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This is a nice 1873 that is case colored. As you can see it has some light rust and other crud on the receiver.
Q: Should it be cleaned?
Q: If so how?
Q: should it be taken down and cleaned internally?
Thoughts and recommendations please.
Cheers
Kirk
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In my opinion, No, it should not be cleaned. Apply a very light coat of lightweight oil on the receiver and keep it lightly oiled after handling.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Tend to agree with Bert. I’d just keep it wiped down with an oily rag.
Also Me personally I’m not a fan of having what I call “active rust” on any parts.
I’d at least take the side plates and buttstock off and check for rust. I’ve gotten a hold of guns that had rust and dried up grease packed inside the receiver. Always good to check over those kinds of things. But its really up to your personal preference and comfort level.
Once got a 1st generation colt that was “broke” and wouldn’t work with only minor disassembly got some old grease out and the gun worked fine. Some people just don’t know that simple things can sometimes make all the difference.
Nice looking rifle you got there.
Sincerely,
Maverick
WACA #8783 - Checkout my Reloading Tool Survey!
https://winchestercollector.org/forum/winchester-research-surveys/winchester-reloading-tool-survey/
Kirk,
Its a good looking rifle, leave it as is.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
November 7, 2015
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What are your plans for this rifle? What is the bore condition? What is the SN and does this rifle have a history that you’re aware of?
Thanks all.
My plans are to do basically what Burt, Maverick and Bob suggested. I will shoot it in the future. Not sure of and history but will get a letter. SR# 217433B in 32-20 caliber. A high condition gun with full octagon barrel and half (button) magazine with a strong bore and 70%+ case colors.
Cheers
Kirk
Hi all,
I am new to the forum and I am slowly learning quite a bit about these old Winchesters. I have a 1922 vintage 1892 TD in 32 WCF as well as a 1914 1892 Sporting Rifle in 25 WCF and they really are fun and interesting firearms.
I can understand the reasoning behind not restoring one of these vintage rifles (re-blue, etc.), but can someone please educate me as to why you would not clean one? Is a vintage Winchester more valuable with years of dirt on it or in it rather than off? I think that we would all agree on keeping the bore clean and a light film of oil on the metal parts, but what would be the harm of disassembling the gun, cleaning off perhaps a hundred years of old oil and powder fouling and then carefully putting it back together?
Armed with a good sense of mechanics, a good set of instructions, a good brass punch set, a good gunsmith-grade screwdriver set and plenty of patience, I think a cleaning would be alright. From what I have read on the forum, however, this might not be true.
Please add to my growing education and thanks!
Steffan
PS. I am not talking about guns with active rust, as I believe that should be addressed. I’m also not talking about doing anything with the wood finish, as that seems to cause more harm than good. Just a “remove metal parts, clean and reassemble” operation.
NRA Lifetime Member
Steffan,
Old original guns have years of grime and old dried oils in and around the screws and in all the corners. It is not hurting the gun at all and its proof the gun is in original condition. When I see a gun like that I say to myself “this gun has never been disassembled and is original condition” when I see a gun that had all the screw slots cleaned out and the grime that sealed the gap between the wood and metal gone, I’m wondering what has been done to the gun. If you were in a store and you picked up a box and the seal was broke, you would put it down since you are wondering what is missing or was it used and find one that hasn’t been opened. When a buyer sees the grime in the right places on a gun they look at that as a seal of originality. Now if the there is a buildup of grime all over the gun, you can clean it up but leave the screws and corners alone. There is no need to clean the insides on a gun you just plan on shooting occasionally but if your going to hunt with it or do cowboy action shooting, yes clean the insides.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Thanks Bob,
I had to laugh regarding your “broken seal” analogy, as I would ABSOLUTELY put it back and chose the factory sealed item instead. Too funny.
I appreciate your insights and I now understand (and agree with) the “no cleaning” logic.
Just to be clear, if it’s obvious that others have previously taken the gun apart for cleaning, etc, there is no harm in opening it up one more time, right?
Thanks again,
Steffan
NRA Lifetime Member
Steffan,
Yes, if someone else has been there recently then there is no harm to opening it up, just be careful.
I have bought a few high end guns and it can get your blood pressure pumping wondering if your doing the right thing and when I see that the gun hasn’t been apart in the last 100 years, has a calming affect on you and your mind, You quite wondering what has been done to this gun.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
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