I thought Morrissey , McKay and Nodak spud were all essentially the same makes of receivers. Here is what I got from the AK files
Here's the straight poop.
NDS and McKay worked together from 2005 to 2013 when both companies were started in the aftermath of FAC of America.
Harlan, Rod, and I all worked at FAC.
After it went out of business we decided to start our own companies. NoDak Spud LLC, and McKay Enterprises LLC.
Rod McKay was the liaison with the actual stamping house (Morrissey Inc) and he owned the tooling.
The receivers are made under a Marking Variance.
From the beginning NDS provided most of the technical support in the development of the AK receivers. Dan Coonan suggested the heat treat method.
The vast majority of the AK receivers were designed using complete guns or parts kits provided to McKay and Morrissey by Nodak.
We used DC Industries as a base to start operations until we got our own 07 Manufacturing licenses. Then NoDak split off in 2008 and moved to Edina.
McKay was to only sell AK's to Century and any military contracts that might arise. NoDak Spud covered all other commercial sales to small manufacturers and end users.
McKay retained ownership of the tooling for the AK's in spite of considerable financial impute from NDS.
The Uzi program was started by McKay to sell to Century. When Century went with another company McKay asked us to help them.
Their Uzi receiver and bolt had some substantial dimensional issues and I agreed to personally go through it and correct them
After that NDS agreed to carry the Uzi stuff under our brand name.
In time Harlan and I decided to hand the program back to McKay.
In 2014 Morrissey Inc bought the AK tooling from McKay without our knowledge.
We still get our AK receivers from Morrissey and have a good relationship with them.
Morrissey Inc has always been the stamping house for our program.
DC Industries, Nodak Spud, and McKay Enterprises have NEVER made AK receivers in house.
This has been told to NDS customers from the begining.
In addition, DCI and McKay have NEVER been involved with the manufacture of ANY of our aluminum products.
All our AR15 and 10/22 receivers are machined in house.