U S Repeating Arms Co

In one of the final scenes of the western "Big Jake," John Wayne could have been talking about the Winchester rifle as he reflected on the passing of the Old West. "Well," says Big Jake to his Apache sidekick, "times change -- usually for the better." The sign of changing times for the Winchester -- the "Gun That Won the West" and the brand most closely associated with Wayne's long career in film Westerns -- is that it will no longer be made in America.

U.S. Repeating Arms Co. Inc. said it would close its Winchester firearm factory, putting in doubt the future of a rifle that was once called "The Gun that Won the West." "It's part of who we are as a nation just like it's part of who we are as a city," New Haven Mayor John DeStefano said. The announcement touched off a lobbying effort by city officials and union leaders who hoped to find a buyer for the plant before it closed March 31. The company has been hurt by slumping firearm sales.

U.S. Repeating Arms Co. Inc. said it would close its Winchester firearm factory, putting in doubt the future of a rifle that was once called "The Gun that Won the West." "It's part of who we are as a nation just like it's part of who we are as a city," New Haven Mayor John DeStefano said. The announcement touched off a lobbying effort by city officials and union leaders who hoped to find a buyer for the plant before it closed March 31. The company has been hurt by slumping firearm sales.

The company that makes Winchester rifles will get new owners next month in a multimillion-dollar deal approved by federal bankruptcy court and the city of New Haven. It will be the second change of ownership in six years for U.S. Repeating Arms Co., which filed for bankruptcy protection from creditors in January, 1986. The company employs 624 in New Haven and an additional 147 in Hingham, Mass.

In one of the final scenes of the western "Big Jake," John Wayne could have been talking about the Winchester rifle as he reflected on the passing of the Old West. "Well," says Big Jake to his Apache sidekick, "times change -- usually for the better." The sign of changing times for the Winchester -- the "Gun That Won the West" and the brand most closely associated with Wayne's long career in film Westerns -- is that it will no longer be made in America.

A cabinetmaker received a $100,000 settlement this week for injuries he suffered when a Winchester shotgun blew apart in his hand, an accident that led to a national recall of the gun model, lawyers for the victim and the gun manufacturer said Thursday. About 2,500 guns are affected by the recall, and the majority of the owners have been notified that they should not shoot them and should exchange them, an attorney for the manufacturer said.

The company that makes Winchester rifles will get new owners next month in a multimillion-dollar deal approved by federal bankruptcy court and the city of New Haven. It will be the second change of ownership in six years for U.S. Repeating Arms Co., which filed for bankruptcy protection from creditors in January, 1986. The company employs 624 in New Haven and an additional 147 in Hingham, Mass.