Author Topic: Winchester (Read 834 times)

Steelbanger · « **on:** January 17, 2006, 08:35:03 AM »

Lots of talk around the internet about Winchester closing the CT plant and discontinuing the Models 70, 94 & 1300. Lets all hope that it's only one of these unfounded rumors.

Lone Star · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2006, 08:45:56 AM »

http://leverguns.sixgunner.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14183

Confirmed by a phone call to Winchester/Browning.......too bad if true.

:eek: :shock:

jh45gun · « **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2006, 09:21:37 AM »

It's true I just got off the phone with them as of March 31 2006 they will be no more. 94, 70, 1300
I hope some one will buy them and the machinery and get the license for the WIN name from Olin.

U.S. Repeating Arms announces plans to close Winchester plant

By MATT APUZZO
Associated Press Writer

January 17, 2006, 2:23 PM EST

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- U.S. Repeating Arms said Tuesday that it is preparing to close its flagship factory in New Haven, where Winchester rifles have been made for 140 years.

The announcement touched off a lobbying effort by city officials and union leaders who hoped to find someone to buy the plant before it closes March 31.

"It's part of who we are as a nation just like it's part of who we are as a city. It's the gun that won the West," Mayor John DeStefano said. "What are we going to have, Winchester rifles manufactured in China? Is this what we're coming to?"

Everett Corey, a representative of the International Association of Machinists District 26, said 186 workers will lose their jobs if the plant closes. The company said it had more than 19,000 workers during World War II.

"Several generations have worked at this place, a lot of fathers and brothers, sons, uncles and daughters," said Paul DeMennato, facility director at U.S. Repeating Arms. "A lot of marriages were people who met at Winchester."

U.S. Repeating Arms, which is owned by the Herstal Group, a Belgium company, has said for years that it was on the brink of closing the plant. The company said sales have fallen off steadily.

DeMennato said the company is negotiating the sale of its plant. The Winchester name is owned by Missouri-based Olin Corp., which had sold U.S. Repeating Arms the right to use the name until next year.

Olin had no immediate word on its plans for the Winchester name.

Nightrain52 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 17, 2006, 01:45:06 PM »

GGGRRRRRRRR! Signs of the times boys. Better hang on to your backside because a rough ride is ahead. Another foreign owned company bites the dust. :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

dodd3 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2006, 01:31:24 AM »

this is a sad time the winchester was an american instituetion.i sincerly hope that some one buy's the rights and keeps it going .

bernie :shock:

Norseman112 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 19, 2006, 03:30:41 PM »

That is just plain sad....don't seem right dose it.

John

fe352v8 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 20, 2006, 07:46:31 AM »

Perhaps the plant would not have lost as much or could have remained open if some of HerstalÂ’s military production from their FN group had been located there. They produce the M2HB-QCB, Browning 50calibre with quick-change barrel, and the M-249 SAW.

It is interesting that our military increasingly relies upon foreign suppliers and designs for itsÂ’ small arms needs, with US owned companies getting only the crumbs.

When the Beretta was chosen as the new service pistol, it would have made sense to have it made under license by Colt and or S&W, but instead we have Beretta USA making it. When H&K was selected for the SOCOM pistol, it would have made sense to have it produced by a US company under license.

Our NATO allies are quite protective of their arms industries and when buying US weapons systems negotiate for a large portion of domestic content as a condition.

With increasing reliance on computers in the military, the opportunity to further erode our ability to produce the hardware needed by our military has grown. When was the last time you saw a motherboard, or CPU manufactured in the US.

In the Franco-Prussian war Krupps produced the heavy guns for both sides, this did not work out well for the French. Considering the popularity of current US policies, with the governments and or electorate of our NATO allies, it may not work out well for us either.

While the Â“global economyÂ” can be beneficial to consumers, in areas of national defense control of both vertical and horizontal means of production is a much more secure position to be in then the one we are finding ourselves in. If this trend continues, we could very well find ourselves in a position of being unable to produce our means of defense, as evidenced by our having to purchase 5.56 ammo from foreign suppliers to meet our current military demands.

Life is no joke but funny things happen

jon