S&W not happy with aftermarket

[Willydog]

https://www.instagram.com/p/_miiI5F8ZN/

I just saw this another forum, basically telling the aftermarket folks they don't want them tinkering with S&W pistols.

Is this true or some BS internet hoax?

 

[Bob O]

Interesting. Imagine if Glock did that. Sorry, couldn't resist......the Glock aftermarket is HUGE!!!!!

 

[Willydog]

Some more:

https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/1934597_10204099808133979_4312216293917758907_n.jpg?oh=d6fb300a561bdee6dc4e2dfec65490de&oe=570D8406

 

[PinGorilla]

Hope it's a joke. If not no more S&W firearms for me.

 

[Jake D]

Well with the rumor of S&W releasing a new/updated version of the M&P at Shotshow , my first thought is that S&W has perhaps moved to a trigger system similar to Apex's and is trying to undercut them.

 

[fat tom]

Hope it's a joke. If not no more S&W firearms for me.

Wow. I hope the company can survive.
f.t.

 

[Llando88]

If it is for real, that is about the stupidest move by a company I've seen in a long time.

Glock must be thanking S&W for the Xmas present.

 

[Mark IV]

Who cares what S&W "wants", there's nothing they can do to prevent companies from filling a market niche. And, that niche exists largely due to S&W (and Glock and nearly everybody else) not putting out the best product possible. (And, I'm kinda wondering if this isn't just a "free-publicity" stunt.)
But to be fair, part of it (the aftermarket industry) is also merely capitalizing on this overwhelming compulsion so many gun owners have to alter and goober-up their guns with every last piece of after-market junk they can order from the internet.
I've got one freind that is so bad about it, that it's gotten to be a running joke with a couple other freinds, that if we want to upgrade a gun, just sell/trade it to Jimmy, and he'll take it and lather it up with nearly every damned upgrade you can buy, and when he inevitably gets bored with it after 6 months, you can get it back cheap, with the new barrel, flash hider, spring set, tac-light, tritium sights, bi-pod, grips, scope, sling, etc.etc.
It's a "joke", yet it's literally happened quite a few times, LOL!! :

 

[Saudade]

The issue is around the recently announced "Dream Gun" and infringement in S&Ws trademark. Not about modding your personal weapon.

Apex Teams With Top Custom Builders On Brownells Dream Gun | Apex Tactical Specialties

 

[mfserge]

I saw this on Instagram earlier and I was initially furious over this by S&W (especially since I have two apex triggers and four weapons coated by Blowndealine) but I now have a better understanding about what the letter is about. It's about the marketing and selling of the Dream Gun.

Playing devils advocate, if I produced an item that you highly modified, retained my trademark, then resold it, that could present an issue for me in the event that the item malfunctioned and led to a liability claim. I understand Smith's point, I don't entirely agree with them, but I do understand it.

 

[ladder13]

The issue is around the recently announced "Dream Gun" and infringement in S&Ws trademark. Not about modding your personal weapon.

Apex Teams With Top Custom Builders On Brownells Dream Gun | Apex Tactical Specialties

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story,lol.

 

[PinGorilla]

Makes sense now.

 

[Buford57]

I suspect that if this was an "Ultimate Glock", "Super SIG" or "XDluxe" they would get a similar letter. Apply a little of the imagination that went into the custom work to the name under which you market it, fellows - unless, of course, it was actually your intention to trade on S&Ws logo, trademark, etc.

S&Ws position is no doubt that a "M&P Dream Gun" would come from their custom shop and be covered by their warranty. We all know that when we drop in the Apex parts, Wolf springs or our own super-duper reloads we void the warranty.

 

[TOM BECKWITH]

Aftermarket MAGIC

Who cares what S&W "wants", there's nothing they can do to prevent companies from filling a market niche. And, that niche exists largely due to S&W (and Glock and nearly everybody else) not putting out the best product possible. (And, I'm kinda wondering if this isn't just a "free-publicity" stunt.)
But to be fair, part of it (the aftermarket industry) is also merely capitalizing on this overwhelming compulsion so many gun owners have to alter and goober-up their guns with every last piece of after-market junk they can order from the internet.
I've got one freind that is so bad about it, that it's gotten to be a running joke with a couple other freinds, that if we want to upgrade a gun, just sell/trade it to Jimmy, and he'll take it and lather it up with nearly every damned upgrade you can buy, and when he inevitably gets bored with it after 6 months, you can get it back cheap, with the new barrel, flash hider, spring set, tac-light, tritium sights, bi-pod, grips, scope, sling, etc.etc.
It's a "joke", yet it's literally happened quite a few times, LOL!! :

MarkV - Been there - done that - and did a great number of Buys and Sells because of the volume of folks that "had to have" the latest item or mod.

 

[AZ_M&P]

The issue is around the recently announced "Dream Gun" and infringement in S&Ws trademark. Not about modding your personal weapon.

Apex Teams With Top Custom Builders On Brownells Dream Gun | Apex Tactical Specialties

What he said. The Apex kits have been around for some time and (to my knowledge) S&W has never complained. If what they allege is true (that Apex or anybody) would intend on building a knock off pistol using S&W's trademarked logo, I don't blame them for siccing the dogs on 'em.

 

[Rastoff]

Gentlemen,
Understand that the letter, linked to above, is not about aftermarket parts. It's about marketing a gun with S&W's logo on it that wasn't made by S&W.

Who cares what S&W "wants", there's nothing they can do to prevent companies from filling a market niche.

They absolutely do have a legal standing in how their logo is used.

We all know that when we drop in the Apex parts, Wolf springs or our own super-duper reloads we void the warranty.

This is not correct. Here is what the S&W warranty says about that:

Smith & Wesson will not be responsible for:

• Defects or malfunctions resulting from careless handling, unauthorized adjustments or modifications made or attempted by anyone other than a qualified gunsmith following Smith & Wesson authorized procedures, or failure to follow the disassembly instructions in the Smith & Wesson manual.

Therefore, just making a modification doesn't void the warranty. Malfunctions resulting from that modification isn't covered under the warranty. However, I guarantee that if you modify your pistol this heavily, S&W will claim that any malfunction you have is related to the mods.

If Apex had marketed this as an upgrade to your existing gun, I don't think S&W would have a leg to stand on. If Apex were to try to remove the logo and market it as their own gun, then they might have patent issues.

 

[fat tom]

I've got one freind that is so bad about it, that it's gotten to be a running joke with a couple other freinds, that if we want to upgrade a gun, just sell/trade it to Jimmy, and he'll take it and lather it up with nearly every damned upgrade you can buy, and when he inevitably gets bored with it after 6 months, you can get it back cheap, with the new barrel, flash hider, spring set, tac-light, tritium sights, bi-pod, grips, scope, sling, etc.etc.
It's a "joke", yet it's literally happened quite a few times, LOL!! :

Hey! I know Jimmy! Just got this one back from him. I thought it was a good deal at $200!



f.t.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I saw this earlier today, and until I am able to read the letter in its entirety, I will give S&W the benefit of the doubt. At this point, I tend to agree that this letter relates to the so-called "dream gun," especially since those to whom the letter is addressed seem to be the same companies who are putting together or building the so-called "dream gun." I doubt seriously that S&W is attempting to stop Apex or any other company from selling after-market parts.

 

[V0OBWxZS16]

If we do not hear from you by January 5, 2015....

This is old news. How did it turn out?

You have modified an authentic Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm pistol ... while maintaining the S&W Logo on the product.

This implies to me that they can mill off the logos and present the entire gun as their own work.

 

[mfserge]

Another potential issue is in advertising. If Apex is using an M&P pistol to display their barrels or triggers etc and the M&P logo is visible in those advertisements (without S&W approval) they could be in jeopardy of trademark infringement.

I can't make an iPhone case and use Apples products in my advertisements, showing their trademark Apple logo without their approval which they would never grant.

I am not saying Apex is doing this, I'm just using it as an example.