I think there is WAY too much emphasis put on country of manufacture, along with price, in regards to quality. Especially today. While the old saying, "You only get what you pay for.", is true to some extent, there are a LOT of other factors that control price today. Especially regarding overseas production.
This involves guns, as well as a lot of other things. Take for example the "new" Hi-Powers that are all coming out now from companies like Springfield, Tisas, (Girsan), and FN.
I've examined both the new Springfield SA-35 Hi-Power, as well as the new FN model. I'll give the edge to the Springfield hands down. Mostly for 2 reasons. Design and cost. Belgium, like most of Continental Europe, is socialist. The cost of manufacturing anything there have driven prices through the roof. It's not how they're manufactured. But rather where.
I don't believe for a New York second that a "new" or "old" FN Hi-Power is any better than the Springfield.... If they're even as good. The 2 new Springfield SA-35's I handled were both very nicely put together. The fit and finish was excellent. I will also say the FN models were also nicely made...... But not for what they're charging for it. Not even close.
Quality isn't driving up cost over there. "free" government health care is. Along with 6 weeks paid vacation as soon as you walk through the door. Not to mention early, fully company funded retirement, a 35 hour work week, and having most every paid holiday off known to mankind, have all driven production costs of most anything over there through the roof. They're not going to pay for any of it. You the consumer are with inflated prices.
It's the main reason why Browning left Belgium and took up production in Japan. Can you just imagine what a new Citori would cost if they still made it in Belgium? And I seriously doubt the quality today would be anywhere near as good as a Miroku produced gun.
You're not getting any better quality, you're just paying more for the same quality. Perhaps for even less quality. For example, Springfield Armory can produce their SA-35 Hi-Power to Browning's original design, with a MSRP of around $700.00 in Illinois. Like most guns, street price on it runs around a hundred or so less, give or take.
Illinois in reality is a very heavily taxed state compared to most others. So much so that it was one of the controlling factors why Les Baer left Illinois, to set up production of his guns across the river in Iowa.
FN produces much the same gun as Springfield. But they have to sell it for over twice as much to turn a profit. Sure, people want to believe it's a higher quality gun. But they can't show any proof of that. It's not even built to the same design, and takes proprietary magazines that won't fit other Hi-Powers.... Not even the ones they made. What the hell is with that?
The cars they manufacture over there are much the same nonsense. If you look at what people pay for these new BMW's and Mercedes, in direct comparison to similar class American vehicles, in relationship to all the expensive problems they have, not to mention the God awful depreciation the first 3 years, they're worse not better. Yet people still buy into all the, "German quality and engineering", B.S.
It never ends. Their guns are much the same. Just look at what H&K charges. It's yet another reason Glock, as well as Beretta took up production of a lot of their guns here. It's simply more cost effective to do so.
With all of this said, I'm sure the new FN Hi-Powers are decent guns. They're just not worth what they're charging. In that regard most of Europe, (with the exception of Turkey, and a few other places), is completely overrated, as well as overpriced, in most everything they manufacture. They're just really good at getting people to believe all their B.S.... (Rant Off).