The plant in New Haven, CT, where Winchester brand rifles have been manufactured since 1866, has shut its doors. Final fate unknown.

The Dylan connection here would be Bob’s reference, in Chronicles, to having kept a “clip-fed Winchester blasting rifle around,” while he lived in Woodstock, along with “a couple of Colt single-shot repeater pistols” that folksinger Peter Lafarge had given to him. He never had to use any of that hardware, thankfully, to shoot any of the “spooks,” “trespassers” or “demagogues” who were tormenting him and his family, but he obviously appreciated at least having that as an option of last resort. I also note that he seems to have appreciated the history and lineage associated with these weapons. He doesn’t just refer to them as guns.

Anyway, if you’re in need of a nice classic American lever-action rifle, or another type, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend that you check out Marlin Firearms. They boast that their 22-caliber Model 39A is “the oldest shoulder firearm design still being made anywhere in the world.” It is a beautiful piece, with a design that is both reliable and aesthetically pleasing in its simplicity. Meanwhile its relative light weight and the fact that it uses cheap and common 22-caliber ammunition make it practical in a pinch, although you would probably not want to go bear hunting with it.

As for “goons,” “rogue radicals” and other “unaccountable looking characters,” they are virtually guaranteed to skedaddle, lickety-split.

...................
Share this!

Posts which might be related to this one based on a mysterious algorithm:

• Kerry Denies Owning Chinese Assault Rifle
• Colorado
• I Got My Equalizer