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Another Wnchester/USRAC history lesson

Sage
Bert, What year did USRAC come into being? Have you seen any of the new model 70s from South Carolina? In your opinion are they "Winchesters" again? Is the 94 really over? Thanks
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  • swill
    In the spring of 1865, while Winchester was on a sales trip to Europe, [Benjamin Tyler] Henry, working in league with the company's secretary Charles Nott, had mounted a shareholder coup and tried to rename the firm the Henry Repeating Rifle Company. Winchester desperately fought back but could not prevent the name change. Instead he financially crippled Henry's firm by establishing his own the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, and left Henry and Nott with all the debts.

    from
    AMERICAN RIFLE
    a Biography
    by Alexander Rose
    pg. 179

    I know this isn't USRAC put I thought you might find it interesting.
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  • He Dog
    Winchester Repeating Arms Company and U. S. Repeating Arms Company are not the same. USRAC came much later, 1981 actually, when Winchester employees went together and purchased the company from Olin. In 1989, after the bankruptcy of the employee organized corporation, USRAC was taken over by Fabrique Nationale de Herstal. In 2006 FN ceased production at the New Haven plant.

    In my opinion the 94 went out of existence in 1964. The rifles produced since have been a ghost of the old 94. The 9422 was a worthy rifle and perhaps the best of the post-63 94's. I have pre and post 94's and they are simply not the same rifle.
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  • PEZHEAD265
    Hi while we are on the topic of U.S.R.A.C.sotrry to hijack your thread but can anyone tell me the value of a 94 Wrangler made before 83 in 32WS cal.It is new in box with all the paperwork and stickers on it,The box is kind of tattered.I read in the blue book that it was 1 of the last top ejects out of 7,947. [serial #51142xx]
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by Sage
    Bert, What year did USRAC come into being? Have you seen any of the new model 70s from South Carolina? In your opinion are they "Winchesters" again? Is the 94 really over? Thanks


    Early 1981.
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  • CapnMidnight
    I have held the "NEW" model 70 made in South Carolina, about 2 months ago at Sportsmans Wharehouse in Vancouver WA. I was inpessed, it's a realy nice rifle, wood finish and metal to wood fit are as good as you'll see on a new production line rifle. That said, it don't blow my skirt in the air like a good pre 64 does, I guess I'm just old school.
    W.D.
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  • tsr1965
    The USRAC took over production at the New Haven plant, sometime in 1981. It made bad things even worse.

    The New model 70's....I have seen them, and handled them. While not as bad as the last ones to leave New Haven, they are not as good as the first USRAC guns either. That said, they are not anywhere near the pre-64 Winchesters. The tolerences for the barreled action might be all well and good, but the fit and finnish when mated to the stock sucks. They are no where near worth the money they are seeking for them. Especially since one can get a good used pre-64, for the same or a little more money.

    Best

    EDIT

    Bert,

    quote:Thank you very much for the compliment. However, I have zero experience with the new FN made Model 70s. I typically do not visit the establishements that would have one in stock.

    If I were you, I would keep my experience at zero. I hate to see grown men cry, and this is truly a disgrace to the model 70 blood line. Typical of big company bean counters running manufacturing. It gave me an unsettled tummy looking at it. At least Miroku done a decent job on the 86's, 92's and 1885's. The fit, finnish, and functionality are superb...even though they have rebounding hammers and tang safety's.
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  • spookster
    ,,, Just close your eyes and work a pre-64 m-70 action and you'll know the difference :)
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  • Sage
    Thanks everyone, I have a 1954 30-06 so I know what you mean by the smooth action. Also have a 7mm08 USRAC when they first went back to the "pre 64" action, nice but no where near the 1954. I thought the South Carolina rifles were at least equal and the triggers better than my USRAC. I value Berts opinions very much and was wondering what his take was on them.
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by Sage
    Thanks everyone, I have a 1954 30-06 so I know what you mean by the smooth action. Also have a 7mm08 USRAC when they first went back to the "pre 64" action, nice but no where near the 1954. I thought the South Carolina rifles were at least equal and the triggers better than my USRAC. I value Berts opinions very much and was wondering what his take was on them.


    Hello Sage,

    Thank you very much for the compliment. However, I have zero experience with the new FN made Model 70s. I typically do not visit the establishements that would have one in stock.
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