End of an era as Winchester rifle plant prepares to close
By: MATT APUZZO - Associated Press | ∞
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- U.S. Repeating Arms Co. Inc. said Tuesday it will close its Winchester firearm factory, threatening the future of a rifle that was once called "The Gun that Won the West."
"It's part of who we are as a nation just like it's part of who we are as a city," Mayor John DeStefano said.
The announcement touched off a lobbying effort by city officials and union leaders who hoped to find a buyer for the plant before it closes March 31. If no buyer comes forward, it could spell the end for nearly all commercially produced Winchesters, said Everett Corey, a representative of the International Association of Machinists District 26.
"Winchester would be pretty much defunct," he said. "They're not going to produce them, other than a couple custom-type models."
The company has been plagued by slumping firearm sales. More than 19,000 people worked there during World War II, but the plant employs fewer than 200 now.
The Winchester model 1873 lever action rifle was popular among American frontiersmen at the end of the 19th century for its reliability. John Wayne made the Winchester rifle a signature of his movies and Chuck Connors posed menacingly with his Winchester on the poster for the television series "The Rifleman."
"Marlin made lever-action rifles but nobody ever had a Marlin in films or TV series. They were always Winchesters," said Ned Schwing, a firearms historian.
Perhaps the company's greatest unofficial spokesman was President Teddy Roosevelt, who used the 1895 model on his famous 1909 African safari, which historians credited with boosting the sale of Winchester sporting rifles.
Since the plant opened in 1866, tens of millions of Winchester rifles have been produced, the bulk of which came between the late 1800s and the end of World War II, said firearms historian R.L. Wilson, who has written books about Winchester. More than six million copies of the Winchester Model 94, the company's most popular rifle, have been produced.
"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.
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.
DeMennato said the company is negotiating the plant's sale. Missouri-based Olin Corp. owns the Winchester brand name. In the late 1970s, after a massive strike by its machinists, Olin sold the plant to U.S. Repeating Arms along with the right to use the Winchester name until next year.
Olin had no immediate word on its plans for the Winchester name. DeMennato said he hopes the name will be sold along with the plant. Nobody at Herstal's headquarters in Belgium could be reached Tuesday afternoon.
On the Web:
U.S. Repeating Arms: http://www.usracmfg.com
Winchester firearms: http://www.winchesterguns.com
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Charles wrote on Jan 23, 2006 6:30 AM:Are you sure Roosevelt did not take the model 1994 to Africa rather than a 'model 95'?
Duane wrote on Jan 25, 2006 6:29 PM:Lets all deliver pizzas
Jason wrote on Jan 28, 2006 4:46 PM:Yes, it was a Model 1895, chambered in .405 Winchester, that President Roosevelt used in Africa.
Mike wrote on Feb 5, 2006 6:01 AM:It's a sad day in American history.
russ wrote on Feb 7, 2006 9:38 PM:I' m deeply saddened by this.As I've been a deep beleaver of my 30x30 rifle for hunting.My model 94 that has been with me for a long time and I wanted to pass it on to my grandson.The best hunting rifle ever had.
Dennis Harris wrote on Feb 8, 2006 1:52 PM:this news is very said indeed my first rifle was a model 94 30 30 i was going to buy on e for my son but the shelvles around here are bare can i still get a new one
Jeff wrote on Feb 13, 2006 4:02 PM:This is an American Institution, if we can bail out third world countries with thier financial problems why can't we help this Institution that is so much a part our american history?
Mark wrote on Feb 19, 2006 8:50 AM:It was the model 1894 that President Roosevelt took to Africa, and it was the 33-55 cal. not the 405. Research Inc. has all that history.
Steve wrote on Feb 27, 2006 6:58 PM:This country won,t be the same without winchester rifles. Kind of like Harley Davidson motorcycle going out. Hope it can be saved.
Roy wrote on Mar 2, 2006 5:59 PM:it is with out adoubt a very sad day when we will not see the winchester line in the stores they have been so much a part of our history everything from winning the west to millions of sportsman and over the years there place in arms for the service. And I do agree if we can help out so many others we should help save a company that has done so much for us
karl wrote on Mar 6, 2006 5:43 PM:american made guns sell, winchester had too many gun made overseas that's what killed winchester i love my marlins make em in the united states!!!
joe wrote on Mar 8, 2006 8:58 AM:i think the goverment should step in and try to help save a part of our history. the goverment stoped chrysler from giong under why not help winchester....?
Larry wrote on Mar 10, 2006 4:55 AM:I agree with others. We should help this American icon. We helped Chrysler! Our government seems to be shifting all it's attention to other countries. Let's reinvest back into the American based company versus trying to help a country that might turn on us later.
Gus wrote on Mar 19, 2006 6:37 PM:Teddy took many rifles to Africa Mark (feb 18), amoung them were his trusted 1895 - not the 1894. Read his book - African Game Trails, and look at the original pictures - they are NOT 1894's!
Mike wrote on Mar 31, 2006 7:01 PM:I thought it sad when an American icon ended up in foreign hands.I hope if Winchester is to be saved, it will once again be in American hands!
Jim wrote on Apr 2, 2006 10:33 AM:I agree,the foreign influence was a cause of the demise of Winchester. We did not see them contribute anything to R&D to provide new USA built Winchesters. Herstal group "used" the name to market more of their imported products. Customers wanted new products that were true New Haven built Winchesters,not Japanese reproductions. I hope a group of true American patriots can band together to buy the firm and restore it's rightful place in as an American Legend!
marcus wrote on Apr 30, 2006 10:09 AM: I can't believe it! This is the first I've heard about it. I think it was more than foriegn influence. It's a sign of the times, as it is written in the BIBLE ie:one world govt,etc. This country is under subversive attack by influences both foreign and dosmectic. In order to get us to fall in line, global influences are using our own capitalist market, and a very anti-gun biased press/celebrities,etc., to take away our freedoms. Very powerful people like George Soros, and the like, have far reaching and powerful financial influence. I am sad that another American icon has been taken down.
Ernie wrote on Aug 17, 2006 12:38 PM:I am from Wyoming. My father and Teddy R as dad used to call him were great friends. (This is several years before I was Born.) Dad went to Africa with Roosevelt and Teddy gave him a model 95 .405 takedown which I still own. Roosevelt had several of these 95s in various calibers. This rifle is almost as dangerous standing behind it as it is up front. With the quarter moon butt stock it has a vicious recoil. Its not one for the faint of heart.
Donald wrote on Aug 25, 2006 9:33 PM:My Fatherinlaw worked for winchester fire arms when the name ment more to the city than the politics who run it now when did this go wrong for the great city whom we as tax paying citizen call home me not being from new haven but have been therefor more than 15yrs call it just that HOME i have watched the mayor turn old buildings into rubble just to build it up and say see hat i've done when are we going to stop the destruction of HISTORY IN THIS ONCE GREAT CITY WE CALL HOME SAVE WINCHESTER FIRE ARMS just gettig some stuff off my chest thanx
Mark wrote on Dec 2, 2006 10:24 PM:I decided I wanted a real cowboy lever action 30-30, and of course I wanted a Winchester. I checked their website, and although they acknowledged the closing of the New Haven plant, they spun it to appear like Winchester products were still being made uninterrupted in their other plants. I found out that is not the case at all. I ended up buying a Marlin, which is OK, but it's a shame what's become of another American legend. I'm so sick of outsourcing - what's to become of American manufacturing? Where does it end?
Larry wrote on Jan 14, 2007 5:58 PM:I am saddened by this also. However, there are still Henry rifles which are excellent alternatives. They are American based and need our support now, not our sympathy later. I just bought a big boy and golden boy for my daughter. Excellent weapons!
faisal jan baloch wrote on Feb 21, 2007 4:46 AM:I also have a winchester 1895 chambered 405 and its really a very good hunting rife,i dont no why people suggest marlin is best but i think 405 is the best cartridge in lever action
JOHN B. wrote on Aug 4, 2007 2:34 AM: I am sad as many true winchester owners are. Our government has let more of our heritage go by the wayside. If you own a winchester 94 keep it as a reminder of where we came from. And where we are heading. Our childrens, children may not be as lucky as we are today. think about tomorrow. Support the RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS.
Nathan wrote on Sep 29, 2007 4:33 AM: Winchester Arms, via a 22 rifle, fed my family, during the Great Depression, on a daily basis. Now, today in the secret corners of the current political parties, your hear "New World Order"! Let's defeat every one of those, who would destroy our country, our freedoms and our way of life. As a WW2 Veteran, I resent all who disregard the dead, who gave their very lives, protecting our way of freedom / lives. Winchester Arms, is part of the very fabric of Freedom. Let's not let my dead comrades and Winchester Great Traditions die. Let The New World Order Die instead.
paul s. wrote on Jan 12, 2008 8:16 AM:i just love to shoot and my model 94ae is a top quality rifle ,and i also have a model 60a that my dad handed down to me before he passed away and i will hand down to daughter.
Doug wrote on Jan 12, 2008 12:28 PM:It is my sincere hope that the Browning Firearms Company in Morgan, Utah will continue to honor the Winchester name and line of rifles and shotguns, and especially support a continuing production of the Winchester Model 94 lever-action rifle in 30-30 chambering. It is heralded as, "The Rifle That Won The West!" The Winchester 94 30-30 is capable of taking deer, bear, elk, antelope and Mtn lion out to 225 yards!
Gary wrote on Jul 18, 2008 5:51 PM:I am absolutely taken back by this action. Isn't anything made here anymore? Winchester is an American Icon. I hope that firearms owners in this country will band together to save Winchester. If I had the money I would have bought the company. Only Remington and Marlin can be compared to Winchester. Henry and Sharps are gone. Only imported repro's are being made but not the real thing. Save Winchester. It is part of our heritage.
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