Douglas Healey for The New York Times
Posted on 01/21/2006 3:25:46 AM PST by Pharmboy
Douglas Healey for The New York Times
Unless a rescue plan is worked out or a new buyer comes forward, the gun-manufacturing plant in New Haven, with about
200 employees, will close on March 31.
Come spring, the Winchester rifle, immortalized as the gun that won the West and rode into the sunset with John Wayne, will be made in Portugal and Japan.
The U.S. Repeating Arms Company, which has manufactured rifles and shotguns in New Haven since 1866, is set to shut its doors on March 31. About 200 people will lose their jobs, many having worked for decades on the plant's assembly line.
snip
Paul DeMennato, a company spokesman, did not provide production and sales numbers, but the New Haven mayor's office released a statement saying that only 80,000 guns had been produced at the plant last year. The factory is capable of producing 300,000 a year.
snip
"I still have my dad's guns. These products don't have a built-in obsolescence."
The Winchester repeating rifle became the gun of choice for Western settlers after it was introduced in 1866, Mr. DeMennato said. The lever-action breech mechanism allowed the user to fire a number of shots before having to reload.snip
"Instead of saying, 'Get me my gun,' he'd say, 'Get me my Winchester,' " Mr. DeMennato said.
A 10-foot-high bronze statute of Wayne, eyes narrowed in concentration and left hand clutching a Winchester, stands in the lobby of the New Haven plant. On the wall behind it are the mounted heads of a stag and wild boar and a turkey in its entirety.
snip
Connecticut has a history of firearm production with companies like Colt's Manufacturing in Hartford; Sturm, Ruger in Fairfield; and Marlin Firearms in North Haven.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I have my share of Winchesters. I am sorry to see this plant close.
I bet there isn't one John Wayne type on its entire staff.
Leni
That being said, I may have to go buy one of these lever guns. Maybe something in .44 mag to match the Mrs. pistola.
L
Sad, very sad.
Your post in response #2 had to be removed because it contained a Corbis photo. Please do not post any photos from Corbis or Getty. Thanks.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1111944/posts
I wonder if this is another Union victory.
This is the result of anti-gun nutjobs who have repeatedly assaulted the firearms industry. With the legislation allowing victims to sue gun manufacturers for the acts committed by gun-wielding murderers. When we allow the courts to impose draconian punishments on innocent businesses, People lose their jobs and factories go elsewhere.
It certainly is a Liberal/Marxist antigun victory.
Pvt. Connors: Say, is this really a repeater?
Quartermaster Sergeant: A repeater? Son, you can load this on Sunday and shoot it all week.
I never bought a gun to replace one. All my purchases were to own another one.
Sounds like it is too late to keep them in the US by buying another one. I have three Winchesters, don't know what I would want in addition to the ones I own. Would buy duplicates of what I own, but that would not preserve the Winchester.
Shoot!
Sorry...did not know that. Will not use Getty or Corbis in the future. Thanks for letting me know the reason for the pulled post.
Douglas Healey for The New York Times
Workers ended their shift this week at the U.S. Repeating Arms Company.
You're welcome. Thank you for the kind response.
Indeed. My best hunting rifle is a pre 1964 model 70 .300 Winchester Magnum with a low profile 3x9 widefield Redfield scope.
I don't know about that. I bet most of the male NYT staffers swoon over big, strong cowboys ( or sheepherders, as the case may be ).
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