SNT Motiv Co., Ltd. (Korean: SNT모티브; RR: Eseuenti Motibeu) is a South Korean firearms and auto parts manufacturer founded in 1981. Its firearms equip most frontline units of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.
History
Daewoo Precision Industries Co., Ltd was established in December 1981 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Daewoo to manufacture small arms, and upright/grand pianos under the Sojin and Daewoo brands.
The Sojin musical instrument factory of Yeoju, South Korea, had been purchased by Daewoo in 1977. Sojin produced guitars, and commenced manufacture of upright pianos in 1976. Between 1980 and 1991, Daewoo exported pianos under the following names; Sojin, Royale, Daytron, Daewoo, Schafer & Sons, Sherman Clay (until 1987), and Cline, in addition to private labels.[2]
In 1986, the company diversified into auto parts manufacture, followed by digital pianos in 1989. In 1990, the company produced 13,452 upright, 2,364 grand, and 2,120 digital pianos.[2]
In 1991, Daewoo purchased a 33% share of the German piano maker Ibach, sold its Sojin manufacturing equipment to a Chinese firm, and replaced the equipment with Ibach machinery. Pianos were produced to a higher standard, using components such as Renner actions and Delignit wrestplanks.[2] Also in 1991, Dongbei Piano Factory in Yingkou City, China, formed an agreement with Daewoo to help produce upright pianos (its sole product), using high-quality local wood in Liaoning province, northeastern China. This arrangement was extended in 1996 to include grand piano production.[3]
In December 1992, the company was listed on the Korean stock exchange.
In 1997, Daewoo ceased production of pianos, with Dongbei Piano Factory buying most of Daewoo’s equipment and designs. Some of Daewoo’s designers and technicians moved to work for Dongbei.[3]
Following the collapse of Daewoo, the company was spun off in February 2002 and relisted on the Korean stockmarket in March 2002. The majority of its shares were purchased by S&T Holdings in June 2006 and it was renamed S&T Daewoo Co., Ltd in September 2006. In March 2012 the company was renamed S&T Motiv Co., Ltd.[4][5]
In DX Korea 2018, the company announced development of a 9mm revolver based on requirements for Korean law enforcement agencies, and an AR-10-type rifle for a potential Korean military contract.[6]
In February 2021, S&T Motiv changed its name to SNT Motiv.[7]
Firearms
K2 rifle at the War Memorial of KoreaK3 machine gun at the War Memorial of KoreaK7 SMG at Defense Asia 2006K14 sniper rifle at IDEX 2023
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