Posted on 03/22/2006 10:55:40 AM PST by neverdem
NEW HAVEN — Smith & Wesson, the nation’s oldest and once its largest handgun maker, was named by city officials Tuesday as one of three manufacturers eyeing a takeover of the soon-to-close Winchester firearms factory.
Mayor John DeStefano Jr. confirmed Tuesday that Smith & Wesson executives will be in town this weekend to tour the U.S. Repeating Arms Co. factory at 344 Winchester Ave., where "The Gun That Won The West" has been manufactured for 150 years.
"There is a serious interest in the plant by a credible manufacturer," DeStefano said Tuesday. "Where it’s going to lead, I am not going to handicap at this point."
City Hall is asking USRAC’s parent company, Belgium-based Herstal Group, to cede control of the plant to the city or another gun maker. In exchange, the city has offered to forgive $17 million in tax abatements, lease obligations and workers’ pay the city says Herstal owes.
Meanwhile, the city is pressuring Utah-based Olin Corp., owner of the Winchester brand name, to grant the Winchester license to a firearms maker willing to take over the New Haven factory.
Smith & Wesson’s chief financial officer, John Kelly, confirmed the visit Tuesday, but both he and DeStefano sought to downplay its significance.
"We’ve been asked to come down and take a look" Kelly said. "Obviously, it’s a great brand, but I wouldn’t read too much into it.
DeStefano also struck a cautious, if hopeful, tone.
"Herstal does want to sell the plant," the mayor said. "Herstal has an interest in retaining the license from Olin, but Olin has said they would deal only with a bonafide manufacturer, which Smith & Wesson clearly is."
DeStefano added, "This is just a step in the process. I don’t want to build expectations that are unreasonable."
DeStefano said the city is...
(Excerpt) Read more at nhregister.com ...
Are you sure this isn't .35 Remington ? My copy of Fjestad's "Blue book of Gun Values" doesn't give a .32.
Not quite. It's really a messy situation.
Olin owns the Winchester brand, including it's use on guns, and licensed it to FN/Herstal (actually a corporate predecessor). That license expires later this year.
That's why the mayor has to ask Herstal to sell them the factory and Olin to let them have the name. He needs both to keep things going.
As for the actual rifle designs no one is saying much. It's pretty obvious that the newer Winchester designs, like the X2, belong to FN/Herstal. They can make those in Utah (they own Browning too) or Japan or Belgium.
If FN owns the rights to the Model 70, Model 94 and 1300 then there is no real compelling reason for them to sell those to a (new) competitor. Why not just move those to Belgium. Reintroduce them as the Browning Model 70, 94 and 1300 or (if those names are protected) the Browning Legacy Bolt, Lever and Shotgun.
Either way I would be surprised to see the mayor succeed. Weird he's even spending so much time on it.
"BARTENDER! I'll have whatever these gents have had."
I'm not as think as you drunk I am. - Margaret Hoolihan
Is Smith and Wesson still owned by the Brits?
Oh, yeah. They are stopping production of all those guns. At least for the time being. The announced it in a press release a few months ago. March 30 is the end of the line for them.
Isn't it CT taxes and the labor unions who are screwing the pooch?
I have the same question about the production era of my Model 55 .30-.30.
You are certainly correct. But the post 64 Winchesters were not even close to the work turned out 1936-1963. The 1936-1941 pre-war creations are the most desireable. I note Winchester made a few special orders, including 7.65 Argentine and 9 MM Mauser. The .35 would be very rare...
The article references tax abatements given by the city and the state is not terribly business-unfriendly which is why we have so many corporate headquarters located in Stamford. I'm not sure what the union status is of USRAC (or more importantly Colt) but many companies survive with them.
Please don't ever confuse CT with MA. The democrats here are just as nuts but somehow the state isn't feeding on its industrial base just yet
Stop the presses ! A pair of pre 64 Winchesters in 30-30 are up for auction Saturday at a farm sale here in Missouri.
I don't know the history of the Model 94 in .32 caliber, but I have relatives who have hunted with that very rifle for years. Dad and 4 sons - each with their own rifle. Years ago, as a young hunter, I was fascinated with that since the .30-30 was so prevalent.
I'm sorry but I'm booked this weekend. I have to mediate the dispute between Heather Locklear and Eva Longoria who both want me as a plaything.
That's about the only excuse I could dream up for missing that opportunity.
My son was going to buy a 6mmBR, but the cost of brass set him to the store for a new 6mm rem. cal.
-----
There are two sources of 6mmBR brass. Remington makes new, unprimed cases which are not ultra-benchrest grade but ok for general use. The best are made by Lapua, which are more expensive, but not all that bad if you go to the right sources. And their uniformity is astonishing -- that is why the serious paper-punchers use nothing but Lapua brass. :-)
$585 for this 1956 edition would be a steal.
I have my grandfathers pre-64, 243 Mod 70 and a custom stainless classic in 375 H&H (big sod poodle threat here ya know). A few very old lever guns, 73, 86, 92 (takedown), 94's.....some with 4 digit numbers....:o)
Great firearms, users/shooters each and every one of em.
Greatest treasures are my fathers Model 12 and one I later bought for myself with a extra set of barrels. I would love to see someone take over the Winchester line and get back to quality product vs the jap crap they were feeding us in the last few years. SASS gamers alone would float that revised company of their competition needs are met.
BTW have ya seen the "spartan line" from remington ? They have a very affordable side x side 45-70 and 30-06 offering.....:o)
Next on my gun of the month club wish list.....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.