Sunday, February 19, 2006
Plant closing ends run for Winchester rifles
Traditional Winchester rifles, including the famous Model 94, will no longer be produced when the plant in New Haven, Conn., closes March 31.
Modern, high-end rifles bearing the Winchester name will be produced in Belgium, Japan and Portugal, according to Robert Sauvage, a spokesman for the Herstal Group, the Belgium company that owns U.S. Repeating Arms and the rights to the Winchester name.
The Model 1894 appeared on the American scene in August 1895 and changed the world of shooting almost overnight.
Wouldn’t it be nice if Winchester could be bought back by an American company, produced in the same plant in New Haven that once employed 19,000 during WWII? This way the “Gun the Won the West” could ride back onto the American scene like Harley-Davidson?
The Times Tribune
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Sadly, it's the end of an era!
I am the proud owner of a model 1873 Winchester made in 1911 in .44/.40 caliber. It is definitely used, of course, not in 'el pefrecto condition. But, I got 'er cheap and I am quite happy with it.
I am sad that one more American tradition has had the kybosh put on it. We'd better keep our eyes on this kind of stuff because soon enough we won't have anything of our traditions left!
-WTH
# posted by Publius @ 2/19/2006 08:50:00 PM 
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