In what year did Winchester move manufacturing from New Haven to down south wherever they are made now?

Any ideas on the serial number range at the changeover?

I bought a Model 70 Stealth NIB about a year ago and it said "Made in New Haven, CT". I was at the Michigan Cabela's a few weeks back and the few Model 70 FWTs I looked at all said the same thing as far as place of manufacture.

FN Herstal USA has a plant in SC, but AFAIK, no Winchester-branded products are made there.

I think this is just an Internet rumor that has taken a life of its own.

I will gladly admit I am wrong if someone can post a picture of a Winchester's barrel engraving that says "Made in SC" or something to that effect.

quote:

I think this is just an Internet rumor that has taken a life of its own.

HP Shooter.....I'm with you on this one.....I too would like to see something concrete to confirm this.

The year was about 2000 or 2001. Serial numbers from New Haven were in the 2xx,xxx range, I think they ended around 275,xxx?, and the South Carolina ones started with 3xx,xxx. Allen Day knows these better than I and could tell you with more specificity.

The receivers at least are made in South Carolina.

The receivers are shipped to New Haven where the complete rifles are assembled, hence "Made in New Haven".

They figured labor was cheaper in SC and that it had the skilled labor readily available, but found out that the "skilled labor" still needed training. They had several quality control issues with the first receivers out of the new plant.

Have never seen the plant personally so will offer the only evidence I have. The knowledge of the quality control issues came out in a conversation with Leslee Dengler, the manager of their Custom Shop. She told me that they had to send an entire shipment of receivers back to the South Carolina plant because they were so out of spec.

AS you may know, some Winchesters are made by Miroku in Japan. But AFAIK they state "Made in Japan". Don't know as I never bought one or even examined one closely.

In the European market it seems that Browning over and under shotguns are made in Japan but that Winchester over and unders are made in Belgium. I have been under the impression that Browning A-Bolt rifles are Japanese made and that Winchester Model 70 bolt action rifles are US made.

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Originally posted by Wink:
In the European market it seems that Browning over and under shotguns are made in Japan but that Winchester over and unders are made in Belgium. I have been under the impression that Browning A-Bolt rifles are Japanese made and that Winchester Model 70 bolt action rifles are US made.

You are correct on all counts.

Jim in Idaho, is the plant you refer to in South Carolina the FN Herstal USA plant in Columbia, or another USRAC facility in the same state?

Sorry, I'm afraid I've revealed the total of my knowledge in this. I just know they opened a plant in South Carolina but that's about it.

The reason I asked is that I have two 70s that have G3XXXXX serial numbers and a new SuperGrade with a G1XXXXX number that is noticably better machined and built. It also has the firing pin screw in the shroud where the others don't.

IIRC, there was about a year or so that Model 70s were kinda scarce as production changed over.