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Been a lurker for a while but its time this winter to put my focus on a project thats been in the gun safe for far too long.
Winchester 1873 in 22 Short with Octagon #218387 that seems to be made 1886 (I dont have a factory letter)
Lots of honest wear and I know the firing pin is worn and wont ignite a cartridge, so I’ve chased down a proper replacement. I’m expecting to discover more wear as I clean and inspect the gun and replace the pin rod. So far everything seems unmolested and original. I have a full toggle set in case its needed since it showed up when I found a firing pin. I’ve never worked on this bore for the 1873
Is it safe to use any standard 22 bore rod to clean the barrel? I know the 22 didnt ship with a cleaning rod.
Mostly I just wanted to reach out and see if anyone can share wisdom about any gotchas I might encounter as I open her up.
Thanks!
Chris
Chris,
They did have a Iron Rod for the 22 and was included for no cost, for that matter they didn’t charge for any cleaning rods. For the 32 they had the Drop Wiper. The problem is that with out a compartment to hold the rods they were separated from the gun and then lost. Any cleaning rod that fits down the barrel will do.
I have given guidance on fixing the striker on the bolt of the 22 73 to a couple guys. They had the striker welded up to make it stick out farther. If the rest of it is in good shape it would be a cheap repair compared to replacing the bolt.
Bob
This one has a .045″ x .045″ square striker that protrudes .020″
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
Chris,They did have a Iron Rod for the 22 and was included for no cost, for that matter they didn’t charge for any cleaning rods. For the 32 they had the Drop Wiper. The problem is that with out a compartment to hold the rods they were separated from the gun and then lost. Any cleaning rod that fits down the barrel will do.
I have given guidance on fixing the striker on the bolt of the 22 73 to a couple guys. They had the striker welded up to make it stick out farther. If the rest of it is in good shape it would be a cheap repair compared to replacing the bolt.
Bob
This one has a .045″ x .045″ square striker that protrudes .020″
Never took a close look at a 22 rf before. I am surprised to only see one striker. The earlier rimfire rifles had 2.
1873man said
Chris,They did have a Iron Rod for the 22 and was included for no cost, for that matter they didn’t charge for any cleaning rods. For the 32 they had the Drop Wiper. The problem is that with out a compartment to hold the rods they were separated from the gun and then lost. Any cleaning rod that fits down the barrel will do.
I have given guidance on fixing the striker on the bolt of the 22 73 to a couple guys. They had the striker welded up to make it stick out farther. If the rest of it is in good shape it would be a cheap repair compared to replacing the bolt.
Bob
This one has a .045″ x .045″ square striker that protrudes .020″
Thank you sir!
Thats a great pic that helps me be sure I know what I am expecting it to look like. Had it open today and identified a few other things needed. Luckily I was able to source them, though it wasnt cheap.
Seems I was missing the mainspring tension screw and the extractor. I found some earlier threads from you that helped me ID that the pin position in the front of the bolt indicating it used the 1-piece extractor which I found.
One new question that came up is with the magazine tube. Spring is fine but there is a ring at the base with a tiny screw. I am wondering if that screw has maybe been sheared off short since the only way it tightens the ring is way up high where the magazine then doesnt want to insert properly. If I try and tighten it when its lower toward the end of the tube, it wont tighten farther and still rattles around. Does that make sense?
Not sure as to the function of that piece and how/where it should be locked in place.
Chris
MrCrispy said
1873man said
Chris,
They did have a Iron Rod for the 22 and was included for no cost, for that matter they didn’t charge for any cleaning rods. For the 32 they had the Drop Wiper. The problem is that with out a compartment to hold the rods they were separated from the gun and then lost. Any cleaning rod that fits down the barrel will do.
I have given guidance on fixing the striker on the bolt of the 22 73 to a couple guys. They had the striker welded up to make it stick out farther. If the rest of it is in good shape it would be a cheap repair compared to replacing the bolt.
Bob
This one has a .045″ x .045″ square striker that protrudes .020″
Thank you sir!
Thats a great pic that helps me be sure I know what I am expecting it to look like. Had it open today and identified a few other things needed. Luckily I was able to source them, though it wasnt cheap.
Seems I was missing the mainspring tension screw and the extractor. I found some earlier threads from you that helped me ID that the pin position in the front of the bolt indicating it used the 1-piece extractor which I found.
One new question that came up is with the magazine tube. Spring is fine but there is a ring at the base with a tiny screw. I am wondering if that screw has maybe been sheared off short since the only way it tightens the ring is way up high where the magazine then doesnt want to insert properly. If I try and tighten it when its lower toward the end of the tube, it wont tighten farther and still rattles around. Does that make sense?
Not sure as to the function of that piece and how/where it should be locked in place.
Chris
Bob, I had a look at the bolt/striker and mine isnt flattened out so much as it looks like the second example picture shown here (Which I think is from you?)
Winchester 1873, Cal. .22 | Gunboards Forums
Mine is much more ‘narrow’ like pic 2. Could the reason it wasnt firing a cartridge be the missing mainspring tension screw I discovered? I suppose when the replacement arrives I will find out. The ‘pin’ is in no way sticking out as far as 0.02 but it is also not the square striker as in the pic above.
There is some play in the bolt when it extends to the barrel and I do see some wear but the wear appears to be more where the cartridge seats in the barrel than the striker itself, FWIW.
Thanks again for your thoughts.
Chris,
Yes those were my pictures and they had several striker designs through the years and the double striker That Chuck mentioned. As I recall the one in the 2nd picture is shorter. I would have to measure it. When you drop the hammer on a shell, how much does it indent the rim? Have you tried a different brand of ammo? The main spring strain screw is seldom turned in to increase tension on guns I have looked at. But if you had other 73’s you could compare the hammer tension.
The mag tube issue, I can’t understand your explanation. There are two different inner mag tubes. There is one with a tiny screw in a slot. You can send me pictures to my email below.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
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