Selling S&W Brand

[ncbengal]

In wandering through stores I see the S&W logo on knives and various similar items. On the back of the package these are always "made in China" and I simply put the item back. Winchester, in particular, does the same thing, i.e., licensing their logo to foreign-made stuff, the quality of which I cannot vouch for because I leave it alone. For my $.02 worth I would prefer our good American companies to protect their good names, keep products here at home, even at risk of higher costs but assurance of better quality. Or is it all about the bottom line? Some thoughts from you guys, or even an "insider" please.

 

[ncbengal]

In wandering through stores I see the S&W logo on knives and various similar items. On the back of the package these are always "made in China" and I simply put the item back. Winchester, in particular, does the same thing, i.e., licensing their logo to foreign-made stuff, the quality of which I cannot vouch for because I leave it alone. For my $.02 worth I would prefer our good American companies to protect their good names, keep products here at home, even at risk of higher costs but assurance of better quality. Or is it all about the bottom line? Some thoughts from you guys, or even an "insider" please.

 

[safearm]

The Chinese are notorious for violating copywright and patent laws. The real villians, IMO, are the US distributors that buy the junk to sell to us, knowing that the logos or designs are pirated.

 

[Forester]

Originally posted by safearm:
The Chinese are notorious for violating copywright and patent laws. The real villians, IMO, are the US distributors that buy the junk to sell to us, knowing that the logos or designs are pirated.

Of course this is true, but S&W does license it's name to other products like knives and such.

 

[bk43]

The S&W knives are made in China under a license to Taylor Cutlery. They are decent quality for the price they sell for and a good buy. Many companies generate extra profits by licensing their corporate identities.

Bob

 

[H Richard]

Unfortunately, agree with bk43 that for some companies this "extra" income may be the only thing keeping the wolf from the door. High mfg. costs in the US have forced many mfg's to go to foreign mfg's to be able to compete and stay in business.

 

[Wayne02]

Where do you draw the line? NRA sends a pen to members and the pen says "made in China" on it. Does that bother people enough to boycott the NRA over it?

 

[don95sml]

I bought a very high quality Smith & Wesson branded 3-blade folding knife at a recent gun show. The only marking, aside from S&W, is "hammer forged". No indication of country of manufacture - that may have been on the box, which I no longer have. IIRC, the price was only about $18, so it probably was not made here - but I like it!

 

[bk43]

The jacket the NRA sent me when I became an endowment member was made in Vietnam.

Bob
PS. Wayne, like your sig line. That movie was great!

 

[deralte]

I've had a beautiful S&W watch for over three years. It has a stainless case and band and keeps excellant time. It is marked "Made in Japan". My S&W 24-7 folder is marked hammer forged stainless, China.

 

[rundownfid]

And yet we don't mind when the odd foreigner buys a Caterpillar tractor or even American made firearm. We live in the world, we buy we sell, we trade with most everyone who allows it. When the Chinese are wealthy enough I hope they are free enough to buy Smith and Wesson.

 

[SASABERANGER]

Send a letter to the S&W Administration and Marketing group.
Not sure that it will do any good as they don't listen to the folks in SWCA.
If you check, there aren't many (if any) US Knife manufacturers.
A prime example of the was the old INS and Border Patrol before it became Homeland Security.
We received our uniform shipments one year an found that most of the items from "VF Solutions" in TN had shipped stuff with our patches on it and it was all made in "Mexico".
That went over...NOT.
It is going to take a long time to get our factories back, if we ever do.
Thom Braxton
SWCA #1474

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Many things are simply not made here anymore as it is cheaper to make it in China or Brazil and ship here. After we are done canibalizing our middle class, it will be cheaper to make everything here again - within my lifetime. Of course, we will also be pulling Chinese tourists around in American Rikshaws, but a job's a job.

 

[84CJ]

As long as people buy the junk(and we will) from china The more our companys here will outsource to china. And the worse the economy gets the more chinese stuff we will import. And the more jobs we will loose. I find myself looking more and more as to where a product was made. Assembled in the US is another one I really hate. But many companies do it mine included. China is taking more and more of our product line and whats worse is we are asking them to do it.

 

[bloo]

American flags made in China is still just wrong. I work in the supply chain of a public utility. Almost everthing in my warehouse is made in China, Mexico or Canada. And people wonder why we have such high unemployment.