Winchester To Close New Haven, CT Facility

My favorite rifle when I was young was the Winchester model 94 in .30-30. It was given to me by my father who had received it from my grandfather. Granddad, trained as a machinist took piano keys and used the ivory to do inlay on the stock. Although it has a round barrel it was still made with the saddle ring on the receiver I added a Winchester made 1917 .30-06 bolt action rifle that I just loved shooting. You can imagine my disappointment when I read this:

U.S. Repeating Arms Co. Inc. said Tuesday that it will close its Winchester firearm factory in New Haven, Conn., threatening the future of a rifle that once was called "The Gun that Won the West." 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.

Here is the company press release:

U.S. Repeating Arms Company To Close New Haven, CT Facility

U.S. Repeating Arms Company, maker of Winchester brand rifles and shotguns will close its New Haven, Connecticut manufacturing facility. Many efforts were made to improve profitability at the manufacturing facility in New Haven, and the decision was made after exhausting all available options.

Effective March 31, 2006 the New Haven manufacturing facility will stop manufacturing the Winchester Model 70, Model 94 and Model 1300.

Winchester Firearms will continue to sell and grow its current line of Select Over & Under shotguns, the new Super X3 autoloading shotgun, the new Super X autoloading rifle and Limited Edition rifles. The company also plans to introduce new models in the future. There will be no change in Customer Service.

This action is a realignment of resources to make Winchester Firearms a stronger, more viable organization. Winchester Firearms plans to continue the great Winchester legacy and is very excited about the future.

Fortunately, last year I bought my wife a Model 94 trapper in .44 mag. It has a saddle ring and comes with the 16 in. Barrel. She adores the gun and is looking forward to getting the scabbard to mount on her saddle. Perhaps someone will buy the plant, but from looking at the company's financial sheet it doesn't seem likely.

Carnival of Cordite #44 is up at Resistance is futile!