Author Topic: Is there anything left of USFA & the "Zip" .22?  (Read 8257 times)

Offline Capt. John Fitzgerald

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Is there anything left of USFA & the "Zip" .22?
« on: August 30, 2017, 05:32:10 PM »
Greetings all!  :),
I, like just about all of you, figured that when USFA stopped their SAA production and went exclusively to their production of the .22 cal. "Zip" gun that it would be the death knell for Doug Donnelly and USFA.  Some of us can remember back then (6 or 7 years ago) that Donnelly promised that the he would reintroduce the SAA line within two years.  So much for promises.
So where is Donnelly and the Zip today?  I notice that his web site, zipfactory.com, no longer seems to exist (at least I can't find any reference to a "Zip" web site).  
Initial reviews of the Zip were very negative.  Things never got much better.  Are they still around?  Have they (Donnelly) gone out of business?  Just curious.
 
One way or another, I can pretty much guarantee we that we will never see the return of our beloved USFA SAA's.  As Gary Granger once told us here (and I paraphrase), "Doug Donnelly found the most expensive way there was to make a SAA and he stuck to it."   :'(
CJF  
You can't change the wind, but you can always change your sails.

Offline Coffinmaker

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Re: Is there anything left of USFA?
« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2017, 06:13:52 PM »
All of the information I have gleaned, mostly second or third hand, would indicate and confirm ALL of USFA's machines were sold off.  There is nothing left to the-start SA production with.  Empty building.  Lights off.  Water to the toilettes off.

I have also been told supposedly by some in the "know" an outfit called "Standard" bought most of the machine tools to make SAs with and were "supposedly" going to enter the SA market place with a premium SA.  Has not happened.

Were I able to cover all bets, I'd bet the farm USFA is forever DEAD.  Long Live the King.

Offline Professor Marvel

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Re: Is there anything left of USFA?
« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2017, 08:39:32 PM »
....

    
Is there anything left of USFA?


....
A shadow
of a reflection
in a country pond...

yhs
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Re: Is there anything left of USFA & the "Zip" .22?
« Reply #3 on: Today at 02:58:04 AM »

Offline Capt. John Fitzgerald

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Re: Is there anything left of USFA?
« Reply #3 on: August 31, 2017, 10:38:54 AM »
I am more than aware of USFA's history regarding the SAA and the fact that they are never coming back.  The specific purpose of my question was to find out if Doug Donnelly is currently manufacturing the Zip .22 or if it is dead as well.
You can't change the wind, but you can always change your sails.

Offline Major 2

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Re: Is there anything left of USFA?
« Reply #4 on: August 31, 2017, 11:25:46 AM »
There is no website to be found...they were not on the exhibitors list at SHOT.....
Reviews ranged for Problematic design to worlds worst gun .....


Donnelly and company went from hero to zero ...
when planets align...do the deal !

Offline Coffinmaker

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Re: Is there anything left of USFA?
« Reply #5 on: August 31, 2017, 11:32:55 AM »
Well Heck Capt. John .....

The way you worded your intro question invited comment to the current status of USFA and it's disposition, as did your original comments.

If you wanted egg salad, why did you order and Alligator??

OK.  After a dutiful search, I can find no evidence of the Zip Gun being currently manufactured.  Nada.  Zip (pun intended).  I can't even confirm the existence of Doug Donnelly in the Market Place.  While I don't personally have any real "Hard" evidence of the complete demise of the "Zipper" there is no indication of life either.  My only observation would be ..... It's DEAD.  No discernible sign of life.

Offline Buckaroo Lou

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Re: Is there anything left of USFA?
« Reply #6 on: August 31, 2017, 01:27:32 PM »
As far as the "Zip" was concerned I think death may have been a blessing. It was awful!

It has been difficult for me to understand why someone who headed up the manufacturing of perhaps the best SA ever produced and went to producing perhaps the worst firearm ever produced. It has just never made since to me. Just my 2 cents.
A man's true measure is found not in what he says but in what he does.

Offline Professor Marvel

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Re: Is there anything left of USFA?
« Reply #7 on: August 31, 2017, 05:42:41 PM »
To pile on -

Brief summary of ZIP LLC:
USFA closed doors, let employee go, sold off equipment
ZIP established in CT address, advertised, delivered faulty products
ZIP disappeared in CT , appeared in Wyoming , 2013
ZIP dissolved 2017.


longer story:
USFA/ZIP Factory, LLC was a new company,
Their physical address, per copy of their FFL (which expired in 2014), was:
ZIP FACTORY USFA 445-453 Ledyard Street Hartford, CT 06114

Mr. Douglas Donnelly, the President, CEO, & Owner of ZiP Factory and designer of the ZIP also had a brewery at that address :
The Fitger Brewing Company LLC is a privately held company in Hartford, CT and is a Single Location business.
Categorized under Malt Beverages. Iit was established in 2007 and incorporated in Connecticut and has since been dissolved.

The Ledyard Street property was finally sold ~ 2014 to PBE Jobbers Warehouse Incorporated.

On 03/13/2013  USFA/ZIP Factory, LLC filed as a business in Jackson Hole, WY

Principal Office
575 S Willow
PO Box 1226
Jackson, WY 83001
USA
( this is a residence of Gonnella & Majors PC (law office) in Jackson, WY)

the 2014, 2015, and 2016 annual report only show a $50 license fee.

------------
One fellow sent a defective Zip22 pistol back to manufacturer under warranty, Mar 2015.
he was directed via email to send it to the CT address! and was sent a prepaid UPS mailer.
Manufacturer said they would replace with new model "shortly".
Three months later, no gun and ZIP won't return emails.
fellow was advised to contact his state Attorney General

on Jan 13,2017 there was an address change to the Jackson WY filing, submitted and signed by Clay Geittmann, President 12/16/2016 and then company was dissolved - signed 12/30/2016, filed and recorded 1/20/2017.

I can find no other public records. not even lawsuits.
No other confirmed info on Doug Donnelly.

is this better, Capt. Fitzgerald ?

yhs
prof ( bored) marvel
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Offline Capt. John Fitzgerald

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Re: Is there anything left of USFA?
« Reply #8 on: August 31, 2017, 07:10:36 PM »
Yes, Professor Marvel!  The best response I have received so far.  They sure died a quiet death!
You can't change the wind, but you can always change your sails.

Offline Professor Marvel

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Re: Is there anything left of USFA?
« Reply #9 on: August 31, 2017, 07:33:07 PM »
It would seem that Doug has learned the art of
"how not to be seen"

https://www.youtube.com/embed/dTQYEkIvN2M

yhs
prof marvel
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