last winter, i heard mr. mitchell had some serious health issues. i don't know if he is still with us or if has passed into the great unknown.

mitchell was a pioneer in the firearms industry and had many successes. a friend of mine is currently trying to piece the long defunct company back into operation.

fwiw, mitchell didn't actually make those mags. they were imported by his company (from the philipines, iirc).

mitchell imports brought us some very fine products in their day. the zastava yugo ak's are still the best ak's ever imported, imo.

skammy, i emailed mitchell's mausers, inquiring as to any company "relation" to the "old" mitchell arms. i got a cryptic "sort of" reply from a man not bearing the last name of mitchell. i requested further info on the corporate ties/history. you may be correct...it may be a relative or such is now importing/reselling the yugo mausers.

funny thing...i own mitchell's old ak's and the 48a yugo mauser and never made the connection untill your reply.

royce, i'll question my friend. i know he stashed away some rare yugo ak items and firearms...but i have no clue about those saa colt clones. thise were made in italy, if i'm remembering thing correctly (too many years ago!).

royce, yeah...it sucks to finally realize we want something...after the supply dries up! dang...all those guns i "should" have bought...and now, they're gone or out of sight priced!

here is the second email i rec'd from mitchell mausers. seems to lend credance that they are one and the same as the "old" mitchell firm.

makes me glad to see the namr survives!

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Just to bring you up on us...we are an evolution of Mitchell Arms. Now known as Mitchell Manufacturing Corp.

The founder is alive and well but getting old. Don't know about the cancer thing. He spends his time making projects happen and we look forward to many new and exciting things to happen this year; starting in just a few months and growing throughout the year.

I'll relay your kind words about his name being revered...that will please him, no doubt. He's been in the business nearly 50 years now and I don't really know what keeps him going.

If there is anything I can do for, just let me know.

kind regards / John