When I buy a new or used handgun, I follow the same pattern that I use for purchasing everything else: I start shopping as locally as possible. I always attempt to support my local businessmen first. (And by that I mean small businessmen as opposed to China-mart.)
I continue searching for what I am looking for basically: nearest city, surrounding area, state, then other states.
If I have to pay a bit more locally, I do; I would rather do that and keep the money local than have it banked the same day and end up in some over seas corporate account. If the amount is prohibitively higher locally, I will do some research and bring those numbers back to my local businessmen. More often than not they would rather bring their numbers down to keep the business local.
For a more direct answer to the OP/PBP: when S&W was owned by overseas interests, I did not buy any of their product. Bought a lot of Ruger and Colt.
All of our dollars are votes. I vote for supporting a quality product and/or service as locally as possible. In this day and age of multi-national corporations it is becoming very difficult to distinguish exactly what is "American made" and "American owned".
But, I do know the guys and gals that work at the nearest gunshops. I do know the owners. I know that when I am doing business with them that the money that I spend in those shops is being "recycled" into "my community".
I don't think that the "third world wages" (referred to by PBP above) paid out by mega-multi-national corporations is doing much good for "my community", my state, or our nation. In fact, I think that PBPs last post holds a lot of truth.
At present all of my guns are American made, by American companies; with the exception of one Glock. G29 in 10mm, in my opinion, was done right. I have nothing against quality guns made in other countries. (Having owned several myself over the years.) I just prefer to support locally as much as possible. And as for a percentage: 100% American (minus one handgun) at present; and yes, I do understand the math.
I continue searching for what I am looking for basically: nearest city, surrounding area, state, then other states.
If I have to pay a bit more locally, I do; I would rather do that and keep the money local than have it banked the same day and end up in some over seas corporate account. If the amount is prohibitively higher locally, I will do some research and bring those numbers back to my local businessmen. More often than not they would rather bring their numbers down to keep the business local.
For a more direct answer to the OP/PBP: when S&W was owned by overseas interests, I did not buy any of their product. Bought a lot of Ruger and Colt.
All of our dollars are votes. I vote for supporting a quality product and/or service as locally as possible. In this day and age of multi-national corporations it is becoming very difficult to distinguish exactly what is "American made" and "American owned".
But, I do know the guys and gals that work at the nearest gunshops. I do know the owners. I know that when I am doing business with them that the money that I spend in those shops is being "recycled" into "my community".
I don't think that the "third world wages" (referred to by PBP above) paid out by mega-multi-national corporations is doing much good for "my community", my state, or our nation. In fact, I think that PBPs last post holds a lot of truth.
At present all of my guns are American made, by American companies; with the exception of one Glock. G29 in 10mm, in my opinion, was done right. I have nothing against quality guns made in other countries. (Having owned several myself over the years.) I just prefer to support locally as much as possible. And as for a percentage: 100% American (minus one handgun) at present; and yes, I do understand the math.
