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45-552: In 2007, Ruger discontinued production of their original police carbine, citing low demand. More than ten years later on December 29, 2017, Ruger announced the reintroduction of a new upgraded 9 mm takedown model called the Ruger PC carbine with the PC now referencing the old police carbine name and the product descriptions calling them pistol-caliber carbines, which has a 16.12-inch (409 mm) threaded barrel and accepts not only

90-498: A carbine in the sense of a short version of a parent rifle) was designed at Winchester by an eight-man team including Edwin Pugsley, Bill Roemer, Marsh Williams , Fred Humiston, Cliff Warner, and Ralph Clarkson, although the popular press played up the role of ex-convict Williams. More M1 carbines were manufactured by Winchester and other firms than any other U.S. small arm of World War II. During World War II , Winchester produced

135-560: A takedown rifle or takedown shotgun ) is a long gun designed to be taken apart, significantly reducing its length, making it easier to store, pack, transport, and conceal. A variety of barrel , stock , and receiver designs have been invented to facilitate takedown. For example, the hinged design of many break-action firearms allows takedown. Some regular firearms can be modified to allow takedown after custom gunsmithing . American gun manufacturers including Marlin , Ruger , Savage , and Winchester have made takedown rifles since

180-707: A bankruptcy auction by the Olin family's Western Cartridge Company on December 22 of that year. Oliver Winchester's firm would maintain a nominal existence until 1935 when Western Cartridge merged with its subsidiary to form the Winchester-Western Company. In 1944, the firearms and ammunition operations would be reorganized as the Winchester-Western Division of Olin Industries . Western's First Vice-President ( John M. Olin )

225-413: A fairly massive bolt to handle the pressure of 9mm and .40 S&W. To prevent the gun from being too unbalanced by the large bolt, the bolt consists of two parts; the main body of the bolt is fairly light and located in the receiver, while the other part is just a weight located under the forend of the carbine. These two parts are held together by strong, rigid steel bars. The combined mass serves to hold

270-486: A larger version of the '73, which used the same toggle-link action and brass cartridge elevator used in the Henry. It was chambered for longer, more powerful cartridges such as .45-60 WCF , .45-75 WCF , and .50-95 WCF. The action was not long enough to allow Winchester to achieve their goal of producing a repeating rifle capable of handling the .45-70 Government cartridge; this would not happen until they began manufacture of

315-503: A longer sight radius for greater accuracy. The carbine also has Ruger-style scope bases built into the receiver, allowing optical sights to be easily and securely mounted. Both the PC9 (the 9 mm version) and the PC4 (.40 S&W version) are modelled after Ruger's highly successful Ruger 10/22 rimfire carbine. It is intended as a shoulder-braced weapon for law enforcement use, although it

360-412: A new Winchester design group to advance the use of "modern" engineering design methods and manufacturing principles in gun design. The result was a new line of guns that replaced most of the older products in 1963–1964. The immediate reaction of the shooting press and public was overwhelmingly negative: the popular verdict was that Winchester had sacrificed quality to the "cheapness experts," and Winchester

405-465: A series of rifles and shotguns, most notably the Winchester Model 1885 Single Shot , Winchester Model 1887 lever-action shotgun, Model 1897 pump-action shotgun; and the lever-action Model 1886 , Model 1892 , Model 1894 and Model 1895 rifles. Several of these are still in production today through companies such as Browning , Rossi , Navy Arms, and others which have revived several of

450-593: A strong tie to firearms and ammunition with exclusive guns, ammo, and target launching machines being produced. The flaw was to see it quickly profitable in a western city with too many competing outdoor activities. The second venture was trying to compete with Coleman Company in the camping and sporting goods market. "Trailblazer by Winchester" products included propane-fueled stoves and lanterns. They also produced tents and sleeping bags. These products struggled to compete with similar offerings from an established company founded in 1900. Labor costs continued to rise through

495-486: Is frequently stowed away in vehicles and boats. Poacher's gun , the 18th century precursor to the takedown rifle. Winchester Repeating Arms Company The Winchester Repeating Arms Company was a prominent American manufacturer of repeating firearms and ammunition . The firm was established in 1866 by Oliver Winchester and was located in New Haven, Connecticut . The firm went into receivership in 1931 and

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540-567: Is the Japanese experimental TERA Rifles . Most single-barrel and double-barrel shotguns readily break down to separate the buttstock and action from the barrel and forend and are often transported cased as takedown guns. Among repeating shotguns, the Winchester Model 97 and Model 12 shotguns were factory-made as takedown guns. Savage also makes a series of takedown over/under rifle/shotgun combination guns . Survival guns such as

585-542: The .270 Winchester , the .308 Winchester , the .243 Winchester , the .22 WMR (.22 Magnum), the .300 Winchester Magnum and the .350 Legend . In North America the .30-30 is the best-selling hunting cartridge in history; and the .308 Winchester, the commercial version of the military 7.62×51mm NATO , is not far behind, and one of the most popular hunting cartridges in the world. Olin Corporation continues to manufacture Winchester ammunition (the cartridge business

630-567: The ArmaLite AR-7 may be disassembled and their barrel, action, and magazines stored within its plastic butt-stock. This lightweight 2.5 lb (1.1 kg), .22 caliber (5.6 mm), semi-automatic rifle measures 35 inches (89 cm) overall when assembled, 16 inches (41 cm) when disassembled, and can even float. Although the AR-7 was designed as a pilot and aircrew survival weapon, it is commonly used by target shooters and backpackers and

675-760: The British Government and the similar .30-06 M1917 Enfield rifle for the United States during World War I . Working at the Winchester plant during the war, Browning developed the final design of the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), of which it produced some 27,000. Browning and the Winchester engineers also developed the Browning .50 caliber machine gun during the war. The caliber .50 BMG (12.7 x 99 mm) ammunition for it

720-716: The Browning -designed Model 1886. Oliver Winchester died in December 1880; his son and successor, William Wirt Winchester , died of tuberculosis four months later. William Wirt Winchester's widow, Sarah Winchester , used her inheritance and income from the company to build what is now known as the Winchester Mystery House . From 1883, John Browning worked in partnership with the Winchester Repeating Arms Company and designed

765-616: The M1 Garand rifle and post-war was the first civilian manufacturer of the M14 rifle . By the 1960s, the rising cost of skilled labor was making it increasingly unprofitable to produce Winchester's classic designs, as they required considerable hand-work to finish. In particular, Winchester's flagship Model 12 pump shotgun and Model 70 bolt-action rifle with their machined forgings could no longer compete in price with Remington's cast-and-stamped 870 and 700 . Accordingly, S. K. Janson formed

810-480: The Model 1911 to circumvent Browning's self-loading shotgun patents, prepared by the company's very own patent lawyers. One of Winchester's premier engineers, T.C. Johnson , was instrumental in the development of these self-loading firearms and went on to superintend the designs of Winchester's classic Model 1912 , Model 52 and Model 54 . The company was a major producer of the .303 Pattern 1914 Enfield rifle for

855-490: The Ruger SR9 pistol magazine, but also magazines from Glock , Ruger American Pistol and the new Ruger Security-9 pistols via interchangeable magazine well adaptor inserts. In early 2019, Ruger introduced a variant PC carbine model with free-floating M-LOK handguard , and also reintroduced the .40 S&W caliber. The carbine has some unique design features. The action is a simple blowback design, which requires

900-549: The Simmons Hardware Company . The Winchester and Keen Kutter brands did business together during the 1920s, but in 1929, they agreed to separate and returned to their core businesses. The consumer goods strategy was a failure for Winchester, and the Great Depression put the final nail in the company's coffin. The Winchester Repeating Arms Company went into receivership in 1931 and was bought at

945-499: The Volcanic Repeating Arms Company . Its largest stockholder was clothing manufacturer Oliver Winchester . The Volcanic rifle had only limited success. The company moved to New Haven (without Smith or Wesson) in 1856, but by the end of that year, it became insolvent. Oliver Winchester and his partner John M. Davies purchased the bankrupt firm's assets from the remaining stockholders and reorganized it as

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990-500: The 1960s and '70s, and a prolonged and bitter strike in 1979–1980 ultimately convinced Olin that firearms could no longer be produced profitably in New Haven. In December 1980, the New Haven plant was sold to its employees, incorporated as the U.S. Repeating Arms Company , and granted a license to make Winchester arms. Olin retained the Winchester ammunition business. U.S. Repeating Arms itself went bankrupt in 1989. After bankruptcy, it

1035-590: The New Haven Arms Company in April 1857. After Smith's departure, Benjamin Henry continued to work with a Smith development project, the self-contained metallic rimfire cartridge, and perfected the much larger, more powerful .44 Henry round. Henry also supervised a new rifle design based loosely on the Volcanic to use the new ammunition, retaining only the general form of the breech mechanism and

1080-550: The Winchester Repeating Arms Company was the Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson partnership of Norwich, Connecticut (not to be confused with the famous Smith & Wesson Revolver Company founded later by the same men). Smith and Wesson acquired Lewis Jennings' improved version of inventor Walter Hunt 's 1848 "Volition Repeating Rifle" and its caseless " Rocket Ball " ammunition, which had been produced in small numbers by Robbins & Lawrence of Windsor, Vermont. Jennings' rifle

1125-407: The action is being closed. Winchester's success was founded on a cartridge, the .44 Henry rimfire, and the Henry and 1866 rifles designed for it. Winchester was a leading designer of rifle ammunition throughout its existence and has been responsible for some of the most successful cartridges ever introduced, including the .44-40 WCF (Winchester Center Fire), the .30 WCF (.30-30), the .50 BMG ,

1170-630: The bolt securely closed so that a fall will not dislodge it. A slight pressure on the trigger or on the bolt handle, however, will disengage the bolt lock so that the bolt can move for firing or clearing the action. In addition to caliber, the carbine also comes with a choice in iron sights . The standard model uses notch-and-post sights, while the GR models are equipped with ghost ring rear sights. The ghost ring sights cost more, but they are generally considered better for defensive purposes, as they allow faster sight alignment under poor lighting conditions plus

1215-421: The breech safely closed during firing, while keeping the center of gravity forward, so the gun handles well. Another unique feature is the bolt lock. Since blowback guns of these calibers require heavy bolts, the inertia of dropping the gun can cause the bolt to come partially open, rendering the gun unfireable until the bolt is manually closed all the way. To prevent this, the carbine uses a bolt lock that locks

1260-533: The chances that the fulminate in the hollow rim would ignite the 28 or so grains of black powder inside the case. Another extremely popular model was rolled out in 1873. The Model 1873 introduced the first Winchester center fire cartridge, the .44-40 WCF (Winchester Center Fire). These rifle families are commonly known as the "Gun That Won the West." The Model 1873 was followed by the Model 1876 (or "Centennial Model"),

1305-477: The closed Winchester plant in New Haven. The production of Model 1885 falling block action , Model 1892 and Model 1886 lever-action rifles are produced under licensed agreement by Miroku Corp. of Japan and imported to the United States by Browning. In 2008, FN Herstal announced that it would produce Model 70 rifles at its plant in Columbia, South Carolina. In 2013, assembly was moved to Portugal. In

1350-483: The discontinued models or produced reproductions. The early years of the twentieth century found the Winchester Repeating Arms Company competing with new John Browning designs, manufactured under license by other firearm companies. The race to produce the first commercial self-loading rifle brought forth the .22 rimfire Winchester Model 1903 and later centerfire Model 1905 , Model 1907 , and Model 1910 rifles. Winchester engineers, after ten years of work, designed

1395-560: The future. There will be no change in Customer Service. This action is a realignment of resources to make Winchester Firearms a stronger, more viable organization. Winchester Firearms plans to continue the great Winchester legacy and is very excited about the future. On August 15, 2006, Olin Corporation, owner of the Winchester trademarks, announced that it had entered into a new license agreement with Browning Arms Company to make Winchester brand rifles and shotguns, though not at

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1440-407: The late 19th century. Some early examples include the Browning 22 Semi-Auto rifle , Remington Model 24 , Remington Model 8 , Winchester Model 86 , and Winchester Model 94 by Fabrique Nationale , Remington Arms , and Winchester Repeating Arms Company . Many militaries in the early 20th century also experimented with takedown systems, particularly for the use by paratroopers . An example of this

1485-571: The manufacturing facility in New Haven, and the decision was made after exhausting all available options. Effective March 31, 2006, the New Haven manufacturing facility will stop manufacturing the Winchester Model 70, Model 94, and Model 1300. Winchester Firearms will continue to sell and grow its current line of Select Over & Under shotguns, the new Super X3 autoloading shotgun, the new Super X autoloading rifle, and Limited Edition rifles. The company also plans to introduce new models in

1530-487: The original Winchester rifle ), Model 70 rifle, and Model 1300 shotgun were discontinued. The official press release sent out by U.S. Repeating Arms concerning the closure was released on January 17, 2006. The text is included below: U.S. Repeating Arms Company To Close New Haven, CT Facility – U.S. Repeating Arms Company, maker of Winchester brand rifles and shotguns will close its New Haven, Connecticut manufacturing facility. Many efforts were made to improve profitability at

1575-406: The same .44 caliber rimfire cartridges as the Henry but had an improved magazine (with the addition of a loading gate on the right side of the receiver, invented by Winchester employee Nelson King) and, for the first time, a wooden forend. The Henry and the 1866 Winchester shared a unique double firing pin that struck the head of the rimfire cartridge in two places when the weapon was fired, increasing

1620-497: The summer of 2010, FN Herstal resumed production of the Winchester model 1894 and the evolution of the Winchester 1300, now called the Winchester SXP. A number of gun cleaning kits, Chinese folding knives, tools, and other accessories are also now sold under the Winchester trademark. In April 2015, the company recalled several variants of its SXP-model 12-gauge shotguns that the company says may unintentionally fire while

1665-640: The tubular magazine. This became the Henry rifle of 1860, which was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company and used in considerable numbers by certain Union army units during the American Civil War . The Henry rifle ensured New Haven Arms' success, and together with the Spencer rifle , established the lever-action repeater in the firearms market. In 1866, Benjamin Henry, angered over what he believed

1710-518: Was a commercial failure, and Robbins & Lawrence ceased production in 1852. Smith designed a much-improved rifle based on Jennings' design, and the partners also hired away Robbins & Lawrence shop foreman Benjamin Tyler Henry . In 1855, the Smith and Wesson partnership, in order to manufacture what they called the "Volcanic" lever-action rifle and pistol, sought investors and incorporated as

1755-439: Was a sportsman and gun enthusiast, and he started at once to restore the Winchester brand to its former luster by concentrating on its classic models and updated versions thereof, with particular attention to quality and prestige. Olin personally pushed the deluxe Model 52 Sporter and the semi-custom Model 21 double-barreled shotgun. Winchester flourished, even during the later Depression. The U.S. M1 carbine (technically not

1800-413: Was acquired by a French holding company, then sold to Belgian arms makers Herstal Group , which also owns gun makers FN Herstal and Browning Arms Company . On January 16, 2006, U.S. Repeating Arms announced it was closing its New Haven plant where Winchester rifles and shotguns had been produced for 140 years. Along with the closing of the plant, production of the Model 94 rifle (the descendant of

1845-631: Was available for sale to civilians as well. The intent is that an officer will carry a Ruger P-series pistol as a sidearm , and keep a police carbine available (for example, in the patrol vehicle ) as a more offensive weapon if needed. Since the PC-9 has a 16-inch (410 mm) barrel , it provides more muzzle energy with the same ammunition used by pistols which often only have 4-inch (100 mm) barrels (see internal ballistics ), thus better stopping power , accuracy and effective range than pistols. Takedown gun A takedown gun (typically

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1890-751: Was bought by the Western Cartridge Company , a forerunner of the Olin Corporation . The Winchester brand name is still owned by the Olin Corporation, which makes ammunition under that name. The Winchester name is also used under license for firearms produced by two subsidiaries of the Herstal Group – FN Herstal of Belgium and the Browning Arms Company of Ogden, Utah . The ancestor of

1935-511: Was designed by the Winchester ballistic engineers. The commercial rights to these new Browning guns were owned by Colt . During the war, Winchester had borrowed heavily to finance its massive expansion. With the return of peace, the company attempted to use its surplus production capacity and pay down its debt by trying to become a general manufacturer of consumer goods – everything from kitchen knives to roller skates to refrigerators, to be marketed through 'Winchester Stores'. They also merged with

1980-482: Was inadequate compensation, attempted to have the Connecticut legislature award ownership of New Haven Arms to him. Oliver Winchester , hastening back from Europe, forestalled the move and reorganized New Haven Arms yet again as the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Winchester had the basic design of the Henry rifle completely modified and improved to become the first Winchester rifle, the Model 1866, which fired

2025-601: Was no longer considered to be a prestige brand, causing a marked loss of market share. To this day, gun collectors consider "post-64" Winchesters to be both less desirable and less valuable than their predecessors. In the early 1970s, the Olin Winchester-Western Division tried to diversify with at least two unsuccessful attempts. The first was an experimental indoor shooting range called Wingo in San Diego, California. This short-lived attempt had

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