The Effort to Save Winchester

by Jeff Quinn

April 25th, 2006

A few months ago, the shooting world was shocked to hear the sad news that Winchester would no longer produce the Models 94 and 70 rifles, nor the Model 1300 shotgun. The shotgun part didn’t really bother me, as I never liked the 1300 anyway. I hated to see the demise of the Model 70, as the latest ones built seemed to be getting better all the time. However, I was heartbroken to learn of the demise of the beloved Model 94 levergun.

Right after the announcement that Winchester was closing its doors at the New Haven firearms manufacturing plant, there were rumors that other gun makers were looking into the purchase of the facility or at least the equipment and manufacturing rights, but nothing came to fruition, and the cause seemed hopeless, at least to me.

However, there is now in progress an effort to revive the plant in New Haven. It is being led my Michael Blank. I do not know much about the man, except that he is the owner of St. Louis Arms, and that he has a background  as an investment broker and also in the gun industry.  He has been in contact with everyone involved, from the mayor of New Haven to  the owners of the plant in Herstal, Belgium. He has put everything on the line in this endeavor, and I wish him the best of luck.

To learn more about the effort to save what is perhaps the greatest name in American firearms, go to the website:   www.savewinchester.com.

Whether you are interested in investing in the project, or just to offer your moral support, go visit the website for the latest news on the project, or to voice your opinion of which Winchesters that you would like to see resurrected.

Mr. Blank is running against time in this effort, and I pray that he can pull it off. Other American gun makers have nearly expired in the past, but were brought back from the brink by enthusiastic, hard-working men with a vision. Michael Blank has a vision of a resurrected Winchester. Let’s offer our support.

Jeff Quinn

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