2006年VOA标准英语-Famous U.S. Gun Factory to Close

By George Dwyer
Washington, DC
23 February 2006
 
watch Winchester report

The Connecticut-based factory that produces the famed Winchester rifle -- nicknamed “The Gun that Won the West” -- is set to close in March. The firm that owns the factory will continue making guns, but in non-U.S. locations. 

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Winchester rifles   
  

New Haven¹, Connecticut's Winchester rifle plant once employed thousands. But after years of declining sales, fewer than 200 people now work there. It's only selling a third as many guns as it did three years ago. In March, all remaining workers will lose their jobs when the plant closes. And along with the jobs will go a slice of American history. Pioneers who moved across North America in the 19th century took the rifle with them.

"The Winchester rifle has been popularly known as ‘The Gun that Won the West,’ at least the rifle that won the West," says Phil Schreier, senior curator at the National Firearms Museum outside Washington DC.

Philip Schreier  
  
"Winchester repeating arms is certainly an icon² of American firearms industry, development and manufacturing. The fact that they are closing their New Haven plant does signify, you know, a little bit of that history is going away from New England," he added.

The rifle itself was invented in 1866, and represented a major advancement³ in firearms technology with its lever action breech and bullet cartridges⁴.

"So you could fire the gun very rapidly. Most guns up until that time period used powder and ball that were loaded separately and they were also single shot for the most part."

U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt favored the Winchester, using several on a famous 1909 African safari⁵. Historians say his endorsement-boosted sales of the rifle. Later, it appeared in scores of Hollywood westerns, including the 1950s "Winchester '73" and in the TV series "The Rifleman."  It was a particular favorite of the quintessential Hollywood western star, John Wayne.

Collectors have long been drawn⁶ to Winchester's many commemorative or special-edition rifles, and sportsmen often still hunt with rifles that are generations old. But traditional models are now being phased out.

"The name Winchester is not going away,” says Mr. Scheirer. “The same firearms will still be produced as they have been for quite a while at their plants in Belgium, Portugal, and Japan. But those that say 'Made in the USA' sadly have come to an end."

The job of settling the country couldn't be outsourced, but the manufacture of a gun that helped do it will be.

1 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

2 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

3 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。

4 cartridges   

子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头

参考例句：

• computer consumables such as disks and printer cartridges 如磁盘、打印机墨盒之类的电脑耗材
• My new video game player came with three game cartridges included. 我的新电子游戏机附有三盘游戏带。

5 safari   

n.远征旅行(探险、考察)；探险队，狩猎队

参考例句：

• When we go on safari we like to cook on an open fire.我们远行狩猎时，喜欢露天生火做饭。
• They went on safari searching for the rare black rhinoceros.他们进行探险旅行，搜寻那稀有的黑犀牛。

6 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。