AP Connecticut Smith & Wesson executives to tour Winchester plant March 22, 2006, 7:56 AM EST NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP)_ Executives from Smith & Wesson, a major handgun maker, will be touring the soon to be closed Winchester firearms factory, but one executive said people should not read too much into the visit. Mayor John DeStefano Jr. confirmed Tuesday that the executives would be in the city this weekend to tour the U.S. Repeating Arms Co. factory, where "The Gun That Won The West" has been manufactured for 150 years. "There is a serious interest in the plant by a credible manufacturer," DeStefano said. "Where it's going to lead, I am not going to handicap at this point." City officials have asked the parent company of U.S. Repeating Arms, Belgium-based Herstal Group, to cede control of the plant to the city or another gun maker. In exchange, the city has offered to forgive $17 million in tax abatements, lease obligations and workers pay the city says Herstal owes. Springfield, Mass.-based Smith & Wesson's chief financial officer, John Kelly, confirmed the visit Tuesday, but downplayed its significance. "We've been asked to come down and take a look" Kelly said. "Obviously, it's a great brand, but I wouldn't read too much into it." DeStefano said the city is courting two other interested gun makers, but he would not name them. The plant is set to shut down March 31, putting 186 factory workers out of their jobs. ___ Information from: New Haven Register, http://www.ctcentral.com
Firearms are not the traditional soft market they were for years. There is a lot of opportunity out there, but it won't be producing the niche market guns that let Winchester die on the vine. Auto Ordnance is producing an M1 Carbine, and they believe they will sell. Whoever buys Winchester needs to re-produce their M1 Carbine, Garand and probably a semi M14, start where they left off on serial numbers, and they will sell plenty of guns.
