Springfield rifles are assembled by Americans, probably unionized, and carry a premium based on the fact that they have the same name as a company that originally made M14 rifles.
Norinco rifles are assembled by forced labor, certainly not unionized, and carry no tradition or history in the original development of the M14 rifle.
That's the difference.
M1A rifles were originally made with USGI parts, I am lucky enough to own one that still has some USGI parts in it (TRW 1963 barrel and USGI stock). I also didn't pay $2000 for my M1A Standard as I got it almost 10 years ago.
Would I pay $2000 for one made yesterday? No.
Check the price of an all american made smith enterprise rifle build. Way more than yer average springfield. Difference here is reputation, and in house manufacture of many of the parts.
smith enterprise has made both cast and forged receivers as well.
I do not know if every part SEI uses is american made, I've never really looked into it.
Since production of USGI contract parts ceased many years ago, north american manufacture of this rifle has been limitted to parts availlability. Enter asiaWayne Machine is a major player in reproduction M14/M1A parts. From my understanding, their parts are very commonly used in "american made" rifles. Not that this is a bad thing..... How does everyone like their new "springfield armory" gas systems , flash hiders and rear sights .... Hhhmmmmmm
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Lots interesting "facts" in this thread.
Old US machinery being used? No. The US machinery went to Taiwan, where it was used to manufacture rifles. Anybody think that the Taiwanese then passed the machinery for production of weapons on to the People's Republic?
Springfield Armory receiver blanks are (were?) cast in Montreal, not finished there.
Forced labour being used to make M305s in China? Really? Are the Chinese components in the computer you are using made by forced labour?
M1As are more expensive because of the name? The Springfield assembling the rifles in the US has nothing to do with the Springfield Armory in MA, apart from the name. The price is bumped because of the name?
names are not everything these days....
How is it that a 400 dollar norinco M14 can have a forged receiver but a 2000 Dollar Springfield has a cast receiver?