Made In The USA?

[gr7070]

I for one have no rational basis for objecting to them.

Like a couple other board themes the basis is solely irrational.

 

[Dave686]

This post http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...lanation.html?highlight=mim+parts+temperature from a S&W engineer has always seemed to me to make a pretty good case for the decision to use MIM for certain parts.

If their "best shooters," which I assume includes Jerry Miculek, can't tell the difference between guns using traditional forged parts and MIM parts, and the engineers have decided the durability of MIM is no worse than the tradtionally-made parts, I for one have no rational basis for objecting to them.

Like a couple other board themes the basis is solely irrational.

I'm a retired former Toolmaker (Stamping and Molding) and EDM Applications Engineer. Everyone has made up their mind; that's fine. Most think if the S&W Engineers think its okay; then its okay. I don't think all S&W Engineers agreed with the use of MIM parts; but we don't know that for sure.

I knew how MIM parts were made and the applications they were used in. Toughness and ultimately fracture toughness is not the same for MIM and machined parts. Even consistency is an issue with MIM.

As far as the Engineer saying no one says "why"… there you have it. Ability to resist fracturing and then resisting the propagation of a crack. (breaking)

It was never an issue with me until I had a catastrophic failure of a safety on a new unmodified SW1911 that rendered the firearm unusable and it went back to S&W. I think the safety broke. They wouldn't answer that question. They told me the safety "wasn't properly fitted". When I asked them if they could replace it with a stainless safety; they said they didn't have any. I read that they were using MIM for the safety's. They would not confirm that.

I use that 1911 as a range gun; I do not trust it to carry it or use it for home defense. I haven't got around to having the safety replace with a stainless machined or forged safety yet.

I have a lot of respect for Jerry Miculek, but him saying he can't tell the difference in the "feel" of a gun with MIM parts means nothing. I would agree that is true. If the safety broke and the gun was completely unusable; he would be able to feel that.

This is just my opinion based on my experiences with the issue. They could be irrational.

Now one of you guys answer the more important question I asked: Are M&P 22 handguns now made in America by Smith & Wesson?

 

[bearman49709]

Now one of you guys answer the more important question I asked: Are M&P 22 handguns now made in America by Smith & Wesson?

I answered that "important question" back in post 15.

 

[Dave686]

I answered that "important question" back in post 15.

Thank you, I missed that.

 

[Airborne423]

Attn. S&WChad: Gene Sypek was the Tech. who worked on my 317. The Firing Pin had a very small hairline fracture. Gene also replaced the main spring, now this was on a 317 that had only been fired 3 or 4 times. I would say maybe a total of 150 rounds. There seems to be too many problems with the S&W revolvers!

 

[wetdog1911]

The box that my new M43C came in says "Made in America" both outside and inside the box, along with an American flag right next to both.

AFA MIM parts, besides the M43C and a M442-1, everything else I own, S&W and otherwise are well before MIM came along.

Rob

 

[Airborne423]

I believe S&W went south (guns not up to par) after Bangor Punta took over S&W in 1965. Bangor Punta had too many problems with the Fit and Function of the S&W revolvers.