The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Winchester

jmr40 · September 8, 2012, 07:08 PM

He said the new production LEVERS are all made in Japan. That is correct. As far as I know only the model 70's are USA made at this time.

To be perfectly accurate Winchester went out of the firearms business in 1980. They continued to make ammo, but the Winchester name was sold to investors at that time who continued to make rifles in the same factroy using both the Winchester name as well as USRAC on the guns.

Not sure of the exact year but FN bought the name sometime in the 90's. There are many who will argue that only Winchsters made through 1979 are "REAL"Winchesters. It is close enough for me. The original Classics made from 1994-2006 have the potentil to be the best ever made. The design is solid. The workmanship is spotty on rifles made after 2000 though. But the 1994-2000 guns are generally great.

The new FN made guns are much better quality on a consistent basis and are probably the best value in a gun today. I still prefer the pre-2008 trigger found on the Classic models.

September 8, 2012, 07:08 PM	#18
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,809	He said the new production LEVERS are all made in Japan. That is correct. As far as I know only the model 70's are USA made at this time. To be perfectly accurate Winchester went out of the firearms business in 1980. They continued to make ammo, but the Winchester name was sold to investors at that time who continued to make rifles in the same factroy using both the Winchester name as well as USRAC on the guns. Not sure of the exact year but FN bought the name sometime in the 90's. There are many who will argue that only Winchsters made through 1979 are "REAL"Winchesters. It is close enough for me. The original Classics made from 1994-2006 have the potentil to be the best ever made. The design is solid. The workmanship is spotty on rifles made after 2000 though. But the 1994-2000 guns are generally great. The new FN made guns are much better quality on a consistent basis and are probably the best value in a gun today. I still prefer the pre-2008 trigger found on the Classic models.