Where did Winchester guns start?
Emma Miller
Updated on January 17, 2026
Famous for its rugged construction, the original Winchester rifle allowed the rifleman to fire a number of shots before having to reload: hence the term, “repeating rifle.” Manufacturing of the Model 1866 started in Bridgeport, Conn. in 1867; the Winchester Repeating Arms Company moved to New Haven in 1871.
Who owns Winchester Firearms?
Herstal Group
Olin Corporation
Winchester Repeating Arms Company/Parent organizations
When did FN buy Winchester?
The U.S. Repeating Arms Company went defunct in 1989, with the rights to the Winchester name first purchased by a French holding company and then by FN Herstal. The New Haven plant was closed on 31 March 2006 after 140 years of producing arms and has since been converted into a residential area.
When did US Repeating Arms take over Winchester?
After a machinists’ strike in the late 1970s, the plant was sold to U.S. Repeating Arms….U.S. Repeating Arms Company.
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Winchester Repeating Arms Company |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Founder | Employees of Winchester Repeating Arms Company |
| Defunct | 1989 |
What is the most famous Winchester rifle?
Winchester Model 1894 rifle
The Winchester Model 1894 rifle (also known as the Winchester 94 or Model 94) is a lever-action repeating rifle that became one of the most famous and popular hunting rifles of all time.
Do people still use Winchester rifles?
Once the U.S. Repeating Arms plant closes March 31, the only new rifles carrying the famous Winchester name will be the modern, high-end models produced in Belgium, Japan and Portugal. The older models, including the famous Winchester Model 94, will be scrapped.
Is Winchester going out of business?
The Winchester Repeating Arms Company was a prominent American maker of repeating firearms, located in New Haven, Connecticut….Winchester Repeating Arms Company.
| Industry | Firearms |
|---|---|
| Founder | Oliver Winchester |
| Defunct | March 31, 2006 |
| Fate | Name still used under license |
| Headquarters | New Haven, Connecticut , United States |
Is Winchester a good gun brand?
Winchesters were very good weapons — Evolved from the 1860 Henry rifle, Winchester rifles are considered among the earliest repeaters. No gun of the period shot more often or as reliably as did the Winchester. The lever gun concept goes back to 1849, when inventor Walter Hunt patented the Volition Repeating Rifle.
Who are the owners of the Winchester gun company?
The Winchester brand is today used under license by two subsidiaries of the Herstal Group, Fabrique Nationale de Herstal of Belgium and the Browning Arms Company of Morgan, Utah. The predecessors of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company include the New Haven Arms Company and before that, the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company.
Where is the Winchester Repeating Arms Company located?
The Winchester Repeating Arms Company is a prominent American maker of repeating firearms, located in New Haven, Connecticut. The Winchester brand is today used under license by two subsidiaries of the Herstal Group, Fabrique Nationale de Herstal of Belgium and the Browning Arms Company of Morgan, Utah.
Where was the original Winchester gun factory located?
For most of the history of Winchester, firearms production was primarily centered in one place . . . the historic factory in New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.A. This is not true today. A complex history.
When did Winchester stop making guns in New Haven?
A large-scale strike in Winchester in the late 1970s convinced Olin that firearms could no longer be produced profitably in New Haven. The company sold the New Haven plant to its employees in 1980, which incorporated itself as the U.S. Repeating Arms Company and given a license to produce Winchester arms.
