Winchester Hanging Up Their Guns

In case you haven’t heard, U.S. Repeating Arms has announced that they are closing the historic Winchester firearms factory in New Haven, Connecticut. USRA parent company, FN/Herstal of Belgium, licenses the Winchester name from ammunition giant Olin Corp.

The city of New Haven and the local machinists union are desperately looking for ways to save the factory and the 200 or so jobs that it represents. They are hoping that a buyer for the plant can be found and that Olin would agree to extend the licensing of the Winchester name to the new owners.

USRA says that they intend to continue producing a limited number of firearms under the Winchester brand but that those guns will be manufactured overseas.

All of the old-line gun companies have been struggling for years with the challenge of continuing operations in the northeast where the cost of living is high, union membership is mandatory, wages are far above the national average, and the political environment is hostile.

It is probable that we will see the Winchester name on quality lever-action rifles, slide-action shotguns, and bolt action rifles for many years to come. The name is just too valuable to let it die. The big question is where Winchesters will be made. While New Haven, Connecticut is the historic home of the company, it would make much more sense to move operations to someplace like Arizona or Idaho where the cost of living and the cost of labor are both low and the political environment is much more gun-friendly.

Barring a move to the south or the west, it is likely that the guns would be made in South America or East Asia and that would undoubtedly be detrimental to the company’s floundering sales.

It will be interesting to hear the buzz at the SHOT Show coming up in Las Vegas in a couple of weeks.

Winchester Hanging Up Their Guns

In case you haven’t heard, U.S. Repeating Arms has announced that they are closing the historic Winchester firearms factory in New Haven, Connecticut. USRA parent company, FN/Herstal of Belgium, licenses the Winchester name from ammunition giant Olin Corp.

The city of New Haven and the local machinists union are desperately looking for ways to save the factory and the 200 or so jobs that it represents. They are hoping that a buyer for the plant can be found and that Olin would agree to extend the licensing of the Winchester name to the new owners.

USRA says that they intend to continue producing a limited number of firearms under the Winchester brand but that those guns will be manufactured overseas.

All of the old-line gun companies have been struggling for years with the challenge of continuing operations in the northeast where the cost of living is high, union membership is mandatory, wages are far above the national average, and the political environment is hostile.

It is probable that we will see the Winchester name on quality lever-action rifles, slide-action shotguns, and bolt action rifles for many years to come. The name is just too valuable to let it die. The big question is where Winchesters will be made. While New Haven, Connecticut is the historic home of the company, it would make much more sense to move operations to someplace like Arizona or Idaho where the cost of living and the cost of labor are both low and the political environment is much more gun-friendly.

Barring a move to the south or the west, it is likely that the guns would be made in South America or East Asia and that would undoubtedly be detrimental to the company’s floundering sales.

It will be interesting to hear the buzz at the SHOT Show coming up in Las Vegas in a couple of weeks.

Though I only own a couple of Winchesters, I hated hearing this.

Sometimes it take more than quality to stay in business. It's sad, but true.

I saw that a couple of days ago. That sucks.

Just like a bunch of other True American companies...Getting bastardized because of cheap labor accross the waters!
That truly sucks!!!!

Ric-H0

that is very sad to read.

I don't know why they have stayed in the NE for so damn long. If they'd moved to the more gun friendly and less strict union south, they'd be doing just fine. The unions and politics basically killed Colt. Now Winchester. It's so damn sad..........

Sean

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Bondage:
I don't know why they have stayed in the NE for so damn long. If they'd moved to the more gun friendly and less strict union south, they'd be doing just fine. The unions and politics basically killed Colt. Now Winchester. It's so damn sad..........

Sean </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I agree.... its just as much a fault of the union as it is to the company. Seems the same thing is happening to the auto industry..... i mean is it such a suprise that toyota's market share has went through the roof over the past few years??
Sean[/quote]

It's sad to see 'em go.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The city of New Haven and the local machinists union are desperately looking for ways to save the factory and the 200 or so jobs that it represents. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I wonder if one of the "ways to save the factory" involves getting rid of the blood sucking union.

Yeah, its big news in this area. We're only about 15 minutes away.

I'll have to hang on to my .243

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by CO Hummer:
It's sad to see 'em go.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The city of New Haven and the local machinists union are desperately looking for ways to save the factory and the 200 or so jobs that it represents. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I wonder if one of the "ways to save the factory" involves getting rid of the blood sucking union. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

x 2

Sean

The employees should band together and by the company back. The union would be gone so fast your head would spin.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Bondage:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by CO Hummer:
It's sad to see 'em go.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The city of New Haven and the local machinists union are desperately looking for ways to save the factory and the 200 or so jobs that it represents. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I wonder if one of the "ways to save the factory" involves getting rid of the blood sucking union. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

x 2

Sean </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

x 3