You have heard me say this many times.  Don't buy guns that you have not picked up. 

I feel this rifle was redone as a very good job, but a few things brought me to this conclusion, and I'll point them out without re re quoting the other posts.

The wood fit to the crescent metal butt plate is suspect. Besides some other areas of wood to metal fit, as the lower tang behind the serial number, and the screw where the gap in the radius is very evident. 

On the top tang, the Block "M", in model is rarely seen, but I thought a hole for a tang sight was in front of the word, "Model", on the second model rifle.

I did see some marks or blemishes, below the "M", in model, possibly from some re work and,  in the C.C.H. Not sure about that.

It's one of the better jobs we've seen in a long time, "IF", it's not correct and all original!

Tony

Bert H. said
The wood looks like it has been lightly cleaned up (but not refinished), but overall, that rifle looks correct (original).  The lightly chamfered corners on the muzzle were normal Winchester practice on the octagon barrels.
The seller does show a CFM research sheet (which is essentially the same thing as a factory letter).
Bert
  

Yes, I agree, the wood, at the very least, has been cleaned.  I suspected a light sanding, but maybe nit.

When I looked at the listing earlier, I did not see the CFM research sheet.  It either wasn’t part of the listing at the time I looked at it, or I somehow missed it.

The seller does show a CFM research sheet (which is essentially the same thing as a factory letter).

Bert

kujuak said
I have 71s with both the old Lyman and Redfield sights. I find the REDfield sight more "elegant" (aesthically and in the finest of the machine work) and more pleasant to use.
I am still leery of the bolt peep regarding robustness.It sits higher above the receiver and looks like it is waiting to be damaged when going into or out of a horse borne scabbard. But it sure is pretty!
  

My 71 originally had a Lyman 56W but somebody swiped it and substituted  a Williams FP-71. I have nothing against the FP line and have one on my Mountie but wanted to get back to factory on the 71. Swung out on any Lyman 56Ws but found an as-new steel Redfield 80, the 70 successor and the only mechanical difference is a button staff release (but also nasty little pins in lieu of the 70"s screws, sadly.) 

I liked it so well I found another one for my Miroku built 1886 Sporting Rifle. I paid through the nose for the first one because it was coded for the 86/71 receiver. I ve since discovered the :E/94 codes work just fine on the wider receiver, with only an insignificant loss of windage adjustment. 

whats your guys opinion on the finishes of this rifle?

I’m by no means a player at this price point but just trying to learn.

The gun looks like nice honest gun except for the cut barrel. It is now a shooter grade gun.

Bob

Bert H. said
While I admittedly have not measured more than a handful of Model 1873 barrels, for the Single Shot (M1885), Models 1886, 1890, 1892, and 1894 they front sight dovetail cuts are precisely milled into the barrel .750" from the muzzle face (+/- .002").  The measurement is from the face of the muzzle to the forwardmost edge of the bottom edge of the milled dovetail cut.  For the magazine retaining ring, the measured distance from the muzzle face to the transverse pin should be 3.75" (again +/- a few thousandths).
As Bob mentioned, the octagon barrels were tapered, and the taper rate could vary slightly from one barrel to the next.  On the standard weight (size) octagon barrels the tape rate was usually .005/per inch.  The Heavy and Extra Heavy barrels typically have a .0025/per inch taper rate.
Bert
  

Thanks Bert. Great info here.

1873man said
They do have a taper but the tolerances are fairly wide but its could be a outside chance it would show what happened. Just like the barrel diameter tolerance the front sight placement has a tolerance. I've been seeing .725" to .790" from the muzzle to the closest cut at the bottom of the dovetail for 2nd and 3rd models. I checked a few first models and a 66 and they are more, .8" plus.  My email is below my picture. 
Bob
  

Hi Bob,

I sent you an email with photos and some dimensions. 

Thanks 

Ben said
I bought Mike Richards bolt peep repair parts when he retired.  I have several of the windage blocks and apertures available.  The windage screw & round slotted retaining is in the process of being reproduced along with the elevation wheel screw & nut... they will hopefully be available after the first of the year.  The windage screw is double threaded and my machinist isn't happy with me right now.  You can substitute a #4 thread screw and use a hex nut (peening over the screw) as a fix (it's ugly, but works.) The machinist is also reproducing the bodies of the 98A and 98C... I sent him one of each for patterns... his machine can even reproduce the markings... I'm hoping they turn out nice as there are alot of guys in need.... cheers.  Ben
  

Great idea, Ben.