Tag Archives: ZFI

Firearms

Sentiment Analysis of Zenith Firearms

Up until recently, if I wanted to tell you the general opinion of some company or product, I would either write about my own take, maybe factor in comments from a few friends, articles I have read or maybe even skim a few newsgroups. Well, there is another option now. There is a method known as “Sentiment Analysis” wherein you use a tool that can skim countless posts and return an overview of the “sentiment” or categorized opinions about a topic, product, company, etc. They are pretty cool and while I have access to them at work, I didn’t have one I could afford for the blog until now and guess what? I am a donkey on the edge and not afraid to use it and share the results.

So here is my first sentiment analysis of Zenith Firearms. The analysis looks at social media and excludes vendor posts. Here’s what we get:

You’re right, it’s important to look beyond curated marketing materials and see what real users are saying. Here’s a refined sentiment analysis of Zenith Firearms based on social media, excluding vendor posts:

Positive Sentiment:

  • Forums and Enthusiast Groups: Places like Reddit (r/MP5, r/GunPorn, r/NFA), AR15.com, and dedicated firearm forums show a strong positive sentiment. Users frequently praise Zenith’s:
    • Accuracy and Reliability: Many share their experiences with tight groupings and flawless operation, often comparing favorably to original HKs.
    • Authenticity: The “clone correct” aspect is a big plus for many, with detailed comparisons and appreciation for staying true to the MP5 design.
    • Customer Service: While less frequent, positive interactions with Zenith’s customer service are mentioned, especially regarding warranty issues or questions.
  • Social Media Platforms:
    • YouTube: Videos from independent reviewers and enthusiasts generally echo the forum sentiment. Accuracy tests, comparisons, and build quality overviews are common, usually with positive conclusions.
    • Instagram: Photos and short videos often showcase Zenith firearms in use, with comments reflecting pride of ownership and positive experiences.

Negative Sentiment:

While less prevalent, some criticisms do appear:

  • Price: This remains a common concern, especially compared to other clones or pistol caliber carbine (PCC) options.
  • Availability: Frustration with limited stock and long wait times is occasionally voiced.
  • Quality Control: While generally positive, isolated reports of minor issues (e.g., finish blemishes, canted sights) do exist. It’s important to note these seem infrequent compared to the volume of positive feedback.
  • “Elitism” perception: A small segment perceives Zenith owners as elitist or “fanboys” due to the brand’s premium pricing and association with the MP5 platform. This is more about brand perception than the firearms themselves.

Important Notes:

  • Filtering Vendor Posts: Identifying and excluding vendor-influenced posts (ads, sponsored content) is crucial for an unbiased view.
  • Subjectivity: Sentiment analysis on social media is inherently subjective. Enthusiast communities may have inherent biases.
  • Context Matters: Individual negative comments should be weighed against the overall volume of positive feedback and the specifics of the complaint.

Overall (this is from the tool):

Even after considering social media and filtering out vendor posts, the sentiment towards Zenith Firearms remains largely positive. They have a strong reputation for producing high-quality, accurate, and reliable firearms that appeal to MP5 enthusiasts and discerning gun owners. While price and availability are recurring concerns, the overall feedback suggests that many consider Zenith’s offerings worth the investment.

Summary

That is pretty impressive and it seems to generally agree with what I have read. I like Zenith Firearms in general but don’t consider myself a fanboy. For example, I was excited when I heard they were doing their own trigger packs with machined sidewalls vs. bent sheet metal because they said the resulting triggers would be so much better. The reality was a “meh” trigger that didn’t impress me and was replaced with a Timney. Other than that though, my Zenith ZF5-P is a nice weapon and has had great reliability so far.

At any rate, I will start sharing more of these so you can get more of an “overall view” of what folks are saying on forums, redit, etc.

I hope this helps you out.

If you find this post useful, please share the link on Facebook, with your friends, etc. Your support is much appreciated and if you have any feedback, please email me at in**@ro*********.com. Please note that for links to other websites, I may be paid via an affiliate program such as Avantlink, Impact, Amazon and eBay.

Firearms

What is the history of Zenith Firearms – the makers of roller-lock firearms

Zenith Firearms was founded in Afton, Virginia by Hanri and Kutlay Kaya. Hanri is the CEO and was originally from South Africa, Hanri met her husband Kutlay in the US. Her background wasn’t initially in firearms, but in international trade, which proved crucial to Zenith’s success.

Kutlay Kaya: An engineer from Turkey, Kutlay brought his knowledge of Turkish manufacturing and his connections in Turkey to the business.

Here’s a breakdown of their history:

  • Zenith Quest International (ZQI) Ammunition was founded in 2010 – Zenith Firearms Inc (ZFI) was not their first business venture. The couple had been importing other products from Turkey and were approached by Walmart to import ammunition during the 2012 ammo shortage from MKEK (Makina ve Kimya Endüstrisi Kurumu – “Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation”), a Turkish government-owned defense company that became the joint stock company MKE in 2021. That’s why you might recall seeing “ZQI” ammunition at Walmart back in the day.
  • In 2014, they structured their entities such that Zenith Quest Corporation (ZQC) was the holding company for both ZQI and ZFI. ZNT is Zenith Global that operates in Turkey.

The MKE Partnership (2014-2017):

  • MKE (Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation): This Turkish state-owned arms manufacturer has a long history, dating back to the Ottoman Empire. They’re known for producing a wide range of military equipment, including licensed copies of Heckler & Koch firearms like the G3 rifle and the MP5 submachine gun. The key here is that they were licensed and had the tooling, plans, etc. MKE was trained by HK back in the day to make these weapons so they had, and continue to have, deep knowledge about the designs. I own an MKE AP5-P, which is an HK MP5K clone, and it is very nicely done for example.
  • Zenith’s Role: Zenith Firearms became the exclusive importer of MKE’s MP5 clones for the US civilian market. They offered several variants, including pistols, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), and full-sized rifles.
  • Why it Worked: This partnership was initially successful because:
    • High Quality: MKE’s MP5s were known for their quality and faithfulness to the original HK design. Again, they were a licensed manufacturer.
    • Affordability: They were significantly cheaper than genuine HK MP5s, which were often prohibitively expensive for many buyers.
    • Strong Demand: There was a large, untapped market of enthusiasts and shooters who wanted an MP5 but couldn’t afford an HK.

Zenith’s Pivot to US Manufacturing (2017-Present):

  • Reasons for the Change: Several factors likely contributed to Zenith’s decision to manufacture in the US:
    • Relationship Rift: Due to a variety of factors, MKE and Zenith grew apart. Repeated promises of firearms shipping were missed, monies owed were not paid and finally there was a suit by MKE alleging trade secret theft that they lost. MKE wound up moving to Century Firearms to import their firearms.
    • Increased Control: Domestic production gave Zenith greater control over quality, production timelines, and product development.
    • “Buy American” Sentiment: Appealing to customers who prefer American-made products. In the HK-community this can actually be a con as well as some die hard HK advocates argue that only HK can make an HK-type weapon.
    • Potential Trade Issues: Relying on imports can be risky due to changing trade policies and international relations. There were, and continue to be, issues between the US and Turkey when it comes to trade.
  • The ZF-5: Zenith’s American-made MP5. They invested in tooling and machinery to produce these firearms in-house. They even made some improvements to the design, such as using a proprietary heat-treated barrel steel.
  • Expanding Product Line: Zenith has also introduced other roller-delayed firearms, like the Z-5RS, inspired by the HK53.

Summary

Zenith Fireams has a relatively short but lively history with entrepreneurship, politics and a drive to succeed on the parts of the founders. I’ve ordered direct from them a number of times and have found them great to deal with as a consumer. If you are looking for a roller locked firearm, take a look at what they have to offer.

I hope you find this interesting.

For More Information

Note, I have to buy all of my parts – nothing here was paid for by sponsors, etc. I do make a small amount if you click on an ad and buy something but that is it. You’re getting my real opinion on stuff.

If you find this post useful, please share the link on Facebook, with your friends, etc. Your support is much appreciated and if you have any feedback, please email me at in**@ro*********.com. Please note that for links to other websites, I may be paid via an affiliate program such as Avantlink, Impact, Amazon and eBay.