Re: Vector Arms?
Okay, I did it. I waltzed right in there today and announced my honest intentions. (A curious gun owner looking for more info about their products)
I was buzzed in the front door, By an older man who said his name was Ralph and that he was the owner of the company. I can only asume that he is the same Ralph Merril that I've read about in the news stories
here . He seemed like a very nice guy, and was very helpful with all of my questions. He told me that they do give tours, and promtly took me straight back into the production area of the building. I was surprised at the small area of manufacturing in such a large building, apparently most of it is used for storage of parts.
My first question was about the lack of activity I had seen over the last year,(no cars in the parking lot, no test firing of guns,ect.) I asked him if they were still making guns. To which he quickly answered yes, that they were making quite a few.
I stopped by on my way home from work, around 16:30, so it seems like most employees had left for the day, however two gentleman remained, one putting together v-51 pistols, and the other a 16 inch parkerized uzi. As Ralph walked me around the place, he showed me the "HK area" the "Uzi area" and the "AK area", like I mentioned before all three of these areas were smaller than expected. The AK area was actually being used to assemble more HK style weapons, as Ralph informed me that they were slightly ahead on their AK production and behind with the HK's. I was astonished at the number of parts laying everywhere I looked, Hk recievers, Ak barrels, uzi trunions, just stacks of them, in boxes, buckets and barrels. I was a bit unimpressed with the look of the components, that was until Ralph put one of his finished MP5's in my hand. As we walked into the QC area/gunrack he let me look over and handle several different models. That was when the conversation was struck up about why all the pistols?
I never thought I would have much use for a .223 or .308 pistol (yet) so I was a bit interested in why almost everything in the QC rack was a pistol and not a carbine or SBR. I dont recall exactly how the conversation went, but my impression was this: if you sell a guy an SBR, it is harder for him to go through all the paperwork and transfers ect. but if you sell him a pistol, it is easy. and then he can file for the tax stamp on his own time while he gets to know his new gun. At that point in time he can simply add the buttstock.
Never the less they had several carbine length guns as well, which could also be altered I guess, by removing the "excess" barrel once the legal wad had been blown.
We continued our walk around the shop looking at various parts in differing stages of assembly, again Ralph handed me a good looking weapon, a two tone stainless Uzi with black furniture and a folding buttstock. I was amazed at how all these parts, some of which looked like scrap metal in buckets, had been turned into such handsome firearms. I cannot say of course whether or not they perform well, but I would like a chance to try one out. One of the builders test fired an MP5 style pistol as we spoke, and it made me want to try one even more!
Well, I'm definately more curious now about the quality and function of these guns, I wouldn't mind having a couple in my collection, <span style="color: red"> IF </span> they work as well as I hope. So please, any of you owner out there, keep the info coming. And thanks to those of you who have contributed already.
