A&K vs. Echo1

What is the difference between A&K and Echo1. Sorry if this is a stupid question. I'm new to these brands. Thanks, Monte

One makes guns, one has other people make their guns for them.

Both offer affordable entry-mid level guns, with the E1 coming with a warranty (that they are better about honoring now).

Aside from that, they are totally different companies.

I heard that Echo 1 takes A&K guns and just rebrands them.

Actually, the only A&K that Echo 1 rebrands is the M249.

Tell me what model you're looking at and I'll tell you who actually makes it.

FWIW, Echo1 acts as a “VAR” for almost all the Jing Gong/Goldenbow guns they make, plus some from Kart and A&K.
By that I mean Echo1 supposedly tweaks the guns for reliability and to eliminate OOTB failures, re-packages them, and adds their value-add warranty as incentive.

TSD is doing the same thing with SRC products, but out in the open and not as much "under wraps" as does Echo1.

Anyway, on to your question on A&K vs. Echo1…

I have a JG (non-Echo1-boxed version) M4A1 and an A&K “M Series” M733 (basically a short-barreled M4A1).

They are absolutely from two different companies. I could go on and on about the similarities and differances, but that is for another post.

^There is no testing by Echo 1, JG/Kart/Cyma/Galaxy/A&K puts them in the E1 box at the factory, and all tweaks and internal changes are done by the manufacturing company.

Echo 1 just has the gun made to their specs, packaged, and sent to them. They act like the wholesaler.

Just a minor correction to the above post, but overall, your info is pretty accurate.