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there is a local auction coming up, there is a M1873 in.44 cal, it has I believe what is called a button magazine, stops at the front of front handguard. are these pretty common with that magazine? terry
Terry,
I don’t recall Winchester calling them button mags in the records in the 73’s. They were called 1/2 mags or they would state the number of shells it would hold. There are some guns I see that look like button mags but most have a little of the tube exposed. I have one that looks like a button mag and it letters 1/2 mag. There are not a lot of 1/2 mag 73’s. Out of 14404 rifles in my survey 760 are half mag but a 1/2 mag is not a drawing card to most collectors but some do. I would check with Cody before you proceed. What is the serial number?
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
Terry,I don’t recall Winchester calling them button mags in the records in the 73’s. They were called 1/2 mags or they would state the number of shells it would hold. There are some guns I see that look like button mags but most have a little of the tube exposed. I have one that looks like a button mag and it letters 1/2 mag. There are not a lot of 1/2 mag 73’s. Out of 14404 rifles in my survey 760 are half mag but a 1/2 mag is not a drawing card to most collectors but some do. I would check with Cody before you proceed. What is the serial number?
Bob
Seriel # is 191332B I looked on line and it looks like half magazine, button. terry
I looked at a old RIA auction and it does look like the button mag.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
Terry,I don’t recall Winchester calling them button mags in the records in the 73’s. They were called 1/2 mags or they would state the number of shells it would hold. There are some guns I see that look like button mags but most have a little of the tube exposed. I have one that looks like a button mag and it letters 1/2 mag. There are not a lot of 1/2 mag 73’s. Out of 14404 rifles in my survey 760 are half mag but a 1/2 mag is not a drawing card to most collectors but some do. I would check with Cody before you proceed. What is the serial number?
Bob
I would be more drawn to the rifle because of the special order half magazine. I appreciate the rarity but also enjoy the aesthetics of the configuration. In considering my comments, know that I am in the minority.
Here is one of mine which I think is the type magazine cap you are describing:
This is a low finish rifle but I still like it – despite the crescent butt 😉 Here are two more photos – it has nice wood:
Steve, here is a picture of caps that were offered for short magazines. The 2 that stick out farther are attached differently. So your gun was probably made in the later half of the 1880’s or later.
Chuck said
Steve, here is a picture of caps that were offered for short magazines. The 2 that stick out farther are attached differently. So your gun was probably made in the later half of the 1880’s or later.
Chuck – that is a very helpful photo. And you’re right on as far as when my rifle was made. My factory letter states it was shipped on 5-21-90. Also specifies the 38 caliber, octagon barrel, plain trigger, case hardened and 1/2 mag.
tsillik said
So the half mags on the m1873’s are not all that rare right? terry
I would use the term “less common”.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
That solves the problem of possible damage to the magazine tube.
Vince
Southern Oregon
NRA member
Fraternal Order of Eagles
“There is but one answer to be made to the dynamite bomb and that can best be made by the Winchester rifle.”
Teddy Roosevelt
steve004 said
Chuck – that is a very helpful photo. And you’re right on as far as when my rifle was made. My factory letter states it was shipped on 5-21-90. Also specifies the 38 caliber, octagon barrel, plain trigger, case hardened and 1/2 mag.
Lately I have learned that a lot of things happened in the mid 1880’s to most of the Winchesters. It makes me wonder why? Maverick helped out with info on forend caps for a 76 a member is restoring. Come to find out the same happened on the 73’s too. We also found out that stocks were changed from thick to thin in this period. I wonder what other changes were made during this period? Was there a cost cutting program or were they just trying to be more efficient? I now know why I had such a problem finding a butt plate for my thick wood 1887 shotgun that was manufactured in 1889.
Chuck said
steve004 said
Chuck – that is a very helpful photo. And you’re right on as far as when my rifle was made. My factory letter states it was shipped on 5-21-90. Also specifies the 38 caliber, octagon barrel, plain trigger, case hardened and 1/2 mag.
Lately I have learned that a lot of things happened in the mid 1880’s to most of the Winchesters. It makes me wonder why? Maverick helped out with info on forend caps for a 76 a member is restoring. Come to find out the same happened on the 73’s too. We also found out that stocks were changed from thick to thin in this period. I wonder what other changes were made during this period? Was there a cost cutting program or were they just trying to be more efficient? I now know why I had such a problem finding a butt plate for my thick wood 1887 shotgun that was manufactured in 1889.
Interesting observations. I don’t have the answers but if anyone does, chances are the hang around here.
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