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Hello everyone, I just picked up this 1873, It is a bit rough but it seems to have some character to it. The barrel was cut down many years ago and there are a few minor cracks to the stock but just hair line. there is a nice patina to the steel and the bore is obviously not perfect but I have seen much worse and this is certainly shootable. The mag tube I noticed will spin out of a small groove on the underside of the barrel and slides out along with the spring. Not sure if that is correct on this gun or how many other parts are incorrect. What does everyone think and thoughts on the value of this piece. hopefully I did not make a serious mistake. But then again I was not looking for a museum piece nor can I afford such a treasure. According to the records this gun was made in 1886. I also plan on pulling a letter from Cody on this very soon.
June 4, 2017
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From your description it appears you know what you have. The cut barrel and tube cap value in the $900 range. I would check the the records, it would give you knowledge of what it was. Maybe a long barrel if your lucky? At the end of the day it’s value is what it’s worth to you. Have fun with it. T/R
Hey TR, well I paid 1300.00 for it but I really was not sure what the grading percentage on this would be with a cut barrel. And also seeing what the prices are for these old 73’s, as they have gone though the roof. I do like it it has a few stories I am sure. I would like to get some of the old varnish off of the stock and the steel. But I am nervous to take the actual finish off in the process. Should there be a band of some sort on the magazine tube connecting to the barrel or is it designed to just twist off?
June 4, 2017
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Don’t do anything until you find out how it letters. It appears it’s been this way a while and yes it had a barrel band or two. From the pictures it had a mag tube out to the end of it’s present length barrel. If it letters as a standard 24″ barrel then do what you want. T/R
May 2, 2009
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The barrel bands were put on with a circular dovetail so they would twist in place but yours does not have one. It has the magazine end plug that was put on afterwards when the tube was shortened.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Hey Bob so what does this mean to the shot ability? Is this really just a wall hanger or is there still some life left to it? The story on this rifle is that back in MO this rifle ended up hanging over bar for years and when the place closed down the owner gave this rifle to a man that bought some tables from him.
May 2, 2009
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You can take it to your local gunsmith and have him check it for safe shooting, many of those old guns are being shot. You wan to find out if the bore is safe to shoot i.e. no bulges and check the action and head space. It does not need to feed from the magazine to shoot. With a poor rifling it may not group or it might surprise you.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
