An American icon DEAD:
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.
Analogy:
Winchester has decided in affect to turn it's back on the working class sportsman by discontinuing it's line of affordable sporting products ( model 94's/model 70's/and it's more affordable shotguns ). Winchester Arms has decided that the high end products built on foregin soils should be more profitable. In affect...Winchester has lost the desire to compete in todays market. If things go as they have in the past...Winchester will either FOLD completely, or sell the rights and tooling to someone who has the GUTS to be competetive. Many I know cannot afford a $4000.00 O/U or auto loader. ALthough the model 70 was a nice rifle, Remington 700 is superior if you consider price and performance, as is the Remington 870 shotguns. I bought a Win1300, it was the fastest, smoothest pump I'd ever had in my hands, and the price was reasonable. I'm annoyed at Winchester's decision to "roll over and die". Lucky for us, there are many who will jump at the chance to build the 94's and market them. Just as PUMA/Legacy Sports produces a FINE model 92 (discontinued many years ago by Winchester) that is close enough that "most" of it's parts are interchangeable with the original Winchester 92's.
As for those whom are posting WInchester products on GunsAmerica, GunBroker, and other websites...GET REAL!!! NOBODY is going to buy a Win94 for $800.00+. A $350.00 gun is a $350.00 gun (used). This is a sit and watch situation. Winchester's bad decision to cater to the upper crust will bite them in the fanny (just like when Smith & Wesson and Colt forgot who's hand was feeding them). Winchester could have easily moved it's operation to a gun friendly state in need of industry, and cut their overhead/taxes, as well as saved a few bucks on labor. As in any business, the executives let GREED cloud their judgement resulting in a bad decision instead of weighing possibilities for increase of profit by changing the way they do business.
Can you say NAFTA? Can you hear the sucking sound Ross was talking about yet?
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.
Analogy:
Winchester has decided in affect to turn it's back on the working class sportsman by discontinuing it's line of affordable sporting products ( model 94's/model 70's/and it's more affordable shotguns ). Winchester Arms has decided that the high end products built on foregin soils should be more profitable. In affect...Winchester has lost the desire to compete in todays market. If things go as they have in the past...Winchester will either FOLD completely, or sell the rights and tooling to someone who has the GUTS to be competetive. Many I know cannot afford a $4000.00 O/U or auto loader. ALthough the model 70 was a nice rifle, Remington 700 is superior if you consider price and performance, as is the Remington 870 shotguns. I bought a Win1300, it was the fastest, smoothest pump I'd ever had in my hands, and the price was reasonable. I'm annoyed at Winchester's decision to "roll over and die". Lucky for us, there are many who will jump at the chance to build the 94's and market them. Just as PUMA/Legacy Sports produces a FINE model 92 (discontinued many years ago by Winchester) that is close enough that "most" of it's parts are interchangeable with the original Winchester 92's.
As for those whom are posting WInchester products on GunsAmerica, GunBroker, and other websites...GET REAL!!! NOBODY is going to buy a Win94 for $800.00+. A $350.00 gun is a $350.00 gun (used). This is a sit and watch situation. Winchester's bad decision to cater to the upper crust will bite them in the fanny (just like when Smith & Wesson and Colt forgot who's hand was feeding them). Winchester could have easily moved it's operation to a gun friendly state in need of industry, and cut their overhead/taxes, as well as saved a few bucks on labor. As in any business, the executives let GREED cloud their judgement resulting in a bad decision instead of weighing possibilities for increase of profit by changing the way they do business.
Can you say NAFTA? Can you hear the sucking sound Ross was talking about yet?
