ERMAGERD S&W GOES AFTER APEX
Earlier today, that was the general tone on the gunny internet. Supposedly, they were sending a cease and desist to Apex on selling their fine aftermarket M&P parts. Once the full letter was revealed, it seems S&W took issue with Apex selling one of their modified guns and calling it a S&W: The Brownells Dream Gun.
Granted, it still seems like a poorly thought out move. As a S&W fan, it seems petty to me.
December 22nd, 2015 at 9:55 pm
I’d machine every S&W mark off the pistol and display it at SHOT with an enlarged copy of the letter. Wonder if the SHOT folks could put the S&W, Brownell and Apex booths next to one another…
December 22nd, 2015 at 10:21 pm
But, but… it is an S&W. We thought it was great to start with, or we would have started with something else, now look how great it can be, and now these putzes want to take their ball and go home? If I modified the snot out of my Mustang, made a blown, injected, 1000hp sub 10 second murdermobile out of it, it would still be a Mustang, and I’d wonder if I was having a stroke if Ford threw a tantrum like this.
December 22nd, 2015 at 11:52 pm
Frankly, I’ve been intrigued by the Apex foward set trigger and was planning on getting an M&P to give it a go. If they go down this road though, I see no reason to bother with one. Especially given my less than stellar experiences with their CS.
December 23rd, 2015 at 1:03 am
It might be “petty” but they have to keep their Trade Mark and registered name protected. If they let a little encroachment slide the next might not be so petty. Not saying I agree with the decision but that is kinda normal in our lawyerful world now. Safety is a factor and their name is on the weapon. If they knowingly blah, blah, blah, (insert lawyer speak here).
December 23rd, 2015 at 11:20 am
While the brunt of the letter had to do with trademarks, what I think the “cooler heads” are downplaying was the demands, specifically that the companies involved stop modifying S&W guns entirely.
December 24th, 2015 at 11:48 am
Yes, the letter was a great overreach. I’m guessing a new corporate counsel at S&W