Strut10 Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 From the New Haven Register... 08/19/2006 Olin explains Browning choice Steve Higgins , Register Business Editor -NEW HAVEN — Olin Corp. said Friday it granted Browning the license to produce winchester rifles because it has a lengthy track record in the firearms business. "Browning is a long-established developer and marketer of firearms, and they are committed to the brand," said Ann Pipkin, spokeswoman for Missouri-based Olin. "We’re proud of our heritage, and we decided on Browning because we believe that’s the best decision for consumers." The alternative was a newly formed Greenwich company named American Firearms Co. that promised to keep in the United States the manufacture of the famed winchester models previously made in New Haven, models 70 and 94. The New Haven plant was closed in March after 140 years here, putting 186 employees out of work. Sources involved with the licensing negotiations have said Morgan, Utah-based Browning officials made it clear they plan to move production abroad, possibly to Russia or Portugal. Browning officials did not return telephone calls for comment Thursday or Friday. Dave Bichrest, 65, executive secretary of the winchester Arms Collectors Association in Silsbee, Texas, said he wouldn’t buy a winchester model made overseas. "I don’t want anything to do with it," he said. "I’ll buy a used American model, at a higher cost, before I buy a brand-new one made in Russia, or any other country." Still, Bichrest said many gun buyers, including some within the 2,000-member collectors’ group, would continue buying winchesters made abroad if the quality is the same. He noted that many collectors already buy other, lesser-known winchester models made in Japan, Portugal and other countries. Bichrest said he believes Herstal Group, the Belgian company that owned U.S. Repeating Arms Co. in New Haven and also owns Browning, mismanaged the New Haven plant at 344 winchester Ave. "It was losing money, and there is no excuse for them to lose money on a winchester," he said. "They couldn’t keep up with the orders they had. They didn’t even have the barrels on hand that they needed." Michael Blank, the St. Louis gun manufacturer who started www.savewinchester.com in January, said, "I’m disappointed. The first goal was to keep it in the U.S. and keep some presence in New Haven, its historic home. We talked about distribution, warehousing, engraving (at the New Haven plant)." Blank said he believes Olin, which makes ammunition for winchesters and also receives royalties on the gun sales, was afraid to risk going with an untested company. "It’s a risk-averse play, but that’s what’s been plaguing the industry. No one is taking any chances or doing anything new," Blank said. "They played it safe." New Haven Economic Development Administrator Kelly Murphy said city officials will try to find another type of buyer for the 225,000-square-foot complex, built in the early 1990s across the street from the original plant. "Some other businesses have expressed an interest in the building," she said. Steve Higgins can be reached at [email protected]. ©New Haven Register 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Re: Winchester 70\'s, 94\'s and 1300\'s again?? So its bitter sweet information. It may be a decent quality in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Re: Winchester 70\'s, 94\'s and 1300\'s again?? I will wait to see how this plays out On a side note. I do Cowboy Action Shooting and most of us use Winchester replicas made overseas from companies like Uberti. I can tell you right now that the quality in SOME of these foreign Winchesters is much better than the Americans. Take for instance the new Winchester Lightning. I saw several at the shoots I went to and almost everyone of these guns went back for some type of repairs. However the foreign models had better wood, quality and preformed better than the American counterpart. I want Winchester to stay in America as much as the next person. However their quality HAS to improve. My .02¢ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper Posted August 22, 2006 Report Share Posted August 22, 2006 Re: Winchester 70\'s, 94\'s and 1300\'s again?? Didn't Weatherby try this a few years back and probs. with "over seas" barrels and lost customers? IMO, it may have the Winchester name on the gun...but it won't be the same if made overseas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HaDeRonDa Posted August 23, 2006 Report Share Posted August 23, 2006 Re: Winchester 70\'s, 94\'s and 1300\'s again?? I'll buy a new 94 to give them a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasDeerHunter Posted August 27, 2006 Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 Re: Winchester 70\'s, 94\'s and 1300\'s again?? I just have a hang up in buying a Winchester made overseas. It has nothing to do with quality, just principle. That's one reason I won't buy a Browning. I just can't handle having Made In Japan stamped on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HaDeRonDa Posted August 27, 2006 Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 Re: Winchester 70\'s, 94\'s and 1300\'s again?? [ QUOTE ] I just have a hang up in buying a Winchester made overseas. It has nothing to do with quality, just principle. That's one reason I won't buy a Browning. I just can't handle having Made In Japan stamped on it. [/ QUOTE ] At least we haven't gone to made in ROC (Republic of China) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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