Winchester Rifle May Have Fired Last Shot

cnn.netscape.cnn ^ | April 13, 2006 | Netscape/cnn

[crushelits]

Celebrated Winchester rifle may have fired last shot

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The famous Winchester rifle glorified in American Westerns may have fired its last shot as a plant where it had been manufactured since 1866 closed its doors last week.

One hundred eighty-six employees of the US Repeating Arms Company plant located in New Haven, Connecticut, were thanked for their work Friday, two days after the facility stopped all manufacturing activity, said Catherine Sullivan-DeCarlo, a spokeswoman for the city government.

She told AFP that the mayor's office has been searching for an investor, who would take over the plant, but has to overcome several obstacles on the way to achieving this goal.

US Repeating Arms Company and its New Haven plant belong to Belgian manufacturer Herstal, which has purchased from US firm Olin the right to use the famous brand name.

"Herstal owns US Repeating Arms and Olin owns the license to the Winchester name so they own the brand name," Sullivan-DeCarlo said.

"We've been talking to different gun manufacturers, and at the same time the mayor has been talking to Olin about possibly keeping the name Winchester here for whoever comes in the factory," she continued.

"Because otherwise, our fear is that the Winchester name will end up overseas."

That would be a rough turn for the celebrated lever-action 1873 gun that made rapid reloading and fire possible and helped conquer the West.

It was Oliver Fisher Winchester, who in 1853 founded New Haven Arms Company, which in 1866 became known as Winchester Arms Company.

The Winchester rifle was in fact based on the Henry rifle that was used during the Civil War.

Pioneers heading West adopted the rifle, and near-mythical personalities like Buffalo Bill made it their weapon of choice.

[gondramB]

Very sad.

[Revelation 911]

I loved the style of thier rifles - and own a little brush rifle in 45 colt...but the lever actions were just too sloppy.....My marlin 45/70 has a much more refined mechanism

Of course Im speaking post '64.....anyone out there able to speak to pre 64 actions ?

[mmercier]

mayor's office has been searching for an investor, who would take over the plant, but has to overcome several obstacles on the way to achieving this goal.

Someone with no brain and a hundred million dollars we can spit on and sue till the cows come home.

my first firearm was a 94ae.

[PAMadMax]

...I have a pre-64 Model 94 that is torn apart and needs reblued and a new stock and forearm....

[mmercier]

I appreciate the irony of shooting a chicom with one of their own firearms; all we will have available as new purchases within this decade.

[Lurker]

I don't know. If I had the wherewithall I'd put a group of investors together and throw a bid in on this plant.

L

[mmercier]

If I had the wherewithal I'd put a group of investors together and throw a bid in on this plant.

You are better off throwing the cash into the sea and waiting for swordfish and tuna to jump on shore.

New england don't need no steenking manufacturing, especially of firearms.

[Khankrumthebulgar]

The Marketplace for firearms has changed. Lever Action rifles can be purchased from Marlin and other manufacturers also. Its kind of nostalgic to think of Winchester Arms still in business. Too bad. Manufacturing is doing well in .45 ACP, military assult weapons. Kimber, Springfield Armoury, Wilson Combat, DSA Arms etc.

My Grandfather worked for Winchester Arms for over 25 years. He has been gone many years ago. He loved their lever action rifles, and hunted with them frequently.

[Lurker]

Yea maybe you're right.

Wouldn't it be a hoot to just buy the name, shutter the factory and reopen it in say Texas?

L

[bill1952]

>You are better off throwing the cash into the sea and waiting for swordfish and tuna to jump on shore.

>New england don't need no steenking manufacturing, especially of firearms.

Brother, do you have that right. - Successful manufacturer in the NE? Ha!

Not that I ever owned a Winchester - Remington & Springfield here.

[bill1952]

Far better idea!

[Huck]

An injun would sell his soul for one of them things!

[bill1952]

They probably all had the Henery 44

[Lurker]

I bought a Henry for my son last Christmas. He loves it.

L

[jigsaw]

... the celebrated lever-action 1873 gun that ... helped conquer the West.

Dang evil White people.   If we'd left well-enough alone, there'd be enough gambling casinos in the West now
that illegal immigration wouldn't be a problem, the federal government would have a surplus, global warming
would not be on the verge of killing us, all the little birds and fishes would no longer poop on the pristine
environment, no one would need health insurance because everyone would be so healthy...

[taxed2death]

"I don't know. If I had the wherewithall I'd put a group of investors together and throw a bid in on this plant.

L"

Ruger seems to have turned itself around nicely... it would be great if they got a bunch of investors to "buy in".

Sometimes a name is worth more than what the bean counters see. Case in point being the Italian motorcycle manufacturer Bimota....it's just too valuable to slip into oblivion so it keeps on getting bought out every few years...sooner or later the "new" management will get it right and let the design/ engineers do what they do best.
Bennelli is another example.

[taxed2death]

"Successful manufacturer in the NE? Ha!"

There are a lot of thriving small manufacturing companies in NE. The key is to take advantage of the huge knowledge base and specialize.

[cbkaty]

Of course Im speaking post '64.....anyone out there able to speak to pre 64 actions ?

I love my 348, manufactured in 1953.

[bill1952]

Oh, I was speaking in hyperbole to make the point.

The NE is in decline.