Show off your Winchester Model of 1873.

[Grizzly Adams]

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OK, I'll start!

Original Winchester 1873 SRC in 44WCF.  Born in 1881.  Action is still tight and strong, wood solid.  It's a carbine, so it worked for a living, so blue remains in protected areas only.  Markings are still strong.  Bore is shootable.

[Montana Slim]

Nice idea for a thread.

Wow...Thats a nice one Grizzly...rare too to have a good condition/bore in a carbine.
My rifle is nothing special, but I'll hunt-down  pic & post soon.

[Grizzly Adams]

Nice idea for a thread.

Wow...Thats a nice one Grizzly...rare too to have a good condition/bore in a carbine.
My rifle is nothing special, but I'll hunt-down  pic & post soon.

Thanks, Slim.  Looking forward to seeing your rifle!

[Thomas (Tom) Horn aka James Hicks]

Grizzly, Here is my '73.  Just wish it was as old as your carbine... mine is a Uberti Deluxe Short Rifle. I thought she was a beaut ROB but she turned out to be my "problem child" ...laughing. Once I got her attitude straightened out ... the problem child disappeared. She has been super short stroked, and everything you can do to a '73 ... the action work was done by Joe Alves up at Pioneer Gun Works. That was "after" I learned (the hard way) on things you should not do when making a rifle race ready. LOL The action is slicker than a baby's bottom. I put the leather butt cover and leather on the lever. I do not like the feel of that cresent butt plate and the leather on the lever makes it easier on my old fingers.
Here is a ciouple of pics.  Love your carbine...

[Grizzly Adams]

Very pretty rifle, Tom.   I really like that pistol grip stock!  Glad you got her settled down!   

[Jake MacReedy]

Soon as my "Short Musket" arrives this week, I'll post pics as well!  It was made from an Uberti '73 Musket.

Jake

[w44wcf]

Guys,
Neat looking '73's.  

I found this '73 Short Rifle about 12 years ago.   It as an odd length 21" barrel, but it did letter ok.
It was sent to the warehouse in August, 1882 and was only there for 3 days before it was shipped.
Probably was special ordered.

Since I purchased it, about 3,000 rounds have gone down the barrel ...... smokeless and black powder.
She's a keeper.



Bottom rifle is an 1894 SRC in 30 W.C.F (1927). 

w44wcf

 

[Montana Slim]

As promised:







I had the barrel lined years ago...shoots better groups than my Ubertis.

Slim

[Thomas (Tom) Horn aka James Hicks]

Slim -- That is one good looking Winchester.  Interesting note.  It is a rifle, correct... not a carbine.  Looking at the stock, straight of SG type.  But I was thinking the '73's mostly had cresent butt plates or so I thought.  I really do not know that much about the Winchesters so I guess I am showing my ignorance. LOL.  Both yours and Grizz's great looking firearms.  Thanks for showing.

[Josie Wales]

Hi Fellas!  This is a good idea for a thread and I see there are already some great guns showing up.  w44wcf, that is a very nice piece of wood on your 73.  Slim, that's a nice rifle and a nice buck.  Did you get him with the 73?  I've been going to post pics of mine for a while now and I guess with the new model 73 forum now is as good a time as any.  Mine is a second model rifle as evidenced by the thumbprint dustcover and no caliber markings.  It was made in 1879 and also has a nice original tang sight.
Josie

[Grizzly Adams]

Those are sweet guys!   I like that short rifle 44wcf.  Unusual barrel length.  Slim, I have an1876 with the SG butt.  I know it was a special option, but I wonder why more folks didn't opt for it.  Looks great.  Very nice 2nd model, Josie.  My "dream 1873" would be a minty 1st model - but got to win the lottery first!

[Abilene]

Man, I am drooling over those originals!  One of these days...

Okay, mine are obviously repros, but here they are.  The front is a 16" Trapper in .45LC, the middle is a charcoal blue .357, and the third is a charcoal blue 44-40.  The .357 has two bulges in the barrel (from being loaned at matches) but still shoots great.  The front sights all have a brass bead made from welding rod JB-welded to them.  Oh, the '66 in the rear is .44 spcl.  The action is stock in all of them except that I adjust the spring tensions.

And in keeping with the theme, the beer box is a repro as well   

[Grizzly Adams]

A repro beer box?  Hope it came with real beer!  

Very nice group of 73s, Abilene.   I really like the charcoal blue finish the Cimarron puts on.  I have a 357 SRC with that finish, and a have really enjoyed it.  "They" say it is not durable, but mine has held up very well now for close to 15 years.

[hhughh]

Grizz, not to highjack, but I always like when handson experience doesn't mate up with "experts".  Personally, I've always bought standard finishes because of what "they" said abt charcoal blue.  Could you post a pic, so we could see what one looks like "plus 15?"

Thanks,
Hugh

[Marshal Deadwood]

I've never owned a Cimarron charcoal finish gun, but I've seen a few that's been used some and I think it looks grand. Seems that after awhile,,it kinda turns to the look of a real blue like we used to see 40 years ago. This new salt blue (black) I will grant you is durable. But it just lacks something. For one thing,,,it's black till it's gone,,you don't get the varying shades of age with it.

[Grizzly Adams]

Grizz, not to highjack, but I always like when handson experience doesn't mate up with "experts".  Personally, I've always bought standard finishes because of what "they" said abt charcoal blue.  Could you post a pic, so we could see what one looks like "plus 15?"

Thanks,
Hugh

I will try to get some pics of it to post, Hugh.   Marshall, you are right about the color aging nicely like it did when we were sprouts!

[Montana Slim]

All, nice to see more 1873's with a variety of unusual features .....lucky for us they did make a lot of these firearms and a goodly number have survived.

I've noticed my original rifle is noticeably heavier than repro rifles. The S.G. butt is partially responsible, but I note the barrel walls are a tad thicker as well. I know my rifle "hangs" well.

Oh....the antlers in my pic are from a Whitetail I took during shotgun season a couple years ago. Made a handy holder for the photo.
Our applicable rifle season is in January after most of the deer have headed to bunch up in the big timber...and you can only shoot does...If I give it a whirl someday, I'll likely use a .44-40 BP, but may pick a lighter model from the gun rack.


I see from recent auctions you can still buy a serviceable original 1873 for around $1,600....but, bore condition may be borderline.

Slim

[w44wcf]

Slim, Josie,
Neat looking examples of Winchester '73 history!

Abilene,
Georgeous '73 reproductions! Neat. 

Here's a beautiful Winchester

'73 Spirit Of America

[Grizzly Adams]

Slim, Josie,
Neat looking examples of Winchester '73 history!

Abilene,
Georgeous '73 reproductions! Neat. 

Here's a beautiful Winchester

'73 Spirit Of America

Stunning!

[Grizzly Adams]

As promised, here are some pics of my old Cimarron Arms 1873 Carbine with the charcoal finish.  This has been my primary match rifle for close to 15 years now.  I shoot alot, and most of it is with BP, although this rifle has had a lot of smokeless as well.  It has been cleaned with everything from soap and water and Windex to Hoppes or whatever I had on had.  It has not be pampered, in fact, it gets a lot of abuse - at least according to my gunsmith who cringes every time I "throw it down and run."!  In short, it's a tool I play pretty hard with.   The greatest lose of finish is on the barrel where it rides and rubs on  the gun cart, but all of my rifles show the same wear pattern there regardless of the finish.
 









Here's the worst of it - rub from guncart.

[Johnny McCrae]

I sure admire those original 1873's. Mine is a Uberti in .45 Colt. I'm thinking of stripping off the Factory varnish and just oiling it like my 1866. I sure like the appearance of the wood on my 1892.

[Coal Creek Griff]

My 1873 is just a reproduction, but I could afford it and I like it.  The reloading tools are original.

CC Griff

[Grizzly Adams]

Nice rifle, Griff.   I really like the old Winchester reloading tools.  Yours look to be in excellent condition.  I have tried to collect some in all calibers I shoot in the 73 and 76.  They make excellent loads given the correct bullet shape.   Have you tried reloading for your 73 with them?

[Coal Creek Griff]

Thanks.  Yes, I have loaded ammo with the tools, but I usually take the lazy way and use my more modern reloading equipment.  For one reason, my Uberti rifle prefers .429 bullets and the original mould casts closer to .427, making accuracy rather poor.

CC Griff

[Buck Stinson]

Well Griz, you did it again.  Very pleased to see this new forum about the '73.  Great job and thanks.

Buck