Bump

 

Several years ago, Springfield cut all ties with Imbel. Imbel made all pretty much all SA 1911's, or parts. The N and WW serial numbered guns were fully built in Brazil by Imbel. The NM marked frames were forged there and finished here. That's according to Deb from SA anyway.

When they cut ties, they started sourcing material here. I was told that both my RO's were made here in the US from US made goods.

They won't say who they source their parts from though, or who makes the forgings.

It's been bandied about on the 1911forum for several years. There was confirmation, but no real answers.

 

W

Several years ago, Springfield cut all ties with Imbel. Imbel made all pretty much all SA 1911's, or parts. The N and WW serial numbered guns were fully built in Brazil by Imbel. The NM marked frames were forged there and finished here. That's according to Deb from SA anyway.

When they cut ties, they started sourcing material here. I was told that both my RO's were made here in the US from US made goods.

They won't say who they source their parts from though, or who makes the forgings.

It's been bandied about on the 1911forum for several years. There was confirmation, but no real answers.

When I bought my Range Officer Compact I asked SA that exact question, and they said all Springfield Armory pistols are now made in Illinois.

 

W


When I bought my Range Officer Compact I asked SA that exact question, and they said all Springfield Armory pistols are now made in Illinois.

All of the smaller RO's I've seen, have all had the made in USA hang tags on them.

 

Imbel has its hands full filling new contracts for the Brazilian military and others. I think they may have kissed off SA. We don't know where SA frames and slides are made now but I bought a RO in .45 last fall and a RO in 9mm at the start of this year and the quality is there.

On the other hand I wish Imbel would import its line of MD pistols. They look intersting.

http://www.imbel.gov.br/index.php/produtos/pistolas

Click on the little English flag at the upper right unless you are good with Portuguese.

 

My guess is that the major parts are probably South Korean and finished by Springfield.

I really don't understand why SA is not announcing where the major parts come from. It's not like they're sourcing for top secret military contract.

 

Thanks for all the input .i agree about why SA not saying much about the whole origin of there new1911s.....I did notice that the frame did Not say where it's made ...its wierd I thought! And having all made in USA paper tags on it with the American flags papers ECT . Whan I called the customer service was nice but could not get all the answers for me at this time.......I try calling back to talk to tech support maybe a gun smith there will know......

 

I really don't understand why SA is not announcing where the major parts come from. It's not like they're sourcing for top secret military contract.

I would say there's a good chance some of them are made by one of their competitors. It's hard to claim your product is better if you're buying parts from them. S&W has for a long time forged a boatload of 1911 frame/slide blanks for other companies to machine. I'm sure they sell a lot of both already machined as well. Kimber has also machined both and sold them to other 1911 manufacturers.

 

Ok so again I spoke to them and there gunsmiths Now all there 1911s are made in USA. Not with part outside the USA. Some of there parts are from venders in the USA they make some parts and all the tooling is done 100% in the USA as well so good news [emoji106]

 

That's about exactly what I was told. I don't know why it's some big ass secret.

 

I learned this earlier this year and it's what reignited my desire to buy a Springfield again. IMO I like the "made in Brazil" as it applies to women but I like my 1911's American!

 

I learned this earlier this year and it's what reignited my desire to buy a Springfield again. IMO I like the "made in Brazil" as it applies to women but I like my 1911's American!

People always have knocked the Imbel made 1911's. I really don't know why. Imbel has been making them longer than SAI.

I have two late 90's era Loaded models, as well as a 2010 GI. They are all well built pistols. The Loaded models are just as tight as my RO's, and are fairly accurate.

 

People always have knocked the Imbel made 1911's. I really don't know why. Imbel has been making them longer than SAI.

I have two late 90's era Loaded models, as well as a 2010 GI. They are all well built pistols. The Loaded models are just as tight as my RO's, and are fairly accurate.

Until I know where Springfield source their major parts from, I'd rather have the IMBEL guns. IMBEL is a well known small arms manufacturer with damn good quality control.

 

Unless Springfield has their own foundry or casting they at least have to buy the raw ones for machining.

 

Until I know where Springfield source their major parts from, I'd rather have the IMBEL guns. IMBEL is a well known small arms manufacturer with damn good quality control.

I seem to recall somewhere reading that Imbel at one time made some of the Argentine Colts. That could have been just internet BS though. I do know they have been making them for a very long time. I have been happy with the Imbel guns I own.

Unless Springfield has their own foundry or casting they at least have to buy the raw ones for machining.

I know that some gun makers received forgings from South Korea.
I really don't know why this is even a thing for them to keep quiet. It's not like there are a zillion foundries in the country. I'd imagine if what they say is in fact true and they are all sourced here, it would be someone like Colt, S&W, or Kimber that is making the forgings for them.

 

Springfield does not 'make' anything, they assemble. The folks on the phone are telling you what you want to hear. For example, the receivers for their M-1As are made by Hesse

 

I thought those cast receivers were from South Korea?

 

I thought those cast receivers were from South Korea?

What castings?

If we are talking about like the guns made in the Philippines. I just assumed those were made there.

The castings like Caspian are made by the Ruger owned Pinetree castings.

I recall someone saying that at one time Les Baer was using forgings from South Korea. I don't know if they still do or not.

I would imagine any gun that uses an American made casting is coming from Pinetree. The American forgings I have no idea. I know that Colt makes their own, as does S&W and Kimber. I don't see why SA couldn't make their's if they wanted to.

Their claim of American sourced makes me think they just buy the raw forgings. I would love to know from who.

 

M1A receivers.

 

M1A receivers.

I have read that those and the M1 receivers they made, were made in Australia by Lithgow.

 

They are 'prolly contracted from many sources. The ones I worked with when they went back into the M1A business in the mid 90s were Hesse.

 

Several years ago, Springfield cut all ties with Imbel. Imbel made all pretty much all SA 1911's, or parts. The N and WW serial numbered guns were fully built in Brazil by Imbel. The NM marked frames were forged there and finished here. That's according to Deb from SA anyway.

When they cut ties, they started sourcing material here. I was told that both my RO's were made here in the US from US made goods.

They won't say who they source their parts from though, or who makes the forgings.

It's been bandied about on the 1911forum for several years. There was confirmation, but no real answers.

I was toll Ruger was, that's how Ruger got into the 1911s themselves, don't know if is true.

 

I would imagine that Ruger got into the game because they were making 1911 frames for Caspian already.

SA uses forging for their frames. Ruger probably wouldn't be making them unless Pinetree is making forgings as well. As far as I know, they are investment casters only.

 

Nowhere on the Springfield website does it say their 1911s are now made in the USA. If that was the case I'm sure they would be screaming it at the top of their lungs.

 

What the hell are you talking about, Springfield Armory is the world's oldest gun maker. :upeyes:

 

What the hell are you talking about, Springfield Armory is the world's oldest gun maker. :upeyes:

That Springfield Armory has been defunct for decades.

The current one is in name only and does not 'make' any parts, just assembles

 

What the hell are you talking about, Springfield Armory is the world's oldest gun maker. :upeyes:

Either my sarcasm detector's broken or Rinspeed's never heard of Beretta.

 

Rinspeed was poking fun at Springfield Armory's BS advertisement line.

 

The "Made in the USA" law is goofy. These pistols can have a frame, slide, and barrel made in Brazil and it can still be legally called "Made in the USA." Has Springfield actually brought all the 1911 manufacturing to the USA or is this just move creative marketing.

 

Supposedly they had stopped using IMBEL.

 

That's what everyone says. I first heard it a couple years ago from Rob at Alchemy Custom. He's a former SA employee and still an SA insider.

I called Springfield last year before I bought my first RO. I forgot to ask about them dropping Imbel, but they confirmed that they were now making guns here with US sourced parts.

I am happy with my Imbel SA's, and I am happy with my new RO's. I would give the RO's a slight edge over the Imbel guns in fitting and tightness.

I don't know why there is secrecy about their forgings. I don't know why this is even an issue.

 

That's what everyone says. I first heard it a couple years ago from Rob at Alchemy Custom. He's a former SA employee and still an SA insider.

I called Springfield last year before I bought my first RO. I forgot to ask about them dropping Imbel, but they confirmed that they were now making guns here with US sourced parts.

I am happy with my Imbel SA's, and I am happy with my new RO's. I would give the RO's a slight edge over the Imbel guns in fitting and tightness.

I don't know why there is secrecy about their forgings. I don't know why this is even an issue.

It's not a state secret do I don't know why the obfuscation.

I bought an M1911 replica made by Turnbull. They claimed American made and then I found out that the major parts were from Rennsport which is South Korean.

I would not have an issue had they said that their major parts were South Korean instead of calling it American made.

 

I'm disappointed to hear my TGO1 was imported and thrown together by Springfield. Even more disappointed to hear how I am going to be dependent on their customer service. I guess I should dump the pos.

 

If it ain't a Colt, it's a copy.

 

I was a bit curious and did some internet research just now. Any of this info could be in error, wrong, or otherwise false, as it does merely come from the internet.
Remsport Manufacturing (not RENNSPORT) is in Ludlow, MA. Remsport appears to be owned by another corporation called RCS Diesel Services Inc. aka Ron Chiasson & Sons Diesel Services. This business was started in ~1983.
Ref. http://fflgundealers.net/remsport-mfg.html

Another website, 1911Pro.com, had someone comment the 1911 forgings used were from an unnamed South Korean company. This would make the forging a material supplied to/bought by Remsport, which then machines the forgings into a 1911 frame.
Ref. http://www.1911pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2494&start=10

Steel is a material which has a primary raw material of iron. Where the iron originates from was beyond my research, but here's a possible source of more info:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_ore#Available_world_iron_ore_resources

To summarize:
iron/iron ore comes out of the earth from a variety of locations around the world;
a variety of companies & locations around the world will produce steel;
a variety of companies may purchase steel and make forgings;
a company, like Remsport, or any other firearms manufacturer may buy a forging and then machine its own semi-finished frame, or may purchase a semi-finished frame. To what extent this info is company-confidential varies.

To say Remsport is "South Korean" may be more complicated.

When I say frames, I suppose this also applies to a 1911 slide.

 

When Springfield brought in rough parts from IMBEL and finished them in the USA for their then fancy models...the parts were still made in Brazil.

If the blanks came from South Korea or wherever, then that's where they came from.