Winchester AR 15

William Munny · January 25, 2018, 09:07 PM

I was just looking at the various new models of AR type rifles introduced at the SHOT Show and realized Winchester doesn't offer one. They might be about the only firearms company NOT building one right now.

I wonder why they never got in on the action. Right now the market is flooded and I doubt it makes financial sense to jump in at this point but historically speaking I think they could have made a killing.

What does the membership here think?

Tallest · January 25, 2018, 09:19 PM

I think it would be a step away from their DNA. I feel like Winchester has always marched to the beat of their own drum. And they’ve some great things in doing so. Maybe a little less so recently with the trend toward budget bolt guns, but they’re still a top name in my book.

To succeed in the AR realm, they would have to make a really good one to set themselves apart. Like the OP said, the market is flooded. Prices are low, why spend a lot of capital to establish yourself in rocky market where the profit margins are proving tenuous?

I think it will be interesting to see, as the trump presidency continues, how many people lose their panic based interest in ARs and return to the higher performing bolt guns. :-D

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ifishsum · January 25, 2018, 10:05 PM

Winchester hasn't actually been a firearm manufacturer for some time... Another maker would have to purchase licensing rights to market an AR-type design with their name on it and given all the players and the current market prices it probably doesn't appear to be a real profitable venture.

kozak6 · January 26, 2018, 12:50 AM

Winchester is a just a licensed brand these days.

It doesn't fit into their product lineup, so I don't think they are really missing out on anything.

William Munny · January 26, 2018, 10:14 AM

It would be a definite departure from their traditional lineup but other companies have done it. Savage for instance. (Of course, I don't know how well the Savages are selling.)

Even though "Winchester" is just a name now, I'd think that name still holds enough cache that they could have been pretty competitve. Too late for that now.

Thanks for the thoughts gang!

fourbore · January 31, 2018, 11:46 PM

A couple prior comments got me thinking, what is a real gun company and what is just a name stamped on some one else product? I have to struggle a little, only because I like Winchester today more than 20-30 years ago. Like is one thing, calling it Winchester maybe another. They still look and feel like Winchesters to me.

S&W and Colt have both gone through multiple bankruptcies and ownership changes. I dont think the factory moved. Marlin is no longer marlin, they are now part of Remington and the plant moved. I assume this makes marlin just a name, even though they are still made in USA, that is just an accident of ownership. Or no, is marlin still real? A company can shift manufacturing to a new state, like Ruger and not change ownership. That is ok, even if old products are dropped or new ones introduced and made in a new state.

With, Winchester, The current owners have shifted production of the same guns to other countries and re-introduced older discontinued models. The old models are a fair copy of the old guns, with no more upgrading than a marlin lever might have got back in the New haven days. A safety location or a new caliber option. The product line is much deeper than we ever had in New Haven and they mostly all 'look' like Winchester right down to awful angel eject on the Model 94.

I would not be surprised if Freedom Group had acquired Winchester, they might go ahead and cheap out the line with plastic wonders and matt finished supplemented with 'metal' of various non ferrous types. Not surprised if they would slap the Winchester name on an AR just to milk the brand. Would that be real or name only?

Bill DeShivs · February 1, 2018, 01:21 AM

There are no " licensing rights to market an AR-type design."
That's why there are so many AR-15 makers.

NWPilgrim · February 1, 2018, 05:52 AM

The Winchester licensee, FN Herstal, already makes M4s for Uncle Sam. Browning doesn't make an AR either. Watch out if Beretta/Sako get into the AR game!

Fishbed77 · February 1, 2018, 10:58 AM

FN (Winchester's parent company) sells AR-15s.

the possum · February 1, 2018, 12:10 PM

I think they could have differentiated themselves from the rest of the AR market and also kept true to their more traditional hunting lineup, if they'd figured out some way to make a production version of Turnbull's AR. Maybe not quite as fancy to meet a price point, but still kept the same "spirit" with wood and traditional metal finish.

January 25, 2018, 09:07 PM	#1
William Munny Member Join Date: March 9, 2017 Posts: 24	Winchester AR 15 I was just looking at the various new models of AR type rifles introduced at the SHOT Show and realized Winchester doesn't offer one. They might be about the only firearms company NOT building one right now. I wonder why they never got in on the action. Right now the market is flooded and I doubt it makes financial sense to jump in at this point but historically speaking I think they could have made a killing. What does the membership here think?

February 1, 2018, 01:21 AM	#7
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	There are no " licensing rights to market an AR-type design." That's why there are so many AR-15 makers. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

January 25, 2018, 09:19 PM	#2
Tallest Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2016 Location: West of the Atlantic Posts: 418	I think it would be a step away from their DNA. I feel like Winchester has always marched to the beat of their own drum. And they’ve some great things in doing so. Maybe a little less so recently with the trend toward budget bolt guns, but they’re still a top name in my book. To succeed in the AR realm, they would have to make a really good one to set themselves apart. Like the OP said, the market is flooded. Prices are low, why spend a lot of capital to establish yourself in rocky market where the profit margins are proving tenuous? I think it will be interesting to see, as the trump presidency continues, how many people lose their panic based interest in ARs and return to the higher performing bolt guns. :-D Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

January 25, 2018, 10:05 PM	#3
Ifishsum Senior Member Join Date: September 15, 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,033	Winchester hasn't actually been a firearm manufacturer for some time... Another maker would have to purchase licensing rights to market an AR-type design with their name on it and given all the players and the current market prices it probably doesn't appear to be a real profitable venture.

January 26, 2018, 12:50 AM	#4
kozak6 Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2005 Location: AZ Posts: 3,113	Winchester is a just a licensed brand these days. It doesn't fit into their product lineup, so I don't think they are really missing out on anything.

January 26, 2018, 10:14 AM	#5
William Munny Member Join Date: March 9, 2017 Posts: 24	It would be a definite departure from their traditional lineup but other companies have done it. Savage for instance. (Of course, I don't know how well the Savages are selling.) Even though "Winchester" is just a name now, I'd think that name still holds enough cache that they could have been pretty competitve. Too late for that now. Thanks for the thoughts gang!

January 31, 2018, 11:46 PM	#6
fourbore Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2015 Location: new england Posts: 1,159	A couple prior comments got me thinking, what is a real gun company and what is just a name stamped on some one else product? I have to struggle a little, only because I like Winchester today more than 20-30 years ago. Like is one thing, calling it Winchester maybe another. They still look and feel like Winchesters to me. S&W and Colt have both gone through multiple bankruptcies and ownership changes. I dont think the factory moved. Marlin is no longer marlin, they are now part of Remington and the plant moved. I assume this makes marlin just a name, even though they are still made in USA, that is just an accident of ownership. Or no, is marlin still real? A company can shift manufacturing to a new state, like Ruger and not change ownership. That is ok, even if old products are dropped or new ones introduced and made in a new state. With, Winchester, The current owners have shifted production of the same guns to other countries and re-introduced older discontinued models. The old models are a fair copy of the old guns, with no more upgrading than a marlin lever might have got back in the New haven days. A safety location or a new caliber option. The product line is much deeper than we ever had in New Haven and they mostly all 'look' like Winchester right down to awful angel eject on the Model 94. I would not be surprised if Freedom Group had acquired Winchester, they might go ahead and cheap out the line with plastic wonders and matt finished supplemented with 'metal' of various non ferrous types. Not surprised if they would slap the Winchester name on an AR just to milk the brand. Would that be real or name only?

February 1, 2018, 05:52 AM	#8
NWPilgrim Senior Member Join Date: September 29, 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,346	The Winchester licensee, FN Herstal, already makes M4s for Uncle Sam. Browning doesn't make an AR either. Watch out if Beretta/Sako get into the AR game!

February 1, 2018, 10:58 AM	#9
Fishbed77 Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2010 Posts: 4,862	FN (Winchester's parent company) sells AR-15s.

February 1, 2018, 12:10 PM	#10
the possum Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2004 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 555	I think they could have differentiated themselves from the rest of the AR market and also kept true to their more traditional hunting lineup, if they'd figured out some way to make a production version of Turnbull's AR. Maybe not quite as fancy to meet a price point, but still kept the same "spirit" with wood and traditional metal finish.