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Good day to you all. Newbie here to Winchesters but like Ralphie, had always wanted a few. Picked up a ’57 1894 carbine 7 weeks ago. Someone somewhere screwed in a sling attachment at the butt and the clamp on the barrel but also put on a very nice Laurence sling. Winter in Indiana so haven’t taken it out to shoot her yet.
In the meantime, I found some 1873 parts. (Parts? Well my wife couldn’t complain about parts, could she? Turns out I was wrong.) New to Levers but have built several guns from parts. Would never refinish but figured building from parts is a no-harm-no-foul, pardon the basketball vernacular. We are heading to Cody in May and interested in gaining a little knowledge from this board on good resources, besides this forum that is. Books and other sites would be greatly appreciated, to make sure I build this thing correctly. (Forum is great and you all have forgotten more about Winchesters than I will likely ever pick up.)
I could get in to Levers though so I am worried about this bug you all have talked about.
I am a shooter first: USAS-certified coach, coaching two collegiate teams and the shooters love to see what I’m doing next. Glad to have found the Board. I look forward to participating and eventually hopefully adding to it.
Cheers.
Mike
Boiler Up! Advisor - Purdue Rifle and Pistol Club; NRA Outstanding Service to Collegiate Shooting (2018) Coach - Purdue Rifle Team Certified Rifle Coach - NRA/USA Shooting
April 26, 2015
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Run away while you can because old Winchester lever action firearms will drive you to divorce and poverty. BK
November 7, 2015
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Welcome! Bruce is probably giving good advice but I’m single so not too worried about part of his prediction. On another forum we theorized that something happens after you bring home your second or third Winchester levergun. Pretty soon things start happening in that safe and before you know it there’s a half-dozen or more and within a year or so the safe will be crowded or spilling over into a second safe.
Hasn’t happened at my house, of course, but I’ve heard it HAS happened to some people I know. 
One piece of collecting equipment I can recommend is an old, well-worn soft gun case. Keep it in your car and when a levergun follows you home (despite your best efforts to shoo it away) you can use it to smuggle your new acquisition past SWMBO until you can figure out how to tell her about it.
Thanks, Bruce and TX. I’m thinking I will keep my guns away from each other, at least until we get back from Yellowstone.
Any thoughts on books or other resources needed for a newb to collect the correct parts to rebuild the ’73? Like should the carrier have the .44 Cal engraved on it or when Winchester ceased that practice, or what sights would be on a 1882 third model (unless of course a letter from Cody said it was something special).
The ’73 is parts but I want to build it as original as possible. I think it has what is called a Rocky Mountain front sight? Just guessing here. Suggestions on a book or two would be greatly appreciated.
Boiler Up! Advisor - Purdue Rifle and Pistol Club; NRA Outstanding Service to Collegiate Shooting (2018) Coach - Purdue Rifle Team Certified Rifle Coach - NRA/USA Shooting
November 7, 2015
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The first 73’s were not marked as 44’s because they were all 44’s. My library is always growing but Madis’ The Winchester Book is probably the one I’ve learned the most from so far.
Might as well drop by the Cody Firearms Museum while you’re visiting Yellowstone, they have several nice examples of the 1873 to gaze upon.
TXGunNut IS spot on as to what “might” happen haha!
I am married and trust me trying to make the argument about dresses, shoes, and such doesn’t wok with them either! Nor can them getting nails & hair justify just one haha!
It is an addiction! But I am also addicted to pump guns and starting to delve into Automatics. Then if you are like me old Ammo, ammos boxes, advertisements, ammo to shoot, supplies and such…it’s never ending !
That is something to be proud of coaching two collegiate shooting teams! Be interesting you exposing many of them to lever guns of a different era and to see their reaction and curiosity.
Lastly, Welcome to the forum, this IS my favorite forum for anything about collectible Winchesters!
Dave
WACA #10119
NRA Member
Welcome to the Winchester community Mike, there’s really a good bunch of folks here.
Be careful as it’s addicting. I’ve been into Winchesters right at a year now, got five and sure there will be more to come.
Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886
There are a couple places you can get parts from for the rebuild of your ’73. One is WinchesterBob.com. There is another place, but I’ve forgotten the name. Winchester Bob makes parts but if you want originals, keep an eye out on eBay and Gunbroker. If it is a rebuild, then I wouldn’t be too concerned about using new reproduction parts for the internals, and originals for the externals.
Mike,
If you have a third model it should have a marked elevator. If you post some pictures of the parts or email them to me I can tell you what you got.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
win38-55 said
There is another place, but I’ve forgotten the name.
Not thinking of Buckingham’s are you? (IF he’s still is business–that guy is even older than me!)
Thank you to all!
Wife has agreed to spend a day in Cody at the museum there. I have three Winchesters that need letters and a Marlin to look up. I’ll see if I can find The Winchester Book while I’m there.
I’ve rebuilt a few guns at this point but nothing where I have placed so much pressure on myself to do it as best as possible. I built a large oven to harden/anneal metal and plan on getting a crucible and play with color case hardening. (That’s how I found this forum, there was a link from here to the Marlin collectors forum on CCH.)
Tried to post a few pictures but I don’t think I’m “allowed” just yet.
If that’s incorrect or if I need to make a request, let me know. Would love to show you guys what I got.
David, thanks for the kudos regarding coaching. My free time is relative to the school year because of coaching. We’re sending a team to the NRA Nats in Indiana this summer so don’t know what my time will look like. I took the 1873 parts to practice last night and the kids and the ROTC lead were very intrigued. One kid is working on a 98K and didn’t know where to go to get info on making it a sniper gun. One shooter told me he’s always been wanting a 30-30 and said he’s in this summer after he saw my ’94. That’s the joy of engaging with these kids. They’re already responsible and smart.
Mike
Boiler Up! Advisor - Purdue Rifle and Pistol Club; NRA Outstanding Service to Collegiate Shooting (2018) Coach - Purdue Rifle Team Certified Rifle Coach - NRA/USA Shooting
Mike that is fantastic about the kids! If more folks got involved with our youth we would be much better as a nation in many ways.
Dave
WACA #10119
NRA Member
IL1969 said
ried to post a few pictures but I don’t think I’m “allowed” just yet.
Can be done via a third-party photo-hosting service such as Photobucket, but it’s rather a tedious procedure.
November 7, 2015
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Madis’ Winchester book has been out of print for some time so the gift shop won’t have it. That’s not to say the gift shop doesn’t have some wonderful books, I generally bring home a few. If you only have one day for the museum, so be it. But quite honestly that will only give you time for a quick trip thru the firearms museum and a mad dash thru the other museums. The art museum has lost a few exhibits that I really liked but others are coming in all the time. The Cody museum is well worth your time, as is the raptor experience.
I’d like to join the other folks here in thanking you for your work with the next generation of shooters. I don’t think any of us fully appreciate how important that truly is.
I hope to spend the day in the Firearms Museum–my wife will get bored and go to the other museums.Really didn’t plan well for the drive out to the Tetons/Yellowstone but was able to get a day in Badlands and an afternoon and a day in Cody.
Where would I find “The Winchester Book”, ebay? I’ll start looking around. I don’t want to have to ask the forum for every question as I go about this project.
Still trying to get a third party photo account so I can share the ’73 and the ’94.
I noticed a number of people talk about tapaderaswinchester.com as a place for the correct stain. Did they just drop their web presence or did they close shop?
Thanks for the suggestions on the book and museum. Valuable stuff for newbs.
Mike
Boiler Up! Advisor - Purdue Rifle and Pistol Club; NRA Outstanding Service to Collegiate Shooting (2018) Coach - Purdue Rifle Team Certified Rifle Coach - NRA/USA Shooting
Hi Mike,
The firearms portion of the museum is only a “small” part of the whole museum. I’ve been there twice–I had to take a second trip back there to see the parts that I missed the first time. Our first trip was to Yellowstone with the Cody museum as a side-trip. Our second trip there was to go to the museum and to hell with Yellowstone! Your admission is for 2 days and, believe me, you’ll need at least 2 days to see everything. By far, the best museum I have ever been to and I’m sure your wife won’t get bored. There’s definitely something there for everyone. Just each carry a cell phone if you split up so you don’t lose each other! Check out the below link.
https://centerofthewest.org/explore/
Anyway, e-Bay is a good place to look for a copy of The Winchester Book. The link below is the cheapest I’ve seen for awhile. Looks like a brand new copy as well.
Don
November 7, 2015
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That is a good price on the Madis book, I paid almost that much for a good used copy on Amazon. There are problems with the Madis book but I think it’s a good place to start.
Yes, don’t want to hurry thru the museums. Many folks walk thru the upper floor on the CFM and don’t realize there are more guns downstairs in drawers and slide-out vertical display cases. It’s like a reference library with guns instead of books.
abebooks and amazon have it for less than eBay right now.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
There are 10 new copies of the book on Amazon for $90. Mine is on order! Thanks to everyone for the reference.
There are a few parts on eBay for large cal. octagon barrel 1873s like the forearm end cap. These hard to find? I’m noticing good condition breech blocks and carriers (original 3rd models) are a little scarce.
I’m sure we will wish we had more time at the museum. Looking forward to the trip (May). Also driving thru Deadwood for lunch at #10. Should be a great time.
Thank you all for the info!
Mike
Boiler Up! Advisor - Purdue Rifle and Pistol Club; NRA Outstanding Service to Collegiate Shooting (2018) Coach - Purdue Rifle Team Certified Rifle Coach - NRA/USA Shooting
Mike:
Welcome to the Wonderful World of Winchesters! I would recommend a couple of things to you:
- Join WACA and be able to reach back for all to great history and collector articles that are published in “The Winchester Collectot” on the Members Only side of the website. It also allows you to easily post photos on the Forum
- Buy Arthur Pirkles little paperback “Winchester Lever Action Repeating Firearms volume 1, The Models of 1866, 1873 & 1876”. This is a great and inexpensive reference that has lots of detailed parts reference.
Sadly, Albert Buckingham has passed away and I don’t believe the family is continuing his Winchester parts business. Jim Grueter (Tapaderas) has apparently discontinued his website but he is still in the parts business. His address is: P. O. Box 216 Winchester, ID 83555. e-mail: [email protected] and phone no. (208) 924-5037. It probably would be a good idea to call him and get a parts list.
Good luck with your 1873 project……………….
WACA Life Benefactor Member
NRA Life Member
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