930s didn't have to put up with stuff like that. At least the forcing cones and rifling in my revolvers weren't gouged the way they have been in other guns I have seen documented.
Houlton products are just fine, in my experience.
Yes it was a LEO only shop.I can retire in 6 months if I want but will probably stick around a little while longer.I sold my Glock 26 a few months ago figuring I was leaving and bought the S&W before the recruits graduate next week.
Nathan Forrest
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My PPK is a great pistol and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend buying one to a a friend. The factory does fine work.
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