An American legend, “The Gun that Won the West,” will come to an end March 31.
U.S. Repeating Arms Company announced last week that it would close its New Haven, Conn., plant, laying off 200 employees, and ending production of its American-made Winchester rifles.
The company will continue making rifles under the Winchester name at its remaining plants in Belgium, Japan and Portugal, according to the Associated Press. But the rifles aren’t the same as those popularized by movies like Winchester ‘73 and Theodore Roosevelt’s 1909 African safari where he took a Winchester rifle with him.
The Associated Press has more coverage on the plant’s closing and the transfer of ownership of the Winchester name, and the Washington Post has an excellent read on the history of Winchester rifles. I highly recommend you read both.
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Karl Marx would love the popular moves among politicians in various state governments and the federal government to ban so-called "junk" food in schools, and to "put healthy food in" convenience stores and on the tables of those they define as poor. It's a very elitist and arrogant mindset that promotes this ideology, and it needs to be addressed.
Ultimately, the war supporters in Congress prevailed in the vote on the resolution. Still, the vote was significant because it places every member of Congress on the record as supporting or not supporting the unconstitutional, costly, violent occupation of a country that never attacked us. This vote should serve as an important reminder to the American people of where their representatives really stand when it comes to policing the world, empire building, and war.
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jim vincenti
May 25, 2006
What a cryin shame the Winchester plant in New Haven closed its doors. I have a “few” Winchester rifles and shotguns, from the Model 70 bolt action, pump shotguns and the great lever action carbines. Each one is special to me. What a great loss. My hats off to the many employees that put their sweat into a great product. I just hope someone else will pick up the Winchester line and continue manufacturing those great sporting arms again IN THE USA!
Not a happy camper/ Jim V.
Joseph Brown
Oct 09, 2006
This first gun I ever owned is a Mod 12 20 guage for wich I paid $56.
This was over fifty years, and I still use it. The only time that it
has been to a gunsmith is to have the barrel shortend and a poly
installed–the 30′ full choke was chopping the birds up too much (if I
hit them).
Now I own two 94’s, and I’d buy two more and a Mod 1300 if I could get
them made by the unsurpassed craftsmen and women at New Haven. We’re
talking America, people. New Haven has the best. For the love of heaven
put these good people back to work. They deserve the respect of every
man, woman, and child in the United States.
Joseph in Pensacola
Shane
Oct 12, 2006
You got to be kidding me this is stupid winchester made this country and now it has abdoned us. If I didnt wat one of the wssm model 70 i would never even think of owning a new winchester. it just make me sick thinking of it.
Bud Bivens
Dec 01, 2006
It make my heart fall ! I grew up holding a pre64 300H&H as my learning and growing foundation of shotting and hunting. i have used litterally a ton of other rifles and hunted Africa with a 460 weatherby and 375 H&H that is a winchester. although i love my big Weatherby there is still nothing like the Old Win mags…. my god they really are everything sportsman and hunting are. every one tried to copy the Win pre 64 and all of the best customs including Weatherby tried to copy them and no one ever got it the same, pure joy and perfection when hunting and i do mean real hunting. out walking for hours or days and crawling through rocks and brush nothing is like the never falt pre 64. i well and any one who has ever had the pleasure of using one will ever forget the beauty of knowing on the run ramming home a nother round and knowing that it is going to go where it’s supposed to and never fail even when you lose footing and fall it’s going home to make the next target or stop that horrible mistake or tanatious best that has decided it is not going to stop tell every muscle fails but plans to take you with him! my how the rush of the hunt make you alive and that beautiful firearm you have in your mitts is going to help you enjoy so many more. i am saddened and heart broke! the few i have i do hold so dear and hope to get a few that i still want befor epeople realise what has happened and they become colectors and out of reach of normal real hunters and fall to the hands of people whom do not appreciate or use them! and that is just a very small part of the great Winchester history…. yes they did change the world from the west !
from a sad old friend ! Bud Bivens
George
Dec 19, 2006
Can this be true ? One day our country we’ll regret the death of winchester!! I feel like john wayne died 10 times when the news finally struck home!!
john
Dec 28, 2006
The closing of the New Haven, Winchester plant is just another example of how the good old USA is being sold to the highest bidder in the name of free trade. When there is no longer any American companies left to sell what then? Thank god I purchased a Winchester model 1300 (made in the USA) before the plant in New Haven closed. I will be able to pass my 1300 on to my son. The Winchester name is an American legend. The New Haven factory needs protection and should remain open.
I will not purchase a Winchester made over seas !!!!!!
John W.
Dec 31, 2006
This is sad, I live near Nashville TN and here we did make
Alidn thermos products, one you might know is the green one
truck drivers use for coffee, on the bottom of the thermos
is the date of mfg and the place 12 28 Nashville TN, now
they are made in china, by the way I will not buy a Alidn anything from walmart, the same will go for the Winchester anything. New Haven is Winchester, Nashville is Alidn
Mr Chad
Jan 12, 2007
Well, on a lighter side, my nickel-plated 1893 Lever action, 3/4 12 guage’s value has just skyrocketed! Hooyah!
jdubbb
Jan 30, 2007
when they pry my cold dead fingers…….
Derek in texas
Mar 25, 2007
I just started hunting and i got my first deer with a win pre64 modal 70 and. I would hate to se the die. Winchester is has been the best gun on the charts for the last how many years. why would they stop?
ron agostinoni
May 04, 2007
people will argue guns just like ford and chevy,but to me winchesters especially model 70s are one of the best and have proved it to fello hunters and gun buffs, they are stronger etc. than other makes and have a great american history which appreciate when i am on top of a mountain hunting deer and bear. i have seven model 70s and will never get rid of them, nor would i buy another if not made in u.s.a. its a damm shame they closed.if it were union problems , quality control or anything else it should have been straightened out.
Dave
May 05, 2007
I just bought a used Winchester 1300 Defender. I really like it and want another one. I love seeing Made in the USA engraved on the barrel.
Joe
May 29, 2007
After the WSSMs they put out I believe they did go out of business. The only thing they are good for is clubs.
Geoff Morgan
Jun 01, 2007
I just bought a Winchester model 94 Timber Scout. Its new in the box. After researching the serial number with the Winchester/Browning people they stated they are not finding any more serial numbers after my timber scout. They are sending me this documentation. Does this mean I my have the last model 94??? Were should I go from here for more proof.
Thanks Geoff
Keith
Dec 03, 2007
Good ole unions screwing up everything once again.
Maybe some of you dumbass union shitheads will realize that the union is NOT on your side, they’re on their OWN side. Wake up fudgebrains! Union dues? HAHAAAAA idiots. Pay to lose your future. I’m glad the writers guild is striking out in LA. More dumbass union shitheads out of a job.
len momeny
Dec 08, 2007
You have got to be shittin me. Are they Nuts? They have sold of eveything else so where is the surprise. My Sons and I have fought for this country and bled to protect it. I feel I have a right to say Gentalmen You no longer have a home and you may no longer call yourselfs an American. Shame on you. I sign my name Len Momeny U.S. Green Beret. Thank God for you other fellas, This world needs ya.
JERRY
Dec 11, 2007
WHAT A DAMN SHAME, A GIANT IN THE GUN MANUFACTORS. HEY I HAVE A SOLUTION. LET’S BRING ALL OF THE OUT SOURCED JOBS AND PUT THEM IN MEXICO, THEN THE MEXICAN’S CAN HAVE JOB’S
. THE CHINESSE CAN GO BACK TO THE RICE PATTIES.
Pete McNeely
Dec 14, 2007
I have owned many Winchesters and still do. I fell like a true American when my old 94 is in arms. It is so light weight and comfortable to shoot. I am a bit taller thanmost guys so I had a 1 1/2 inch recoil pad installed for length but other than that it was perfect out of the box. My ,odel 120 shotgun has killed more deer,ducks,geese,rabbits,and wild bore than I care to remember. I was the only guy n my group that carried a Winchester shotgun until oneof my friends bent his 870 barrel in his tailgate and borrowed mine. Now they all carry 1300’s. I have never had a Winchester fail me the way I did my Remington 30-06 model 7400 that jammed up on me.
I have to say how upset I was that they closed there plant and allowed the guns to go to Japan to be made. I have looked at there new shotguns and test fired one. And in my opinion they are over priced and over rated. The old 1300 and 1400 models are still superior. And there new 22’s made in Japan they can keep also. Also over priced and not as good as a Marlin or a Henry 22 rifle. Heck I would even buy a savage over a new Winchester 22 rifle.
I spent 20 years in the military and caried a model 12 for years as a MP and loved them. I always new that someday I would retire and buy my self a huge gun collection for hunting and recreation as well as home defense. But I will never buy a gun stamped made in Japan. I will buy a new Remington which I hold no respect for first. As for the company blaming the workers. Shame on you! They built a quality product they should have been paid enough to live on.