The Winchester Gun Factory: The Gun That Won the West

The Winchester Gun Factory: The Gun That Won the West video by Grand Factory.

Summary:

For decades, the Winchester factory produced the rifles that became symbols of the American frontier. From cowboys and buffalo hunters to lawmen, settlers, and soldiers, Winchester firearms helped shape the expansion of the United States.

In this video, we explore the incredible story behind the Winchester factory — how a struggling company transformed into one of the most famous firearms manufacturers in history and created rifles that earned the nickname “The Gun That Won the West.”

Discover the rise of Winchester, the innovations that changed firearm design forever, the legendary lever-action rifles, and the massive industrial complex that supplied America and the world for generations.

This is the story of the factory, the people who built it, and the weapon that became an icon of the American frontier.

Winchester Plant In New Haven, Connecticut

Above, the Winchester Repeating Arms Company in the 1950s.

The Winchester Repeating Arms Company factory buildings in New Haven, Connecticut were demolished last year. 

Here's a video of the demolition of the last buildings: 

During its heyday, the Winchester company was a big firearm manufacturer in the area. 

Here's some historical photos of the plant:

First 2023 Snow Day

Above, today's snow on the front yard. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The latest round of snow started last night and this morning. It is just as well, for there's no mail delivery today thanks to New Year's Day being on a Sunday this year.

The amount of snow hasn't been too much. We have about a half inch of it on the ground. But more is expected throughout today and tomorrow.

From the National Weather Service:

Today

Scattered snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Tonight

Scattered snow showers, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. West wind 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tuesday

Snow showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 34. West wind 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Tuesday Night

A 30 percent chance of snow showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. West wind 10 to 15 mph.

Above, the front yard walkways. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I guess I'll be staying indoors today. I've been reading biographies of artists/cartoonists including Mort Walker (Beetle Bailey), Stan Drake (The Heart of Juliet Jones) and Curt Swan (Superman) to keep myself occupied.

Above, Curt Swan by Stan Drake.

Interestingly, Swan, Drake and Walker were all Connecticut residents. 

Mexican Beauty Queen Killed In Shootout; Fast & Furious Weapon Found At Scene

Above, Maria Susana Flores Gamez.

From CBS News:

Another weapon from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agency's controversial Operation Fast and Furious was recently recovered at a Mexican crime scene, CBS News has learned. Congressional investigators say the crime scene was likely where a recent shootout took place between reported Sinaloa drug cartel members and the Mexican military, in which Sinaloa beauty queen Maria Susana Flores Gamez and four others were killed.

Operation Fast and Furious was set up supposedly to track weapons from the U.S. into Mexico (despite no means of actually tracking them) by the Obama Administration.  2,000 weapons (including .50 caliber guns) ended up in the hands of drug cartels in Mexico where they were used to kill at least 300 people, including border patrol agent Brian Terry.

The actual motive was to blame the gun dealers (who were working for the Justice Dept.'s ATF) for the weapons ending up in Mexico so that gun control legislation would pass the then-Democrat controlled Congress.  But the fiasco involving Terry's killing blew up in their faces.

Now, following the tragedy of Sandy Hook in Connecticut, the same Obama Administration, who is responsible over the Fast and Furious fiasco, is beating the drums for gun control.

The Obama Administration has more blood on its hands than the killer of Sandy Hook.

For the full story, go here.

Yankee Pankey In Connecticut

A friend sent this editorial from the Wall Street Journal on some irregularities in the Connecticut vote count.

It appears that the state's Secretary of State (a Democrat) is involved in possible shenanigans.

Here's the editorial (click on it to view larger):