Picking Up an old 1873 tomorrow

[rbertalotto]

I'm buying an old 1873 Winchester tomorrow.
Ser # 155674A / 1884 manufacture date

It appears from pictures to be in relatively good shape. The asking price is $795.00











It is currently in caliber 38-40, but the rifling is totally gone. It seems like a candidate for relining.

I would imagine 44-40 would be the logical caliber?  Would 45LC be practical?

Any advise would be appreciated.

[Old Top]

rbertaloto,

I would go 44-40 and not look back.  That is the round these rifles were designed for.

Old Top

[The Pathfinder]

Looks like a great deal. I agree with Old Top, 44 WCF is definately the way to go if the bore is shot out. Heck, you don't even have to change anything out in the action as the parts are the same for the 44 and the 38, just get the barrel rebored/relined.

[Advertising]

[Deadeye Dick]

That is one great price. Neat old rifle. Congratulations on a great find.
Deadeye Dick

[rbertalotto]

I decided I'd leave it 38-40. This way the barrel marking remain correct and I have other 44 and 45 caliber rifles. I don't have a 38.....And the 38 will make a great "plinking" round and a very low recoil CAS round..........Agreed?

[Old Top]

38-40 works also.

[Tascosa Joe]

It hits plenty hard with a full case of BP and a 180 gr bullet, and makes an outstanding CAS round.  I have several 38-40's mostly 92's and love shooting them.   The only thing I have found is the 38-40 needs a good bore to shoot BP consistantly.

[rbertalotto]

Well I drove two hours and bought the rifle............It is actually better in person than the pictures I was sent. I'm a VERY happy camper!

It appears someone blued the side plates, dustcover, magazine tube holder and possibly the lever some time ago. When a gun is 128 years old that leaves a lot of time for someone to mess with it. The barrel is a very nice rust brown and there is still a hint of case on the receiver. A couple very minor scratches but zero pits. The wood is in excellent shape. It has the Winchester shellac finish. If I didn't know any better I'd refinish it. I love the way it looks!

 I took it completely apart and gave it a good cleaning. There is extreme low wear inside.

The bore it total toast. A real sewer pipe. Someone must have shot it little and put it away dirty.

I'm going to have it relined to 38-40 as that is what it is marked.

Now I need to find out everything I can on the 38-40 cartridge. I'll start another post looking for help.

High Def pictures tomorrow..........

So, I paid $795 and the Blue Book says a rifle in this serial number range in 50% condition is worth $3,250........If the bore was shootable I'd call this rifle 70-80%.........Nice!

[Old Top]

Rbertalotto,

You may wish to scrub the bore out and try to shoot it, I have had two that looked that way but shot fine, barrels were bad looking and pulled about ten patches out full of rust and crud but shot great.

Old Top

[rbertalotto]

Thanks Old Top....I'll certainly shoot it first, but it is really horrible with a nasty ring about half way down the bore. I brushed it and even used steel wool to try and find rifling, no luck....

[rbertalotto]

More pictures posted

http://public.fotki.com/Rbertalotto/things-that-go-bang/1873-winchester/