You can view the circular spring clip with "ears" and cartridge stop that slips down the mag tube about 3/16" and locks/releases cartridges as seen below (scroll down to picture #6):

http://www.nramuseum.org/the-museum/the-galleries/the-american-west/case-42-the-guns-that-won-the-west-colt-winchester/winchester-model-1873-lever-action-rifle-(1).aspx

I contacted John Taylor and he is on the fence about producing this item…I believe he can do it right and provide a product that seems to be in demand because the spring arm that locks the cartridges in is typically broken off the spring clip…..allowing the .22 shorts to unload before inserting in the outer tube below the bbl.

Note: I soldered a piece of piano wire onto the spring clip and it seems to work…..but I would much rather have an original piece.

Does someone have an original spring clip that is not broken ???