[b said:
Quote[/b] ]apparently the news about S&W buying out Wather is true
No, S&W has not bought out Walther. Walther is owned by Umarex, Inc. which owns a lot of companies (see this link
http://www.carl-walther.de/englisch/unternehmensgruppe.html )
Walther's USA Importer for Walther America products is Smith & Wesson. Interarms was the former importer of Walther Firearms for MANY years, but went bankrupt in 1998. It was at that time that Walther and Smith & Wesson made their joint agreement. From the Walther America website History page:
[b said:
Quote[/b] ]In 1999, another step was taken to bring the Walther name into the new millennium. Smith & Wesson of Springfield, Massachusetts and Carl Walther GmbH of Germany announced a joint plan to form Walther USA to distribute Walther branded firearms, air guns and accessories in the United States.
Originally, the "Holding company" for Walther firearms imported into the USA was "Carl Walther, USA". Then it was renamed to "Walther, USA, LLC", and then finally to probably pacify BATF, the import markings were changed to "Smith & Wesson" since that is where the guns were actually being shipped: the Smith & Wesson "premises" in Springfield, MA.
The "Walther America" part of Smith & Wesson is simply a chain link caged area in the Smith & Wesson manufacturing facility. The area is probably no larger than 50' x 50'. I didn't measure it, I'm just going by my recollection
So, let's review: Smith & Wesson doesn't own Walther America, Walther America is the entity for Walther Germany Pistols imported into the USA by Smith & Wesson. Walther pistols are still made in Germany, Walther is owned by Umarex, Inc.
Regards,
James