Uberti Rifle Soft Screws

[Col. Riddles]

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How to get them out without buggering them up.

Those of us who've been around this game more than a few months know about the soft spring screws in the Uberti 1860 Henry, 66 Yellowboy, and 73 rifles. We also know that Uberti uses Magilla Gorilla to put them in. More than a few cowboys have buggered up the heads, or stripped the threads of these screws trying to get them out. Well I found a way to get them out without damaging the screws.

Remove the side plates. Then place a small flat blade screw driver behind the small end of the spring (that's the end opposite the screw & toward the butt stock) & gently pry it toward you. It won't damage the spring and will relieve the tension on the screw. Then the screw can be easily removed without damage.

I did this yesterday on my 66. Then I put the srews in one of my wifes cast iron skillets and used a propane torch to heat them to an orange (not red) color & then dumped them in a little bowl of oil to harden them.

[Silver Creek Slim]

I wish I would've known that before I buggered up mine. 
Thanks for posting it, Col. 

Slim

[Steel Horse Bailey]

I'm with you, Slim!

[44caliberkid]

I haven't messed mine up too bad yet, but they do seem to open up the slots and scratch easy.  Does anyone make a replacement , made in the US of A, quality set for these guns?  If not, it would seem to be a good product for the after market, fire blued heads as an option.

[Major E A Sterner]

I haven't messed mine up too bad yet, but they do seem to open up the slots and scratch easy.  Does anyone make a replacement , made in the US of A, quality set for these guns?  If not, it would seem to be a good product for the after market, fire blued heads as an option.

Howdy Kid, VTI makes American made replacement screws for the henry,66 &73 rifles, you can find them at
http://www.vtigunparts.com/
Hopes this helps

Respectfully
Major E.A. Sterner

[Stoney Pete]

Does anyone make a replacement , made in the US of A, quality set for these guns?  If not, it would seem to be a good product for the after market, fire blued heads as an option.

You can get a set here and a new set of springs for your Henry, '66 or '73.  Happy Trails is well known in these parts to be a outstanding and upstanding gentleman.  I'm currently running these springs and screws in my '73.  Can't wait till my first match with them on the 27th.

[RRio]

I'm currently running these springs and screws in my '73.  Can't wait till my first match with them on the 27th.

So how'd they work?

[Wily Yankee]

44caliberkid,

Try Brownells at www.brownels.com you can get all the parts you need ( screws, springs ).When you get to the site just check out the schematics page for your rilfe and it is as simple as that.

Wily

[Stoney Pete]

I'm currently running these springs and screws in my '73.  Can't wait till my first match with them on the 27th.

So how'd they work?

Sweet.  My only hitch is the carrier spring is almost too loose.  If I touched the bottom of the carrier it would start sliding up in the rifel and throw off the timing thus not alowing me to cycle the action.  It never happended at the line, only the loading table.  Once aware of this there were no issues.  Next time I see Happy Trails I'll ask if bending that spring will increase the tension on the carrier.

I'm quite happy.

Stoney (what's sorry for taking so long to get back and answer you) Pete

[Montana Slim]

The mentioned technique will work on a '73, since the sideplates can be removed by means of a screw that does nothing else. However, the '66 & Henry's side-plates (I've encountered) cannot be removed without removing the lever pivot screw. Taking that screw out without first relieving the tension on the lever spring will bugger the threads in your right-sideplate for sure. Technique on these is to loosen the little screws first.

Slim

[blue drifter]

major sterner
  it's funnie you should be talken about VTI. I just screwed up the side plate screw, today!! so I went to VTI
and ordered all new outside screws for my 73. now i'm going to drill the head off and remove screw I messed up, with visegrips
then replace with all hard screws. I do have A question; dose anybody know if the 73 short rifle is the same as the73 carbine as far as the outside screws go. the only difference I can see is carbine barrel is 19" and
the 73 short rifle barrel is 20" thanks

[blue drifter]

I haven't messed mine up too bad yet, but they do seem to open up the slots and scratch easy.  Does anyone make a replacement , made in the US of A, quality set for these guns?  If not, it would seem to be a good product for the after market, fire blued heads as an option.

Howdy Kid, VTI makes American made replacement screws for the henry,66 &73 rifles, you can find them at
http://www.vtigunparts.com/
Hopes this helps

Respectfully
Major E.A. Sterner

major, I just spoke to VTI on the phone. the screws are NOT AMRICAN she said they come right from the factory at
uberti. she said maybe later on down the road,they will make A set of screws for the 66 & 73 but not right now!!!!!!!!! you think maybe they don't know their selling junk.
 ( NOT ) the right side that the screw go's into is $ 49.00 the left side were you use the screwdriver is about $60.00 so onless you know of someplace else,we are still stuck with the STYROFOAM SCREWS

[Stoney Pete]

onless you know of someplace else,we are still stuck with the STYROFOAM SCREWS

Happy Trails has just opened The Smith Shop.  He selling them.  Made right in Rhode Island.


Click the link The Smith Shop They're on the Lifter/Lever Spring Kit page.

[Major E A Sterner]

This was copied from the VTI website:

SI:200124  After Market Lever Spring Screw Taller Head (1866, 1873, Henry)  US$2.00

It was listed under the 66 rifle parts list, but not the 73, I was told that these screws are made in the USA.
Hope this helps anyone looking for the screws

[José Giganté]

I just got some of the screws in from Brownells yesterday and they are the taller head variety, much better.  I do wish I'd remembered VTI though, they are cheaper.

Jose