Berry Amendment & Domestic Sourcing — USA-Made Brass Whistles
American Whistle Corporation manufactures every whistle in the United States — drawn, stamped, tuned, plated, and packaged at our Columbus, Ohio factory since 1956. For Department of Defense buyers and defense-contract suppliers navigating domestic-sourcing requirements, our 100% U.S. manufacturing and solid-brass construction make us a straightforward, compliance-friendly source.
What is the Berry Amendment?
The Berry Amendment (10 U.S.C. 2533a) requires the Department of Defense to procure certain items — food, clothing, textiles (fibers, cotton, wool), hand and measuring tools — from domestic sources. A related statute, the specialty metals clause (10 U.S.C. 2533b), governs metals such as titanium and certain steel alloys. Together they ensure critical defense supplies originate in the United States.
How this applies to whistles
A metal whistle is not, by itself, food, clothing, or textile — so blanket Berry Amendment coverage generally does not attach to a standalone whistle. Where domestic-sourcing rules do reach a whistle purchase — for example, when a whistle is bundled into covered individual equipment or a uniform kit, or when a solicitation imposes a domestic-source requirement — American Whistle is well positioned:
- 100% U.S.-manufactured — no offshore assembly; a clean domestic-source answer.
- Brass is not a restricted specialty metal — our whistles are solid brass (a copper-zinc alloy), which falls outside the 10 U.S.C. 2533b specialty-metals list (titanium, certain steels). That removes a common compliance flag for metal components.
- Single-factory traceability — one Columbus, Ohio facility handles the entire build, simplifying country-of-origin documentation.
Note for contracting officers: Berry Amendment and specialty-metals applicability depend on the specific item, end use, and solicitation clauses. We provide manufacturing and country-of-origin documentation so your compliance team can make the determination with confidence.
Defense, security, and first-responder use
Our solid brass American Classic delivers 126 dB and is built for reliability in the field — trusted by law enforcement, military and ROTC programs, emergency responders, and safety officers who need a signal that works every time, made in America.
Request documentation or a quote
For domestic-source documentation, defense-contract quoting, or volume pricing, contact info@americanwhistle.com / 614-846-2918, or visit our Wholesale page.
Frequently asked questions
Are American Whistle products Berry Amendment compliant? Our products are 100% manufactured in the United States. Whether the Berry Amendment applies depends on the item's classification and your solicitation; we supply the country-of-origin documentation needed for that determination.
Do your whistles contain restricted specialty metals? No. They are solid brass (copper-zinc), which is outside the specialty-metals categories defined in 10 U.S.C. 2533b.
Where are they manufactured? Columbus, Ohio — start to finish, since 1956.
Related: Buy American Act · Government Procurement · Made in USA · Community Policing