Log In
Members
Home
Add Reply
Add Topic
Offline
My 1873 was made in 1882, but has two side lower tang screws on each side like the first models did. Not sure if it was opted by who originally purchased the gun, but doesn’t really matter as I like the first model look. But I was curious what the pin was for, which is located right below the screws. I noticed some have it and some don’t. I still don’t have the rifle in hand yet to examine it, as California made me DROS it cause of some DOJ law about ammo being available on the market. Can anyone shed some light on this? Maybe more explanation about the two screws on a second model?
It is the pivot pin that the trigger and sear rotate on. When they went to the third model it still has the pin but its shorter and just goes through the lower tang and the receiver is not drilled thereby holding the pin from sliding out. The two screws above the pin hold the lower tang in the receiver as well as the pin and the lever pivot screw. There are also two studs sticking out the sides of the lower tang of a second model that slide into a slot in the receiver just ahead of the stock.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
First, your gun is a second model. And as far as having to DROS the gun I asked the gun shop owner who has been in business for at least 30 years just yesterday about this. He says he has never heard of anyone else in Kalifornia make someone do this.
Chuck said
First, your gun is a second model. And as far as having to DROS the gun I asked the gun shop owner who has been in business for at least 30 years just yesterday about this. He says he has never heard of anyone else in Kalifornia make someone do this.
Yeah I was told this before and it really upsets me they do this. From the sound of how they explained it, the CA DOJ just put it into effect this year as being enforced. I was so angry, as I brought my case and had my tools already to go on my bench to do the disassembly for inspection and cleaning.
But yes, it is a Second Model and I assume a later one, which makes me wonder why they used the two smaller screws on the side like the first model compared to the single bigger screw I notice on everything Second Model forward.
All second models have the pin, hammer screw and the side tang screws. Its not until the third model that they went with internal pins for the trigger and hammer and you just have the one screw. Here is a late second model 89,000 and I’ve seen second models as high as 115,000. You will find third models intermixed as low 88,000.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
1873man said
All second models have the pin, hammer screw and the side tang screws. Its not until the third model that they went with internal pins for the trigger and hammer and you just have the one screw. Here is a late second model 89,000 and I’ve seen second models as high as 115,000. You will find third models intermixed as low 88,000.Bob
Oh no kidding? Boy do I have a lot to learn. 
For some reason I always thought the second model carried the single screw. LOL! This is my first antique firearm, so I’ll be learning from here on out. Thanks for the info!
Kirk,
Here is a quick guide to the Winchester 73 models. The first model is identified by the dust cover that does not have a external rail that it rides on, it has a mortise groove that it rides in which is machined out of the receiver. Also the lever on it does not have trigger block safety provision. That is the protrusion at the front of the finger loop and the lever latch is a threaded thumb screw. The first model went to about 30,000. At 27,000 they had a short run of “open tops” which is no dust cover or provision for one to about 27900. After that you will find transition models which were first model frames with the mortise dust cover with the second model lower tang and lever along with first models. At 29601 starts a batch of Spanish carbines.
The second model have the exposed trigger pin, hammer screw and the side tang screws and the dust cover rail was screwed to the top of the frame with 2 screws and ran from 30,000 up to around 115,000 with the third model mixed in starting at around 88,000.
The third model moved the hammer and trigger pivots inside using pins and just had the one screw on each side to hold the tang. The dust cover rail was machined out of the receiver.
Now if your going to collect many different models I would suggest the George Madis Winchester book (the big one not the handbook) which covers many of the models and is still reasonably priced. There are books out there that do go in depth into individual models but the price on those can be high if you can find them.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
To add to Bobs great post above, this link may be useful.
It is from the fantastic Rob Kassab site RareWinchesters.com… A private collection of rare and historic Henry and Winchester repeating arms.
It shows what Bob is pointing out in diagrams drawn by Thommy Rholes. I have found these quite helpful: 1873 Information.pdf (rarewinchesters.com)
Chris
A man can never have too many WINCHESTERS...
Thanks Bob and Chris for the recommendations! I shall check these out. I can see where this can become addicting. Been a fan of Winchester my whole life, but never dipped in to the early originals. Even though this one I just bought isn’t up there on the collectors’ scale, it sure excited me the most out of all my other guns in my past.
1 Guest(s)
