April 1 2006 Winchester will close their New Haven plant and cease to manufacture Model 70's 1300's and lever action firearms. SX3's, supremes and the superx rifle will continue to be manufactured (location I am not sure of).
This is no joke, Winchester informed us morning and is a said day in our business and lives. I hope this is the right forum to post if not let me know! I revealing this information so those M70 lovers can get some before they close the doors.

Are you saying that there will be no M70 "classics" produced at all, anywhere, anymore???

ERIKD,
Yes, If they decide to go overseas or other parts of the world this information was not given or knowl. However the New Haven plant will close and the Model 70's will cease to exist was the information relayed to us through or Rep Group!

You said "winchester informed us" Who is us?

nothing in the New Haven Register (newspaper)

I work for Sports South Inc. a nationally known
firearms and ammo distributor. Ahern Rep group the rep group that represents Winchester and Browning informed us this morning!

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-b...region-apconnecticut

I just called them, it is true!!!. MARCH 21, 2006 is the end of the model 70...

HOLY SHIT!!!

Not a rumor FACT just talked to my Dealer , he got a Fax from Winchester today.

It's true, just talked to a girl at Browning's Morgan , Utah plant and everybody was told in a meeting this morning that the New Haven plant would be closing at the end of March.
she said there would be no more Mod. 70's or 94's produced.

Let's not get our collective panties in a twist...

here's what the article SAYS

quote:

"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.

sounds like FN-Herstal is going to be out of the WINCHESTER business... and Olin will be looking for a buyer to produce...

than FN-Herstal plans to quit making winchesters un license doesn't mean they aint not more... it means they won't say "USRAC"

so, what will happen? Wouldn't it be funny if remmington bought the right to make model 70s? Okay, so that won't happen...

Chaz Daly is looking for a new turnbolt line, now that their yugo mausers are all being sold to/via remington...


jeffe

quote:

Originally posted by aktoklat:
April 1 2006 Winchester will close their New Haven plant and cease to manufacture Model 70's 1300's and lever action firearms. SX3's, supremes and the superx rifle will continue to be manufactured (location I am not sure of).
This is no joke, Winchester informed us morning and is a said day in our business and lives. I hope this is the right forum to post if not let me know! I revealing this information so those M70 lovers can get some before they close the doors.

I guess Marlin is still in New Haven, eh?

I thought they had another plant somewhere in the Carolina's?????

Whats a Model 70?

IV

quote:

Originally posted by 22WRF:
I thought they had another plant somewhere in the Carolina's?????

Me too. Anybody....?

Terry

Jeffe, Olin leased them the use of the name. We still don't know who has the rights to the model 70 itself. They did say that Olin owned the name and not that they leased the whole kit and caboodle to Herstal.

I do suspect if Herstal (if they own the rights) is not interested in the Model 70 anymore and finds a buyer it will likely be sold to some manufacturer.

God, what if Savage got it. I can see it now. "Announcing the NEW and IMPROVED Model 70 with the Barrel NUT."

I thought that M70's have been manufactured in South Carolina for about the last 7-8 years. Any one know this as fact?

I am pretty sure that Olin retains all name and design rights for anything pre-USRAC. Thats why the 101 was never produced as OLIN specifically forbid USRAC from manufacturing it. I think the same goes for the model 21. That could leave the M70 Classic in limbo. I don't think that anyone in their right mind would buy a offshore produced firearm with the Winchester name.

Maybe Matt Williams could give us more informed insight to the situation.

AHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gosh damn it! Just when a guy gets to a point in his life where he can start to enjoy some of the finer things that come along (ie Mod 70 Winchester), they want to stop making them.

Our country has gone to hell, this is proof. I'm going to have the wife lighting up some candles tonight.

Are we sure that they are going to stop making them and not just move them off shore (like that is any better)?

I just sent a new rifle for feeding repair issues!When i read this post all i thought was oH Shxt!I called the MO.repair service folks and they said,yes winchester is closing but there repair service in MO.will still be up and running and will still repair rifles!I cant believe the safari express and model 70 supergrades&Featherweights& 94 lever guns will be gone forever!WOW!Better get one while you can!

This will be a body blow to the short mag craze. The 325 WSM and the WSSMs are toast, probably the 7mm WSM as well.

I'm sure the guys at Kimber are giggling like school girls today.

It'll be interesting to hear what Triggerguard from Williams Firearms has to say.

Almost certainly, someone will pick up the M70 production. I hope it's a small builder who will double the price and triple the quality.

I am sure the name and the design of the Model 70 would be picked up by some entrepreneur very soon. A name like Winchester cannot remain dormant for long. When even names like Charles Daly have been resurrected, it is not going to be long before the Winchester name is as well.

Just wait for some time and Winchester will most certainly be back.

Good point on the short mags. They may disappear. Kimber may pick up some pieces here.

Maybe Kimber Long actions that were recently announced will take off.

Maybe a Kimber 375?????

Interesting that they just announced several new variations on the M-94. Including some nifty takedown models...

David,
You are right they did not say anything about the NC plants. I am not sure what is made where. The announcement was only about the closure of the one plant. A lot of the doom and gloom was coming from the mayor and the union rep. It may take a while for the dust to settle and see what is going to really happen.

Herstal has not said that they are discontinuing the model 70, just that the one plant is closing.

BTW, the 101 was made in Japan, so we have been buying overseas Winchesters before.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-b...region-apconnecticut

YIKES

quote:

Originally posted by DavidReed:
I don't think that anyone in their right mind would buy a offshore produced firearm with the Winchester name.

Probably more "Winchesters" have been produced overseas than in the U.S. since 1965: 1200, 1400, 101, 96, etc.

The primary reason has to be a loss of profit. The primary reason for a loss of profit is the old union in New Haven.

Someone will make the M70 and I hope its in the USA.

Didn't someone in China make a M70 about ten years ago and Clinton stopped imports from there?

Well I don't like it at all. I was saving up for a model 70 featherweight in 30-06. I have a 270 and a 280. Both shoot just fine.
A non-manufacturing economy is not a strong economy no matter what all the bull-sh*tters say. England was a service economy just before wwII, and we were able to step in and save them until they got rolling again.
Nobody will save us.
Next time you go to Walmart and buy some cheap crap think about your job and your neighbor's job. My job's already gone, as companies will only hire H1 software engineers. False economy, and not the long view.
My view is jaundaced by my recent experiences, and I might be an old fart, but the younger generation is taking us to socialist hell.

The recently produced 1885s, 1886s, 1892s, 1895s, are also made in Japan.

quote:

Originally posted by Customstox:
Jeffe, Olin leased them the use of the name. We still don't know who has the rights to the model 70 itself. They did say that Olin owned the name ..
I do suspect if Herstal (if they own the rights) is not interested in the Model 70 anymore and finds a buyer it will likely be sold to some manufacturer.

God, what if Savage got it. I can see it now. "Announcing the NEW and IMPROVED Model 70 with the Barrel NUT."

Chic,
when BMW bought the facilities of (forgot who) to make the rolls... well, rolls walks up.. says "nice.. but you don't have the right to make the CARS,,, just the factory to make them in..."

couple million$$ later, BMW making rolls...

the Model 70 is a TM of olin, not FN-Herstal/USRAC, see quote below

Not that USRAC couldn't say "nah, not making em anymore".. i would expect the terms of license require maintainence payments and/or production.. and failure to produce would violate license, revoking it early... at least it would if I had written it

from winchester.com

quote:

With this restructuring, Winchester's U.S. sporting arms business, which had been part of the company for nearly half a century, was set up as a freestanding operation. In July, 1981, it was sold to the U.S. Repeating Arms Company in New Haven, Connecticut, which now produces Winchester brand rifles and shotguns under license from Olin Corporation

what do you guys expect, they where too busy trying to push the stupid WSSM line, until recently they only made their varmint calibers in WSSM what a joke. You know someone will buy them out, its kinda suprising it didn't happen before all this

All I know is that the Model 70 is my favorite rifle, period.....

this is like Ford and Chevy going out of business or Hillary Clinton getting elected president....

Just called them and was told, that the staff was told.. as of January 17th... what is left in the production schedule now, is going to be the last of them....

Talk about something that really really sucks....

They must be partying hard over at all the Anti Gun organizations.....

I'd better shut before the Gestapo, I mean Homeland Security is on my doorstep!

Jeffe, good reasearch. I am still not convinced after some thought that the model 70 is doomed or even discontinued. The only thing that is definitely in jepordy is the continuation of the factory in New Haven. Will wait and see.

Jeffeosso, It was Volkswagen which thought that they purchased the Rolls Royce trademark (@ $980Million), but the English courts ruled that it was held by the Aircraft Rolls Royce. A seperate entity of course. Yes, BMW did end run and secure the Rolls Royce banner. This was one of the great automotive coups! I was fortunate enough to be invited to Crewe by VW/Rolls and tour the factory, advise on marketing etc during this tumulous time.

Chic et al,
Good point on Japanese produced Winchesters. I guess I should have qualified my statement about offshore production of Winchesters to be specific to the M70.

However, I have gathered that the only operation perinent to the M70 in New Haven has been final assembly. For the past few years the action forgings have been produced in the SC plant and sent to New Haven for final assembly.

Perhaps Saeed will purchase it.

No big loss. Plenty of pre-64s around anyway.

In any case, with CZ, Kimber, and Ruger producing affordable CRF rifles of a quality that leaves the current Model 70 in the dust, we still have plenty to choose from.

For the record, FN Manufacturing's plant is in Columbia, South Carolina. Not in North Carolina.

FN Manufacturing LLC

quote:

Originally posted by HP Shooter:
No big loss. Plenty of pre-64s around anyway.

In any case, with CZ, Kimber, and Ruger producing affordable CRF rifles of a quality that leaves the current Model 70 in the dust, we still have plenty to choose from.

True enough, but it's still sad. The last new M-70 I looked was awful, gaps all in the inletting and rust on the bluing. This doesn't surprize me at all.

Terry