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This is the second antique Winchester 73 I’ve bought. A fellow sold it to me for $500 and was apologetic about its condition! It is in relatively good condition. It was refinished at some point in its life. Absolutely no pitting externally. The bore needs to be lined. The internals look great. I ordered a complete screw kit from Homestead Parts as a kitchen gunsmith really buggered up the exiting ones. I also ordered a dust cap as this was missing.
But it is a weird one as it has rifle attributes and SRC features.
Can anyone take a look at the pictures and give me any idea on it authenticity or is it a “kit” gun that someone cobbled together?
There are No markings on the barrel. Nothing under the rear sight. I’ve not pulled the forend yet to see if there is a makers mark.
Ser #133113A
Lots more pictures here:
http://public.fotki.com/Rbertalotto/things-that-go-bang/1873-winchester-44-40/
Online
The pictures are real small so seeing any detail is hard but you have a parts gun. The butt plate is for a later gun and the lower tang does not fit the receiver. First order of business is to run the serial number and see what the tang belongs to.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Looks like a piece parts gun; at least to me.
It has the saddle ring, which is normally found on carbines, but the rest of the parts belong to a rifle.
Looking at some of the full length pics, looks like the mag tube may be slightly longer than the barrel, suggesting a barrel that has been shortened.
V/R
Mike
If you click on the pictures in the photo album they open up and you can manipulate as needed.
Were the lower tangs finished to the receiver so therefore they are not interchangeable?
Since it appears this rifle has zero collector value I could file the lower tang to fit the receiver? Or does it appear this would thin it out excessively?
The lower tangs were buffed installed in the receiver so they would match up after the buffing process. That is why you look at the match up of the lower tang to see if it came with the receiver.
I would first call on the serial number to see what configuration it came as first. You never know, the tang could be worth more than the gun you bought if its something rare. I’m running the serial number now so I should have a answer this afternoon. What is the barrel length?
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Exactly 20″ measured with a bore rod up against the bolt.
Thank you for doing this. Much appreciated!
I tore down the ol rifle this morning. Interesting find…..The reason the lower tang was not fitting properly is the way some “Gunsmith” installed the saddle ring.
They simply filed down the U-clip and filed the lower tang screw on that side flush. There was only one screw holding the lower tang.
The saddle ring is in the way of getting that filed down screw out. Hopefully I can just tap that saddle ring clip out so I can remove the filed down screw.
The barrel actually is a Winchester….Markings on the bottom
Looks like someone installed new links
But I did have an OhOh!
More below
No big deal, I have a couple extras…..
Amazing amount of metal fragments and filings came out of the ultrasonic cleaner using a magnet:
Thank God for this cheap Harbor Freight UltraSonic Cleaner and Brownells Gun Clean And Lube Solution
The parts come out looking great!
Not sure if these markings on the side of the lower tang mean anything
I need to decide what I’m going to do about the barrel. I can buy a very nice reproduction with roll marks etc for around $300 from Homestead Gun Parts. Or I can line this one. The magazine thimble dovetail is a mess. Someone thought it was a standard dovetail and beat the crap out of it to get it in. I have a new Thimble, but the dovetail is a mess. All the markings on the top of the barrel have been sanded off. Decisions, decisions!
The problem with the saddle ring is its installed in the wrong place. It should be higher, in the middle of of the flat on that side.
That is a assemble number on the side of the tang. It would have a the same number stamped on the top of the stock under the top tang area and on the underside of the butt plate.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
The problem with the saddle ring is its installed in the wrong place. It should be higher, in the middle of of the flat on that side.
Now that make a lot of sense! I want to leave the SR, So I’ll file it smooth and pin it. Don’t think I’ll ever be carrying it on a horse by the saddle ring….
Your Harbor Freight Ultrasonic Cleaner looks identical to the one by Lyman, for about 1/3 the $$$.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
Here is how your gun letters:
WINCHESTER MODEL 1873 – SERIAL NUMBER 133113
Serial number application date not available
Type: Rifle
Caliber: 38
Barrel Type: Round
Trigger: Plain
Received in warehouse on September 24, 1883
Shipped from warehouse on October 06, 1883, Order number 7789
Since it does not list barrel length it would be a standard 24″ barrel.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Thank you so much for doing this………!
So it appears I have another 38-40 in my collection. If I want to keep it true to manufacture, it should be barreled in 38wcf.
But then again, I have a 1866, 1873 (Uberti), 1873 Vintage Winchester and 1892 Japan Winchester….all in 38-40 (Plus a few Marlins and two Colt Lightnings, all in 38-40)
I’ll decide over the weekend the direction I’ll take.
THANKS!
Being a shooter ,The problem I have with clunker restoration is that it is just too much money to lose .I like to buy the gun ready to shoot. My first check is the bore , If VG+ I can evaluate further. If restored or has collector issues , then it still comes down to price as a shooter. To the individual it would depend what Collector issues you can live with to save money, (You dont have to put it in the same safe near your best originals ) I am sometimes thankful that True collectors are so fussy . This enables me to buy a historic shooter over a replica . Often the nice restoration and proper gunsmith reconditioned with VG+ bore is much less than a replica, and certainly a fraction of the restoration cost, and even more so than if the gun was still in its average cond before restoration. But I know many like the restoration experience , just like antique car guys who know they will get less than 1/2 their money back on a rebuild if they need to sell to get money for the next restoration project. So to each his own. If the Gun has some meaning to you then the situation is different.
I see you are a fan of 38 WCF as well. Nice assortment you have What a great Cal to shoot . Here again I am glad the the 44 is more desirable , and 38’s are often much cheaper and I can get better accuracy out of them.
I have a Henke Uberti 73 OBR in 38 and it is fun to shoot, I didnt know you could get a Japanese 92 in 38 ,? is it a carbine ?
Phil
Rbertalotto,
Sent you a PM.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
The problem I have with clunker restoration is that it is just too much money to lose
Couldn’t agree more…………that’s why about 20 years ago I bought a Smithy 3 in 1 machine and got a library card. Checked out every single book and video the library system had on gunsmithing. I now have a “real” lathe and milling machine. Welding equipment coming out of my ears, over 40 reamers and more gunsmithing tools than I can ever use.
A few years back I started taking summer vacations at the NRA Gunsmithing schools……….an AMAZING experience!
So now I’m a “Garage Gunsmith”……..and I think I like working on guns more than shooting them!
Taking this old 1873 from rags to riches is a blast for me. No intention on making any money at it. If I ever sell these “projects”, I’d be happy to break even. Name me any other hobby you can say that about! (Ever try to sell an old set of golf clubs or an old fishing reel?) I’ve never lost a nickle on a firearm and in fact I’ve got a few little beauties that have appreciated nicely over the years. Hopefully will help pay a grandkids college bills!
My website if there is interest in a few other firearm projects… http://www.rvbprecision.com
Good reply ,a nice hobby. I used to enjoy working on guns and antique out board motors at work. We had great Machines and facilities ,I miss that. Gunsmith fees will add up real quick, and later you find the flaws. Its getting harder to find a Gunsmith too. Its best to do it yourself.
Just recalling I also mechanically restored a 44 Win 73 RBR a few years back that I bought cheap because the gunstore thought it was only good for parts. Got it functioning well , but It never did shoot well . threw the first shot way high. But traded it at a reasonable price for something better
Phil
Phil,
Wish we were closer…You could come over and use the shop anytime!
Thanks Roy Thoughtful invitation. I have given a few jobs to a gunsmith last few years , that I would have rather done myself. Some jobs would have been done better for sure. Like when I took 3 with triggers to lighten @ about $100 per gun. I was livid when I found out that he had lightened by carving away the mainspring and they were too weak to detonate. I had to order new main springs and diamond file the angles myself. I used to have a great system for this at work with a mylar for setup in a vice Surface grind and check on a shadow graph
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