Winchester Canada, formerly known as the H.W. Cooey Machine and Arms Company, was founded in Toronto in 1903 by H.W. Cooey, a specialist in machinery and tool designing.
The company achieved a reputation for high quality design and production during World War I by producing great quantities of small arms and special machinery for the war effort. Immediately after the war, Cooey personally designed the now world famous Cooey .22 rifle - a rifle that has since become the standard by which all others are judged, not only in Canada but in 52 countries throughout the world. In 1924, the Certificate of Honour was awarded to the Cooey Rifle at the Wembley Exhibition in London, England.
Canadian sportsmen soon recognized the value of the Cooey products and the rapid increase in popularity caused the company to move into larger quarters. In 1929, the business was moved to a four story plant in Cobourg, Ontario.
During the second World War the company once again devoted its plant and efforts to the production of war materials, making a variety of gun parts and training rifles. Directly after the war, the company resumed full production of sporting arms and by 1948 the Cooey line consisted of single shot and repeating .22 rifles and a new single shot shotgun, the Model 84. Now called the Model 840, this outstanding firearm has been produced in 12,16,20,28 gauges and .410 bore for over 20 years and has enjoyed continued popularity in Canada and throughout the world.
In 1961 the company was sold to the Olin Corporation and was immediately placed under the supervision of the Winchester-Western Division.
A new ammunition plant was built in 1962 and eight years later in 1970, a modern, efficient, new arms plant and offices were completed.
Winchester Canada now produces the entire line of Cooey rimfire rifles and shotguns in the Cobourg plant. The Winchester product line is sold in Canada through the Cobourg operation, some being assembled in the plant and other models being imported directly, from the United States. The complete line of Winchester ammunition (rimfire. centrefire shotshells) is manufactured in Canada making Winchester Canada the only completely integrated arms and ammunition manufacturer in Canada.
