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Concur. PLUS it’s a genuine “Henry” rifle, a truth not to be sneered at.
Who the hell even remembers the New Haven Arms Company? The one the Guv’ner gutshot when Benny T. got above his raising.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
I owned a Miroku 1894 rifle for a while, and it was a beauty.Fit and finish was superb, and the bluing was deep and rich.
I traded it off, mostly because I didn’t shoot it that much, but a couple of “features” really bothered me – the tang safety and the rebound hammer.
The rebounding hammer is annoying. I have two of the Winchester 1895 reissues and an 1886 with it. I dislike that feature.but not enough to forego owning and shooting the rifles.
The unobtrusive tang safety doesn’t bother me nearly as much because a brainless hunter once put a round into the ground just in front of my feet ( at 4 am in the dark) while unloading the tubular magazine of his carbine. That’s what I use the tang safety for.
For reasons I’m not sure of, Browning is able to import its new 1873 rifles and carbines without either a rebounding hammer or a tang safety. They are about as bone stock a ’73 as you are likely to ever get and I can’t recommend them strongly enough to Model 73 enthusiasts. The deluxe half-octagon rifle with checkered shotgun butt plate and very nice wood can be had in 44 WCF and it is a real looker.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
In 1993 I bought a Uberti Cattleman in 44 WCF. I had a SASS gunsmith do a full action job on it. It shoots like a dream and is so close to an original that parts are interchangeable. A whopping $550 invested. I like it a lot better than the first type of Ruger Vaqueros.
Indeed, Chuck. A talented ‘smith can turn the Cattleman into as nice an SAA as has ever existed. I’ve handled one that had been slicked up and it’s mighty hard to beat it, price completely aside.
I understand Cimarron down in Fredericksburg schooled Uberti for his own orders, which are large enough to command respect. They still need the one-on-one attention that a skilled and knowledgeable SASS artisan can give but they are notably better fitted and finished than run-of-the-mine imports of that Italian brand.
My late classmate and lifelong running buddy was a skilled horseman and roping competitor. After his wife died he was miserable. With my encouragement he sent a couple of Ruger Blackhawks to the late John Linebaugh for some serious upgrades, e.g. new barrels and line-bored cylinders and an almost unbelievable trigger. If memory serves me, one was a .44 Special on the Blackhawk frame and the other a .45 Colt on the Super Blachawk frame. Delivery date was beyond intimidating but, eventually, came the day and he picked them up the same Saturday he went out to dinner with an interesting widow who eventually became his wife. That was surely an Epic weekend.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Zebulon said
The unobtrusive tang safety doesn’t bother me nearly as much because a brainless hunter once put a round into the ground just in front of my feet ( at 4 am in the dark) while unloading the tubular magazine of his carbine. That’s what I use the tang safety for.
For reasons I’m not sure of, Browning is able to import its new 1873 rifles and carbines without either a rebounding hammer or a tang safety. They are about as bone stock a ’73 as you are likely to ever get and I can’t recommend them strongly enough to Model 73 enthusiasts. The deluxe half-octagon rifle with checkered shotgun butt plate and very nice wood can be had in 44 WCF and it is a real looker.
That Delux model is simply stunning in appearance. I may go that direction in my model selection. Thanks for the pictures and again the information.
Dave
I also have a Miroku 1982 in 357/38 that is Turnbull finished and has my last name engraved on the receiver. I bought it because I was not fortunate enough to have a family heirloom of any kind handed down to me, so I decided to buy one and start now. Can’t get you any pics until December though, out of town for now…
Jeremy P said
I also have a Miroku 1982 in 357/38 that is Turnbull finished and has my last name engraved on the receiver. I bought it because I was not fortunate enough to have a family heirloom of any kind handed down to me, so I decided to buy one and start now. Can’t get you any pics until December though, out of town for now…
That’s sounds like a really a really nice rifle. I look forward to eventually seeing pictures of it.
….Dave
John D. said
I owned a Miroku 1894 rifle for a while, and it was a beauty.Fit and finish was superb, and the bluing was deep and rich.I traded it off, mostly because I didn’t shoot it that much, but a couple of “features” really bothered me – the tang safety and the rebound hammer.
Thank you John.
Motocop said
That’s sounds like a really a really nice rifle. I look forward to eventually seeing pictures of it.
….Dave
Just help me remember I owe them to you!
Jeremy P said
Motocop said
That’s sounds like a really a really nice rifle. I look forward to eventually seeing pictures of it.
….Dave
Just help me remember I owe them to you!
Will do!
Motocop said
Jeremy P said
I also have a Miroku 1982 in 357/38 that is Turnbull finished and has my last name engraved on the receiver. I bought it because I was not fortunate enough to have a family heirloom of any kind handed down to me, so I decided to buy one and start now. Can’t get you any pics until December though, out of town for now…
That’s sounds like a really a really nice rifle. I look forward to eventually seeing pictures of it.
….Dave
If Turnbull had anything to do with it, you made up for your uncooperative ancestors in one fell swoop. I think one of the most practical pistol caliber carbine chamberings is the 38/357, particularly if the carbine (or rifle, for that matter) is an 1892 pattern made of current steels — those are light and strong enough to handle “gopher baroque” [per the late Dean Grennell] deer and hog medicine, cast lead for turkeys, and it is a formidable defense weapon should the need arise, usually available even in the most anti-gun jurisdictions. The only 92 I have is a 25/20 I had restored but it shucks and shoots almost without noticeable friction. I think they all do because of the mini-86 design, plus there’s less mass being shifted around than with the 86. I like the 94, and 95, but neither of those can (for me) match a 92 for slick and smooth operation. The 73 can but not for lightness. In short, you done good.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Gentlemen, I’d like to thank all of you that replied to this thread with your experience, opinions, and feelings about the Miroku Winchester model 73.
Today I found a new 73 that appeals very well to me, chambered in .38/.357 and I made the purchase. I have not yet fired it but my initial impression, specifically to fit and finish on this thing, are beyond what I expected. The blued surfaces, case colors, and wood finishes are spectacular. The wood fitment at every point where it meets metal surfaces is absolutely perfect with no gaps and made evenly proud of all mating metal surfaces. I am very eager to run some rounds through it and see how it shoots.
Interestingly….. included with the instructions, NRA membership application, NSSF info and other such items was an application for WACA. Ha, I’m already here!
Because of your input I felt confident that I was purchasing a quality rifle. So far, I am very impressed with it……which was the whole point of asking. I greatly appreciate your help.
Dave
Dave, Thanks for pointing out the current manufacturer of Winchester guns is supporting WACA by including membership applications in every new gun box.
This is in addition to furnishing one new rifle gratis for the Cody raffle and allowing us to buy the second one from them at cost; and furnishing many items for our auctions.
As an organization, we accept their generosity but refuse to acknowledge their very fine products are worthy of being called “Winchesters”.
It’s a free Country but I find it curious and more than a little two-faced, as my late mother would have said.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Awesome, I’m glad you picked one up! Now you’ll need a classic one to go with it! 
Jeremy P said
Awesome, I’m glad you picked one up! Now you’ll need a classic one to go with it!
Thanks Jeremy! I’m absolutely in love with the silly thing.
Well, I do have the classic side covered too. I have an early 3rd generation 73….nothing fancy 38-40 straight stock octagon barrel.
Dave
Motocop said
Jeremy P said
Awesome, I’m glad you picked one up! Now you’ll need a classic one to go with it!
Thanks Jeremy! I’m absolutely in love with the silly thing.
Well, I do have the classic side covered too. I have an early 3rd generation 73….nothing fancy 38-40 straight stock octagon barrel.
Dave
Have one exactly like that too. It’ll be until mid December, maybe Thanksgiving, but I’ll post up some pics of it AND the Turnbull/Miroku 1892.
Jeremy P said
Motocop said
Jeremy P said
Awesome, I’m glad you picked one up! Now you’ll need a classic one to go with it!
Thanks Jeremy! I’m absolutely in love with the silly thing.
Well, I do have the classic side covered too. I have an early 3rd generation 73….nothing fancy 38-40 straight stock octagon barrel.
Dave
Have one exactly like that too. It’ll be until mid December, maybe Thanksgiving, but I’ll post up some pics of it AND the Turnbull/Miroku 1892.
Nice! Looking forward to seeing those!
Zebulon said
Dave, Thanks for pointing out the current manufacturer of Winchester guns is supporting WACA by including membership applications in every new gun box.This is in addition to furnishing one new rifle gratis for the Cody raffle and allowing us to buy the second one from them at cost; and furnishing many items for our auctions.
As an organization, we accept their generosity but refuse to acknowledge their very fine products are worthy of being called “Winchesters”.
It’s a free Country but I find it curious and more than a little two-faced, as my late mother would have said.
Bill,
I’m too new here to intelligently comment but it does seem somewhat hapless to shun this nice rifle. But again, I am new here and I’m sure I’ll figure out why eventually.
…Dave
November 7, 2015
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Motocop said
Zebulon said
Dave, Thanks for pointing out the current manufacturer of Winchester guns is supporting WACA by including membership applications in every new gun box.
This is in addition to furnishing one new rifle gratis for the Cody raffle and allowing us to buy the second one from them at cost; and furnishing many items for our auctions.
As an organization, we accept their generosity but refuse to acknowledge their very fine products are worthy of being called “Winchesters”.
It’s a free Country but I find it curious and more than a little two-faced, as my late mother would have said.
Bill,
I’m too new here to intelligently comment but it does seem somewhat hapless to shun this nice rifle. But again, I am new here and I’m sure I’ll figure out why eventually.
…Dave
Dave-
I don’t feel we shun the modern products of the current iteration of Winchester. I think many members actually like the BACO/Miroku products and there’s no denying Winchester has been good to WACA. It’s just that the newer guns are outside of the scope of this forum’s stated interest. For me, and probably most members, it’s as much about the history as it is about the guns. Modern guns simply don’t have the history of a gun built a hundred or so years ago. Many collectors are only interested in pre-war guns, a few only collect antiques. I’m been known to tease members by using the term “R-word” or “M-word” to refer to Remington and Marlin even though I have owned both but will neither confirm nor deny their current presence in my modest collection. It’s not so much shunning or prejudice as it is about focus, IMHO.
Mike
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