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June 24, 2010
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Winchester 1873 1st model serial number 4538. The barrel was cut at 22 inches and the magazine tube was also cut. It has been dented and the spring hang up in the tup and the end cap will not stay threaded. I am looking to purchase a magazine tube that matches the gun. I can have it in the brown to match. Any ideas where to buy an original tube or how do I repair the original? What type of rear site is it?
May 2, 2009
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Why is the mag cap loose? Is the tube spread apart because the seam has come apart?
If your not going to fix the barrel back to the correct length, I would take the dent out and put in a later style magazine cap that is held in by a screw since the gun is no longer original. Getting a first model tube is a little tough to get and will cost more than a later style.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
June 24, 2010
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I would like to find a barrel for it but hard to find. I am going to take off surface rust and get the crown redone. Bore is shootable.
The gun has some original shiny blue on it. I will use Kroil and clean it.
May 2, 2009
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Floyd,
I can see the tube seam has split. The tube was made from a flat sheet and rolled to form the tube then the seam was brazed. Brazing it together can be real tricky on a piece of metal that has a lot of rust on it.
You can get a repo tube here. http://www.winchesterbob.com/model73.htm
A barrel is the hard item to find. I would keep an eye on Ebay and Gun Broker. The problem you will find is that not too many people part out a first model unless its got a problem like a cut barrel or the bore is stove piped.
The rear sight is called the Sporting Rear and is the correct one for a first model except it was filed down to a flat top and is missing the elevator. Unfortunately the elevator is not available as a repo. You can use the later elevator and it would work but is not correct. The front sight is installed backwards from what I can see.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
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