1866-2016: Winchester 150 years anniversary
The Winchester lever action system revolutionized the rifle concept, making possible repeating rifles with many rounds in an epoch still dominated by single shots weapons. Founded in 1866, the Winchester Repeating Arms Company is still active, and one of the most famous brands in firearms history
The commemorative banner created for the Winchester 150th anniversary
Oliver Fisher Winchester, founder of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company
The name 'Winchester' is known all over the World also among people outside the shooting sports environment. As well as for Colt, Smith & Wesson, Browning and very few others, the Winchester name is strongly tight up with the uniqueness of something special: a basic idea able to revolutionize habits and concepts.
Technically speaking, experts and historian well know that the basic story of the lever action operated firearms ignited in 1848 with the original Walther Hunt Volcanic pistol and rifle inventions, but it is only with the 1860 patent and manufacture of the Henry Rifle – a ‘re-engineering’ of the Volcanic idea – that the concept of a lever action repeating rifle assumed a more realistic dimension.
The Winchester 1866 commemorative rifle of the 1866-2016 150 years anniversary
The Winchester 1866 commemorative rifle presented this year at SHOT Show
Detail of the engraving on the frame of the the Winchester 1866 commemorative rifle
After the model 1866, the Winchester 1873 was another bigh hit: here a 1873 Winchester rifle belonged to Buffalo Bill
1866-2016: 150 years have passed since then, and the Winchester brand name is live and strong in the mind of everyone in the World, shooter, hunter, or not.
Of course, during the last 100 years Western movies have helped a lot in making the Winchester name very popular to eyes and mind of everyone, but after all, this is the same process that also helped a lot brands like Colt, and in recents decades also brands like Beretta and Glock.
A timeline showing the 150 years of history of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company
May 22, 1866
So, today May 22 2016, the current Winchester brand celebrates its 150th anniversary since the date of birth of Winchester Repeating Arms Company in May 22, 1866. It does it with a commemorative 1866 lever action rifle, of course, but also with several brand initiatives intended to remind all of us that, when a real idea comes out, and someone strong willed brings it on, things are possible and last long.
For more information, check the new dedicated Winchester 150th Anniversary website, or the official Winchester website, for those of you looking for a new Winchester rifle or shotgun to bring out in the woods and experience sensations like many other before us did.
History of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company: it all started on 22 of May 1866, from the entrepreneurial genius of Oliver Fisher Winchester.
From The Cody Museum: from top, a Winchester 1873 and a 1866 model rifles
From The Cody Museum: a Winchester model 70, a Model 12 shotgun, and a Winchester model 1894 rifle
Even if still very popular, lever action rifles are not anymore best sellers among shooters and hunters, but bolt-action rifles yes: the new Winchester XPR bolt action rifle brings on the company tradition for quality, yet affordable rifles