I believe SDS Imports is an LLC whose Brands include TisasUSA, Tokarev USA, Spandau Arms and Military Armament Corp.

Tisas is the Turkish manufacturer of the TisasUSA and current MAC pistols.

There have been other importers of Tisas pistols in the past. At one point SDS Imports may have been bringing them in before creating the TisasUSA division?, but I'm not sure there.

I think the general idea is that the older Tisas built 1911s were not built with forged frames, and fit and finish seem to have gotten better as we get closer to current production, with the TisasUSA pistols having forged frames that are machined after hardening, features more in line with what US consumers want, and the latest 2023 models featuring no MIM parts save the recoil spring plug.

Somebody really should gather a list of importers, models, dates of changes of manufacturing for Tisas 1911s kind of like the late Stephen Camp got started with the FEG Hi-Powers.

 

I believe SDS Imports is an LLC whose Brands include TisasUSA, Tokarev USA, Spandau Arms and Military Armament Corp.

Tisas is the Turkish manufacturer of the TisasUSA and current MAC pistols.

There have been other importers of Tisas pistols in the past. At one point SDS Imports may have been bringing them in before creating the TisasUSA division?, but I'm not sure there.

I think the general idea is that the older Tisas built 1911s were not built with forged frames, and fit and finish seem to have gotten better as we get closer to current production, with the TisasUSA pistols having forged frames that are machined after hardening, features more in line with what US consumers want, and the latest 2023 models featuring no MIM parts save the recoil spring plug.

Somebody really should gather a list of importers, models, dates of changes of manufacturing for Tisas 1911s kind of like the late Stephen Camp got started with the FEG Hi-Powers.

So a same model say Carry model the Tisas version should be a higher quality build than the SDS in general? The reason I ask is they are very hard to find in stores here so there was a gun show in town and I was able to find a SDS version of the carry model while looking for a Stingray and it seemed to be a very well made gun. Very nice finish.

 

SDS are the last folks to hook up with Tisas of Turkey to bring their pistols into the USA.
So, prior to SDS setting up their new 'Tisas USA' brand name, the importer was SDS. Once SDS set up their Tisas USA brand, they simply had markings switched to 'Tisas USA' as the importer. But, SDS is still the head office/owners of Tisas USA, so really it's all more of an on paper switching of the importer name, but still the whole thing is just a continuation of SDS' dealings with the Tisas folks in Turkey.

If you take a Tisas made 1911 US Army model with SDS stamped into it as having been the importer, and then find a Tisas made 1911 US Army model that has Tisas USA as the importer... Well, if the importer stamps are only a couple/few months within the import name changeover, the guns are the same product, (just the import name will be different, but they still, in all actuality, are really SDS products).

Now, if one gets an SDS marked Tisas 1911, and compares it to a Tisas USA marked Tisas 1911 made six months later, there may well be some differences, but that's because subtle improvements may be found on later models that had not been found on the earlier SDS marked guns. That is more of what happens with any product as time goes on and specifications are tweaked one way or the other, (sometimes for the better, and sometimes not so much).

I believe that there is no exact cutoff date on when certain improvements/specification changes came on board. These things usually just get phased in as the older previous components run dry from inventory.
Within the past year or so, I believe things like titanium firing pins and mostly all internal components being milled from either forgings or barstock, (rather than being mom), were incorporated into their 1911 product line. Some of these changes overlap SDS and Tisas USA marked guns, where some changes are likely more recent and only found on the Tisas USA marked guns.
To be honest, I believe the titanium pins are either only found on guns marked Tisas USA, or maybe just few may be found in the SDS marked guns. Again, these changes had nothing to do with the importer name change, and everything to do with the gun constantly being tweaked by SDS/Tisas USA to be a better fit for the American market... we tend to be a highly demanding bunch 😂

Also, as far as I know, the SDS and Tisas USA import marked guns will have forged barrels, receivers, and slides 👍😎👍

 

SDS is an importer only, they do not manufacture any firearms.

 

Exactly, Tisas in Turkey is the manufacturer, and SDS's 'Tisas USA' is the American importer.

I must add, the SDS folks didn't just go the easy route when starting up their importation of Tisas 1911 pistols, instead having sent knowledgeable guys over there to help Tisas in Turkey improve their line to better fit the US consumer base. SDS didn't just order in a bunch of existing Tisas products, they instead ordered a bunch of much improved Tisas 1911 pistols that they had a hand in helping Tisas better refine them.
That's why the previously imported Tisas pistols, (before SDS/Tisas USA was involved), didn't quite catch the market by storm.
The refinement of the Tisas 1911 pistols gave these guns a leg up over previous attempts to bring in off the shelf Tisas 1911 pistols.

Again, SDS simply had the import markings switched to Tisas USA once they set that "name brand branch" up.
Notice on SDS's website how they list Tisas USA, (not Tisas itself), as being one of their companies. The SDS website literally lists Tisas USA as being one of their "brands"...

Shotguns & Firearms for Sale | Gun Accessories & Parts | SDS Arms

We're a premiere firearms import partner that brings pistols, shotguns, accessories, parts & more from Tisas USA, Tokarev USA, Spandau Arms, MAC & Inglis Mfg.

sdsimports.com

 

I assume an importer is an expert on various laws and what paperwork is needed to bring guns in.
Do these foreign gun companies have to have an importer? Couldn't they do it themselves?

 

Yes they could do it themselves which is why we now have SAR USA, Tisas USA, etc.

 

OK, the relationships can be confusing.
If you go to SDS, and click on Tisas, it takes you to Tisas USA.

You might see a UPC on a 1911 at Buds that is not listed in the Tisas USA page. These are the older 1911s that came in the cardboard box and one magazine. These older UPC have been deleted by Tisas USA and replaced with a newer UPC. You might see these older UPC going for a better price. Buds does not always tell you this info because they are too big with different locations. Buds told me to call Tisas USA to verify what box it has and how many magazines even though it's sitting in their stockroom.

If you don't see the UPC on Tisas USA there is a good chance you will get the cardboard boxed 1911. This is getting to be less of an issue since they are being sold off. If you go to Buds and see the exact same gun listed twice, with two different UPC, now you know why.

Now, there MIGHT be some other upgrades on the newer UPC versus the older UPC, like titanium firing pins and no MIM parts. I guess you could email Tisas USA and ask them.

If you go to Buds, some are listed as SDS Imports Tisas , some are just Tisas. Probably just sloppy wording.

When I spoke with Tisas USA on the phone a month ago they said SDS is the exclusive importer.
SDS certainly helped Tisas improve the product.

 

I saw on Bud's gun shop a listing for an SDS government model marked with President Trump's likeness with 45th markings. With what's going on I thought about buying it. Around $700.

 

that UPC does not appear on Tisas USA, and Buds says it has one magazine, so it's probably comes in the cardboard box.

You can get the the stainless Duty with rail for 500.00 , in plastic box and two mags . So it looks like the Trump stuff costs 200.00 extra.

You might want to call or email Tisas USA, give them the UPC, and ask if there are any internal differences, like MIM or titanium firing pin

 

To compound the confusion between entities Tisas, TisasUSA, SDS Imports, Girsan etc, the model names and designations vary, and the Turkish Tisas Zig M1 and M1911 and the TisasUSA models, series, model names and production changes can make sorting it all kind of challenging. Add in weird Pre-Production runs, blems, exlusives, and the occasional error in description or photo on a seller's sites...

There was a handy deciphering your serial number thread awhile back, I believe the first four digits indicate factory and there's a date code in there too.

 

SDS is the US based office that houses the import and product management teams that coordinate with our overseas mfg partners. Pre-pnademic we operating mostly on buying products from various partners that they designed and built to their specs. The slowdown in the pandemic allowed us to reevaluate our relationships with those partners. Many items were ok, some bad, others just needed some tweaks and enhancements to be better. Most of all, features that the US market wanted.

In an effort to help those mfg grow, we placed an emphasis on branding them specifically to reflect the mfg. (i.e. Tisas USA). Others are joint collaboration with mfg based on our engineers/product managers designs (MAC, Spandau for example). The GEN3 PX-9 was really the first changed model that really reflected the US influence. Since then we've made changes to the design, parts and other aspects that YOU, the US market demanded.

 

SDS is the US based office that houses the import and product management teams that coordinate with our overseas mfg partners. Pre-pnademic we operating mostly on buying products from various partners that they designed and built to their specs. The slowdown in the pandemic allowed us to reevaluate our relationships with those partners. Many items were ok, some bad, others just needed some tweaks and enhancements to be better. Most of all, features that the US market wanted.

In an effort to help those mfg grow, we placed an emphasis on branding them specifically to reflect the mfg. (i.e. Tisas USA). Others are joint collaboration with mfg based on our engineers/product managers designs (MAC, Spandau for example). The GEN3 PX-9 was really the first changed model that really reflected the US influence. Since then we've made changes to the design, parts and other aspects that YOU, the US market demanded.

I demand that you cut the prices in half 👀

 

I have google that image. You kids. I cant keep up with lingo, images, memes...
in my day, the retort would have been Bite Me