What is the deal with the Winchester 1300?

laea7777 · May 19, 2011, 04:26 AM

My understanding was that Winchester went out of business in 2006 but that FN bought the rights to produce the Winchester 1300 and started making them in 2007. I can find no listing of the FN version of the 1300 on the FN website, but I swear I saw one at Big 5 and at the shooting range recently. When I google 'Winchester 1300 Defender', I get a link to Winchester's website and it lists various 1300 models as a 'Historic Line', no longer in production, last produced in 2006. Many other products are listed as currently in production, meaning Winchester is back in business (unless the entire line and website is owned by FN now). But, what's the deal? Do they (or does anybody) still make the 1300 Defender, or what?

natman · May 19, 2011, 05:47 AM

Winchester is currently selling a pump shotgun that's quite similar to the 1300 as the SXP:

http://www.winchesterguns.com/produc...21C&mid=512252

While it's been five years since the 1300 was discontinued, I suppose it's possible that one or two were leftover in the pipeline.

jmr40 · May 19, 2011, 07:14 AM

I'm pretty sure the new 1300 is made overseas and imported. They look similar to the older gun and parts may well interchange.

It may be a decent gun, but there are too many other choices that are proven to be good guns at near the same price for me to try one.

DPris · May 19, 2011, 12:53 PM

Winchester, as a company, died many years ago.
Olin Corporation sold the manufacturing facility in New Haven and licensed the Winchester brand name to US Repeating Arms Company in the 1980s.
USRAC changed ownership, the plant was owned by FN in Belgium at the time it was closed in 2006. USRAC was no longer even a company, it was merely the plant by then, producing Winchester-marked products sold by Browning for FN.

At the time of closing, the Model 70, the Model 94, and the Model 1300 pump were the only guns made there, under Winchester branding, and sold/serviced through Browning distribution, marketing, and repair channels. Browning is also owned by FN.

The Model 70 was resurrected at the FNUSA plant in South Carolina, the Model 94 is made in limited numbers by Miroku in Japan, and the current 1300 derivation is built in Turkey. All are labeled Winchester, along with other guns from various sources. All are marketed, sold, and serviced through Browning's network. Those manufactured outside the US are imported by Browning.

Browning currently holds the Winchester licensed right to use the brand from Olin Corp, Olin still manufactures Winchester ammunition and owns the Winchester name.
Denis

May 19, 2011, 04:26 AM	#1
laea7777 Member Join Date: July 29, 2008 Posts: 26	What is the deal with the Winchester 1300? My understanding was that Winchester went out of business in 2006 but that FN bought the rights to produce the Winchester 1300 and started making them in 2007. I can find no listing of the FN version of the 1300 on the FN website, but I swear I saw one at Big 5 and at the shooting range recently. When I google 'Winchester 1300 Defender', I get a link to Winchester's website and it lists various 1300 models as a 'Historic Line', no longer in production, last produced in 2006. Many other products are listed as currently in production, meaning Winchester is back in business (unless the entire line and website is owned by FN now). But, what's the deal? Do they (or does anybody) still make the 1300 Defender, or what?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

May 19, 2011, 05:47 AM	#2
natman Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2008 Posts: 2,605	Winchester is currently selling a pump shotgun that's quite similar to the 1300 as the SXP: http://www.winchesterguns.com/produc...21C&mid=512252 While it's been five years since the 1300 was discontinued, I suppose it's possible that one or two were leftover in the pipeline.

May 19, 2011, 07:14 AM	#3
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,805	I'm pretty sure the new 1300 is made overseas and imported. They look similar to the older gun and parts may well interchange. It may be a decent gun, but there are too many other choices that are proven to be good guns at near the same price for me to try one.

May 19, 2011, 12:53 PM	#4
DPris Member Emeritus Join Date: August 19, 2004 Posts: 7,133	Winchester, as a company, died many years ago. Olin Corporation sold the manufacturing facility in New Haven and licensed the Winchester brand name to US Repeating Arms Company in the 1980s. USRAC changed ownership, the plant was owned by FN in Belgium at the time it was closed in 2006. USRAC was no longer even a company, it was merely the plant by then, producing Winchester-marked products sold by Browning for FN. At the time of closing, the Model 70, the Model 94, and the Model 1300 pump were the only guns made there, under Winchester branding, and sold/serviced through Browning distribution, marketing, and repair channels. Browning is also owned by FN. The Model 70 was resurrected at the FNUSA plant in South Carolina, the Model 94 is made in limited numbers by Miroku in Japan, and the current 1300 derivation is built in Turkey. All are labeled Winchester, along with other guns from various sources. All are marketed, sold, and serviced through Browning's network. Those manufactured outside the US are imported by Browning. Browning currently holds the Winchester licensed right to use the brand from Olin Corp, Olin still manufactures Winchester ammunition and owns the Winchester name. Denis