Having handled many of BUL Transmark handguns, I can confirm there is not a drop in quality when opting for a 'base model' (an inappropriate term since even the M-5 Government comes loaded with lots of features) as opposed to the higher end IPSC guns. This is an important factor in our having decided to carry BUL pistols.
As for moving into higher cost items, we believe doing so is an extremely safe bet on our part because we continue to offer considerable savings with our products when compared to equivalent offerings from the competition. As demonstrated by our continued success with Grand Power pistols (very high quality "$1,000.00 class" high tech polymer nine for less than $600) once the shooting community becomes familiar with a product that offers unprecedented value for the money in its price bracket we can't keep them on the shelves.
There's ample evidence of the extremely good price-to-performance ratio for BUL Transmark handguns on our site. For less than $700 (Canuckistan dollars) for a NIB "forty-five" you'd be really lucky to get a stripped down basic single stack 1911A1 from a domestic manufacturer. To this the budding action shooting enthusiast (or 'Canadian Gun Nut'

) often adds at least a few hundred bucks more buying/installing "extended this," "stainless that," "beveled this," "flared that," etc.
The BUL M-5 Gov't, which is their "entry level" model, starts sounding a lot more like it's competition's "upscale" models when you list its features: factory 3.5-4.0lb. trigger pull, snag-free fixed sights, skeletonized oval type hammer, extended safety, contoured stainless beavertail grip safety, checkered front strap, flat checkered mainspring housing, full-length recoil spring guide, ‘no bushing’ cone-type stainless steel match grade ramped heavy barrel, etc. etc. Ask yourself this: how much would a handgun with all these features cost from the competition? We're
still talking about BUL's so-called
base model!
As for quality, ISO 9002 certification is only the icing on the proverbial cake. Durability and dependability must come first and foremost in the products of an Israeli arms manufacturer given they are in a country whose firearms users require the utmost in reliability because their lives
DO depend on it!
Every aspect of the Israeli firm's operation, including every stage of their in-house pistol production, involves many of Israel's top IPSC competitors. Having this level of expertise involved shows in the fit, finish, and especially the handling characteristics of every handgun they make. Saul Kirsch, to name but one example, is one of the world's top IPSC competitors bar none, is an engineer who also happens to be BUL's marketing manager.
We were recently visited by one of Canada's top IPSC competitors, who regularly competes in the Nationals and has been to World Shoots. His reaction to the M-5 IPSC model was pleasant surprise followed by enthusiasm: "There's nothing else that needs to be done to this ... are you
sure this is an out-of-the-box gun? Really? Wow."
We're really looking forward to getting more M-5 and Storm pistols into the hands of the RFC. The M-5's compare very well with other high cap. 1911A1's even before you take their very attractive price into consideration.
- Peter