Hi all,

I just received this press release:

U.S. Repeating Arms announces plans to close Winchester plant
By MATT APUZZO
Associated Press Writer

January 17, 2006, 2:23 PM EST

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- U.S. Repeating Arms said Tuesday that it is preparing to close its flagship factory in New Haven, where Winchester rifles have been made for 140 years.

The announcement touched off a lobbying effort by city officials and union leaders who hoped to find someone to buy the plant before it closes March 31.

"It's part of who we are as a nation just like it's part of who we are as a city. It's the gun that won the West," Mayor John DeStefano said. "What are we going to have, Winchester rifles manufactured in China? Is this what we're coming to?"

Everett Corey, a representative of the International Association of Machinists District 26, said 186 workers will lose their jobs if the plant closes. The company said it had more than 19,000 workers during World War II.

"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. "A lot of marriages were people who met at Winchester."

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. The company said sales have fallen off steadily.

DeMennato said the company is negotiating the sale of its plant. The Winchester name is owned by Missouri-based Olin Corp., which had sold U.S. Repeating Arms the right to use the name until next year.

Olin had no immediate word on its plans for the Winchester name.

Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.

Could this be a dispute over the rights (money, of course) of the Winchester name?

I guess all the CRF guys will have to buy Rugers now.

quote:

Originally posted by cobra:
I guess all the CRF guys will have to buy Rugers now.

I would never buy a Ruger

Plenty of old Mausers to buy

quote:

Originally posted by MajorCaliber:

quote:

Originally posted by cobra:
I guess all the CRF guys will have to buy Rugers now.

I would never buy a Ruger

Plenty of old Mausers to buy

Let me see now, you would rather buy an old European product rather than a 100% all American product designed and manufactured by Americans. My my.

quote:

Let me see now, you would rather buy an old European product rather than a 100% all American product designed and manufactured by Americans. My my

And owned by a European company!

It seems to me that manufacturing could be moved to another state where overhead costs could be significantly reduced. Moving production to another country hardly seems necessary. On top of that, start puting barrel sights, and some good old chamberings in the line (i.e. 22 hornet, 220 swift, 257 roberts, 7x57, 358 win, 300 H&H). Some of these cartridges may only have small markets, but they are several small markets add up.) Return the 94 to its original non-lawyeresque safety.

I see this as yet another restructure and reinvention of an old name. Way back when Harley Davidson went under things worked out for the better. This could be the same situation.
Could be bought out,moved to a gun friendly state , and Winchester could rise from the ashes. It's not hopeless.

Certainly sad news though.

FN in MT

quote:

Originally posted by MLG:

quote:

Let me see now, you would rather buy an old European product rather than a 100% all American product designed and manufactured by Americans. My my

And owned by a European company!

He's talking about Ruger. 100% American.

quote:

Originally posted by ColoradoMatt:
It seems to me that manufacturing could be moved to another state where overhead costs could be significantly reduced. Moving production to another country hardly seems necessary. On top of that, start puting barrel sights, and some good old chamberings in the line (i.e. 22 hornet, 220 swift, 257 roberts, 7x57, 358 win, 300 H&H). Some of these cartridges may only have small markets, but they are several small markets add up.) Return the 94 to its original non-lawyeresque safety.

If the Herstal Group wants to save the Model 70, they have the perfect facility to do it in: FN Manufacturing LLC in Columbia, SC. That's about as gun friendly a location gets, and you cannot argue with FN USA's quality.

Until you shoot one of there M-16A2, then you might have a different opinion!

John

HP Shooter:

I hope your right. I'm not a huge winchester fan, but I would really hate to see winchesters production move over sees.

I was under the impression that USRA was already cranking out a good share of it's production in the Carolina plant . I doubt they are going under , but will probably completely shut down the high overhead New England plant and move all their producution down South .

I also think alot of the quality control problems started when production was opened in Carolina . It's tough to replace skilled , seasoned workers with a bunch of low wage yahoos and keep mistakes from showing up......

quote:

Originally posted by 323:
Until you shoot one of there M-16A2, then you might have a different opinion!

John

You're going to base your opinion on a sample of ONE? And how long has that sample of ONE been in service?

GMAFB..........

quote:

Originally posted by sdgunslinger:
I was under the impression that USRA was already cranking out a good share of it's production in the Carolina plant . I doubt they are going under , but will probably completely shut down the high overhead New England plant and move all their producution down South .

I also think alot of the quality control problems started when production was opened in Carolina . It's tough to replace skilled , seasoned workers with a bunch of low wage yahoos and keep mistakes from showing up......

Unless I see evidence that USRAC commercial rifles have been mostly made at FN in SC I have a hard time believing that.

In any case, there is plenty of inhouse knowledge at FN to make precision bolt action rifles, which means there is plenty of talent to train mass assembly workers. Special Police Rifle ring a bell?

And without the god damned International Association of Slackers (I mean "Machinists") in the way, any non-hackers are kicked in the ass straight out the door.

quote:

Originally posted by cobra:

quote:

Originally posted by MajorCaliber:

quote:

Originally posted by cobra:
I guess all the CRF guys will have to buy Rugers now.

I would never buy a Ruger

Plenty of old Mausers to buy

Let me see now, you would rather buy an old European product rather than a 100% all American product designed and manufactured by Americans. My my.

Bill Ruger was a big supporter of the assualt weapons ban Plus the fact Rugers are an ugly cast iron abomination!

quote:

Originally posted by MajorCaliber:
Bill Ruger was a big supporter of the assualt weapons ban Plus the fact Rugers are an ugly cast iron abomination!

Rugers politics turned me off completely, I haven't bought a Ruger since his stance during the first AWB against high-cap mags.

It was also my understanding that a good protion of winchester production had moved to SC.

As to Ruger Vs. Mauser, that's hardly a contest.

Gabe

The FN sniper rifle is/was built in USRAC's New Haven plant not in SC.

Headache

quote:

Originally posted by Headache:
The FN sniper rifle is/was built in USRAC's New Haven plant not in SC.

Headache

Are you sure?.. Not doubting you but I have avoided them thinking it was not a US made product.

quote:

Originally posted by fireman:

quote:

Originally posted by Headache:
The FN sniper rifle is/was built in USRAC's New Haven plant not in SC.

Headache

Are you sure?.. Not doubting you but I have avoided them thinking it was not a US made product.

The FN SPR is clearly engraved "Made in USA".

Interesting that FN/USRAC only has rights to the Wincherster name for 1 more year without a renewal. Sounds to me like something is afoot in that regard. If Olin is wanting too much to renew the license or has other plans for it, then why would FN want to keep an expensive, high overhead plant to make "Acme" rifles?

Plus, if their margins are low now, the move by Remington to market Zastava CRF mauser clones under the Big Green logo will certainly take some additional market share from them. Sounds like they are screwed one way or another.

quote:

Originally posted by HP Shooter:

quote:

Are you sure?.. Not doubting you but I have avoided them thinking it was not a US made product.

The FN SPR is clearly engraved "Made in USA".

Very good, I have not handled one. Does this also apply to the PBR? I would assume so.

quote:

Originally posted by fireman:

quote:

Originally posted by HP Shooter:

quote:

Are you sure?.. Not doubting you but I have avoided them thinking it was not a US made product.

The FN SPR is clearly engraved "Made in USA".

Very good, I have not handled one. Does this also apply to the PBR? I would assume so.

I haven't seen a PBR up close, but I would think it is a safe bet that they are made here as well.