I've been doing this writing about guns thing for a while. Since I have been, I've had the pleasure of speaking with multiple firearms and accessory makers from across the country. Between SHOT Show, GAOS NRA AM and a host of other shows, it's hard for me to remember all of them. However, there are a few manufacturers I spoke to, who leave a lasting impression, and not necessarily in a good way.
But, it isn't what you think. You see, there is a problem which I'm going to call the “tried and true syndrome.” In other words, let's say that you've always owned a specific type of handgun. Say, a Sig. They make great guns, so why would you ever change? It is a “tried and true” firearms maker with a proven record.
Or, maybe you're the type of gun carrier who swears by Glock. Again, they've proven themselves to make reliable pistols. So, why switch?
I hear you, and I'm in the same boat. If you didn't know, I'm a Springfield man. Whenever someone asks which gun they should get, I almost always name one of their firearms. As a bit of a side note, Springfield Armory just released their new 1911 EMP 4” and sent it out to me. It is absolutely gorgeous. My review of it is done and in editing.
Springfield EMP4
Anyway, my point, is that several of these new manufacturers have voiced their very valid concerns to me about being such tiny fish in an enormous ocean with much larger fish.
I was informed on more than one occasion that market studies have shown that consumers aren't buying their guns because they don't want to try something new when there are so many other “proven” options. I get it. I mean, I research just about everything I buy beforehand. I want to make sure that I'm getting something good.
However, I also believe that the more gun makers we have, the better off we'll all be. Personally, I don't want smaller and/or newer firearms manufacturers to fail and go out of business just because they are new and small. And I doubt that you do, either. Maybe next time you're looking for a new firearm, you should give a small-time gun maker a chance to prove themselves to you.
After all, to stay competitive, they have to offer up great things. Most of them are made in-house right here in America by a team of people that numbers less than five. That, in and of itself, is a plus. Furthermore, of lot of these companies are offering fantastic warranties on their items, if for other other reason than to stay as competitive as possible with the bigger fishies.
Obviously, you should always conduct whatever research is needed to ensure that you're not going to be wasting your hard-earned cash. But, maybe next time, you can purchase a gun from a smaller company that has a better warranty, that is made in the Land of the Free, and put together with great care by one or two people.
Sound Off Gun Carriers! Would you ever consider buying a gun from a lesser known company, just as long as it had all the right things? Let us know in the comments below. Then, make sure you subscribe to Gun Carrier's YouTube Channel so you don't miss the video of that Springfield review.