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11.12.

Oliver Winchester – Manufacturer of the Rifle that Won the Wild West – 1880

Oliver Winchester – Manufacturer of the Rifle that Won the Wild West – 1880

Interestingly, Winchester first manufactured clothing. Only after the American Civil War did Winchester’s repeating rifle business take off.



American arms manufacturer Oliver Winchester died on this day 1880. He is especially known for the Winchester rifle, which is known as “The Gun that Won the West”. Namely, that rifle was largely used by the American settlers in the Wild West. It was one of the first repeating rifles in history, and it is estimated that as many as 720,000 pieces of this weapon was produced.

Interestingly, Oliver first manufactured clothing, but around 1850 he bought a rifle factory that was in financial difficulties. Only after the American Civil War did Winchester’s repeating rifle business take off (during the war they were not particularly widely used because they represented a relatively new and insufficiently tested technology).

On this day, Oliver Winchester died at the age of 70, but his rifles became ever more popular. They were used by many celebrities of the Wild West, both American settlers as well as the Native Americans. The Winchester brand still exists today.

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