Winchester

[ViPER395]

I did some searching and couldn't find anything to really satisfy my craving for knowledge. Maybe some folks here with the real knowledge can fill me in.

Explain the changes that were made by Olin to the Winchester company and products in the 1960s.

Specifically i'm looking at what changes they made in the procedure, development, and manufacture of their firearms. Note really looking for corporate changes as much.

I really want to know why "pre-64" means so much. Is it more than just quality or what?

[tunder]

I think it's the fact that changes were made to an old favorite and at the same time the quality went down. Why this happened, i.m not sure but I have a feeling it was a combination of cost cutting measures, lower sales due to competition.
In 1963 the model 70, which was often called "the rifleman's rifle, and the Model 12 shotgun were either changed or discontinued.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester_Model_70

http://www.ogca.com/WRM_collecting_winchester_pre.htm

http://www.chuckhawks.com/win_70.htm

[Fjold]

They changed the Model 70 from an essentially hand finished, controlled round feed rifle to a push feed with cheap stamped metal parts, impressed (instead of cut) checkering, machine cut inletting, etc. They changed manufacturing processes throughout their line of guns aimed at reducing cost to get down to the price point of the Rem 700.

[Spiggy]

didn't they also shift production to Japan's HOWA?

I believe that was the case when colt needed AR18s