Log In
I tried to register but something happened, anyhow, I could use a little advice on a couple of old ’73’s. I bought these some years back with the thought of doing a restoration, but now am considering simply repairing them functionally and leaving them in a more “historical” state. I have one of them working, round barrel 44-40 that someone shortened. I replaced a few badly worn parts and cleaned up some wear and corrosion, plugged and re-tapped the cover slide screws, de-grimed the wood etc etc. Cycles and shoots ok, I had to re-crown it as the cutoff wasn’t square. It is a uniform brown color without much pitting. The stock is not cracked but is pretty beaten up. The dents are deep (both guns are similar in that regard) and I doubt that I could raise them, so restoration would need new wood. The other one is 19″ octagon third model. The receiver was so worn that I had to build up some spots including the rails the bolt rides on. In doing that there was a lot of cosmetic damage from heat and flux and reshaping. The brown patina is gone in those areas and I am wondering if going ahead and restoring the whole thing might be the best way to go. I’m not sure about the barrel length. I guess they could be ordered in various lengths, but I don’t think the 19 3/8″ octagon was standard.
So, a little advice on how far to go with them would be appreciated. I didn’t think they were worth much of anything when I got them back in the day, but I sure don’t see many real ’73’s in any condition floating around in these days of AR-whatever domination in the gun trade.
May 2, 2009
Offline
Howard,
If you send me some pictures to my email address I can tell what you have. Also the serial numbers, from that the records could be checked to tell you how it left the factory. 73’s never had crowns on the muzzle and you will be right that they been cut. 24″ was the standard barrel length for a rifle with special ordered ones longer and shorter usually at the even numbers.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
