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Hey guys, first post here, been reading for a while.
My grandfather passed away and left me a 1873 in 38 WCF, serial number in a 400,000’s followed by a B. The date finder on here puts it date of manufacture around 1892.
The gun was stored in an attic without much care and shows this. I was considering having it completely restored professionally, but have decided instead to take some time reminiscing about my grandfather with my kids while we do our best to preserve what we have, and leave the rifles character intact.
We have it almost all the way stripped(magazine is being stubborn). I do have the right screw drivers for doing this.
My method of attack is quite simple. We are using birchwood casey stock sheen and conditioner to clean up the wood, and kroil and 0000 Steel wool on the metal. We also found a broken lever spring, and the dust cover is missing.
So my question is now that I have worked on the buttstock for a few hours, I have managed to get the black, almost tar, hand grease and grime and oil stains off we can see wood grain! It has the most simple looking finish in the wood, but appears almost bare. I think the look is factory Winchester for the era, but I am concerned about protection. Should I put a coat of Johnsons Paste wax on to protect it, and give it just a touch of sheen? Its super flat right now. I did not sand it, or remove any finish, just goey grime with a rag and rubbing with the Stock sheen product.
Where can I find a real, not a repop, dust cover, it should be a 3rd gen right? What does something like that go for?
Where is the best place to get the broken lever spring? Unfortunately someone got to the screw before me and it is very chewed up. I’m hoping I can get it out, and attempt to restore this screw rather than getting a new one.
I’ll get some pictures tomorrow for you guys. Thanks in advance for the help!
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A dust cover, spring and screws can be bought on Ebay from people parting out guns.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Hello Troy. I have used the product called ( Winchester Stock Oil) Pre-64 red brown . It can be found on E-bay under Winchester 1873 . I have used this product on raw stocks that had been replaced with good results. Look for my pic. of the 1873 SRC. here . I have used it on old finish Winchester stock also just a few light coats rubbed in and let dry. The 1876 Winchester 40-60 wcf I posted a pic. of here has had a couple of coats rubbed into it on top of the original finnish. Hope this helps You and Good Luck with your family treasure. DT
1873man said
A dust cover, spring and screws can be bought on Ebay from people parting out guns.Bob
Thanks Bob, I have browsed around on there but no luck so far. I was hoping there was a guy or store that specialized in original parts for these guns. That would be a pretty small niche in the gun market though!
Dusty Texian said
Hello Troy. I have used the product called ( Winchester Stock Oil) Pre-64 red brown . It can be found on E-bay under Winchester 1873 . I have used this product on raw stocks that had been replaced with good results. Look for my pic. of the 1873 SRC. here . I have used it on old finish Winchester stock also just a few light coats rubbed in and let dry. The 1876 Winchester 40-60 wcf I posted a pic. of here has had a couple of coats rubbed into it on top of the original finnish. Hope this helps You and Good Luck with your family treasure. DT
Thanks Dusty.
I’m a little leary or doing any kind of oil or anything that will change or alter the finish. I was thinking the wax would preserve it in its current condition.
I’m not concerned with the monetary value, or lack there of, on the gun. But I don’t want to show off my family treasure and have people ask who the bafoon was that wrecked it by refinishing the stock. I’m trying to stay away from any kind of restoration type process. I’m not familiar with that oil you listed, and really not much of a wood worker. Is that more of a restoration, or preservative? Thank for taking the time to help me!
Ok guys as you can see below I have made modest progress, going slow, and lots of elbow grease. The front of the comb you can see the black goo type junk. The entire stock was coated in this stuff. I have rubbed for hours and now have grain showing on most of it. On the left side close to the butt plate, and on the bottom of the stock, you can see a few shiny spots. Remnants of some type of finish perhaps? Would that be the original finish, or Bubba applied finish of some sort?
I’m not sure what it should look like. Would the oil that Dusty mentioned above make the whole stock look like that with proper application?
I’m just concerned about crossing the line of preservation into restoration and screwing it up.
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I received a bottle of the oil you guys recommended from Don who’s Ebay id is "bear-in-texas". I’m going to follow your directions and advice and I’ll post back when I get done, probably be a month or so.
Don is a great guy and I would recommend anyone looking into this oil to contact him.
This may be like closing the corral gate after the horses have gotten out, but…………if the color is right after cleaning up the old gunstock, rub in Pure Linseed oil cut 50-50 with a quality Mineral Spirits. Apply across the grain and rub in by hand a few hours after application. 10 to 15 coats should do it and you’ll have an authentic refinish job. That’s what Winchester put on the originals.
If the color needs some enhancing I’ve used the old Outers Gun Stock Stain & Stock Filler first. It is the closest thing I’ve ever found for duplicating the original Winchester reddish color.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
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