1873 Winchester Frame

[Chase]

I have an original 73 frame and a 94 barrel in 44-40.  Would like opinions on whether it would be worth building a shooter from it or better to find someone interested in buying it. 

[Old Top]

Chase,

Sounds as if you have a shooter now, is the barrel marked as a 94 or do you beleive it is a 94 as it is round?  Is it a rifle, short rifle or carbine?  If the action is good and it is in the caliber you want I would hold on to it they seem to get more for them in parts then the whole rifle.

Old Top

[Grizzly Adams]

I agree with Top.  Worth more as parts, unless you just have a lot of money you want to devote to building those two components into a rifle.  When you say, "frame" I an assuming the a stripped frame with no other components present.....  I am not certain but that  94 barrel in 44WCF MAY not be compatible with the 73 frame as far as threads go.....will it screw into the frame?

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[Chase]

The barrel is stamped as a 94.  I didn't know 94 's were ever made in 44-40.  I got the barrel and frame assembly from a late friends estate.  He was a gun bluer and dabbled in smithing.  I am kinda leaning toward selling them off as parts and taking the money to buy something complete.  I did some pricing and it deflated my interest.

[Chase]

Oh, the barrel threads in and seems to be aligned properly.  The barrel has a ramped front sight which indicates it was a later manufacture.

[Old Top]

Chase,

You are saying 73 frame assembly, does this mean that you have all of the parts or just the frame and buttstock?  The only problem I can see if you have the barrel is the fit of the forend.  If these are original the Uberti parts will not work with out a lot of work to fit them.

Old Top

[Jan Buchwald]

I have searched the net for a carrier spring, and ended up making it myself. A lot parts are sold out. Parts for the Uberti don't fit. I have been told that the Chaparral '73 was closer to the original, but Chaparral is out of business.
Firing pin, sold by Dixie fit, extractor don't

[Chase]

Update:  Someone made my life simpler and waved cash at me for the frame and I took it.  Hard to justify buying the parts when I have seen complete guns sell for as low as $850.00.   Granted they are not great specimens, but economically it just didn't make sense.  Thanks to all you gents for your input.  It is appreciated.  Great country we live in to have the freedom to tinker with these guns.