1873 lever safety spring

[Bo Vineman]

Has anyone used a replacement lever safety spring from the Smith Shop for their 1873 Winchester?

I ordered one and I see that it does not look like the pictures I see online. There should be a 90 degree bend on one end of the spring to engage the safety bar, but on mine both ends are straight.  I can easily bend one end, but it would make that leg a little shorter.

If you have used one, did yours have the bend when you got it, and secondly was the bent leg a little shorter due to the bend?

Bo Vineman

[August]

That doesn't sound right to me either.

Give them a call.

[Tornado]

I just got one in the mail a couple of days ago.  I didn't look at it closely, but I think it had the bend at one end.  I'll check it out when I get home.

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[TheOtherLeft]

I bought one a couple of months ago. I'm fairly certain one of the legs has the 90 degree bend because I recall adjusting the leg so it would sit flat

[Pettifogger]

Here is what it supposed to look like.  Yes, the end with the bend will be a little shorter.  One thing to watch for is that the bend part does NOT extend past the top of the safety lever.  In the photo, it ends a little past the middle.  I had a couple that were a little long and the leg of the spring would catch on the frame when the lever got pushed up.

http://www.thesmithshop.com/leversafety.html

[Tornado]

I just checked mine, it has the bend.

[Red Cent]

What safety spring?

[Pit Mule]

Exactly.

[Pettifogger]

Removing safety springs use to be fairly common when doing actions jobs on 73s. HOWEVER, few gunsmiths will do it anymore.  Winchester put the trigger safety in there for a purpose.  It you have ever fired a 73 out of battery it can get pretty exciting.  The trigger safety helps prevent that.  Yes, I know 66s don't have the safety.  There are far fewer 66s in use at CAS events and if there is an injury recourse is against the manufacturer.  If a smith removes the safety then recourse is against that smith.  Properly tuned, the safety helps prevent accidents and has ZERO impact on shooting the gun.

[Red Cent]

Wouldn't know about the impact. I have 4 1873s and none have the spring. I have competed since 2000 and hot and heavy until 2007. Slowed a little in the last seven years. Never fired one out of battery. And in some good ol' days I won some speed rifle events. I believe I ran in the mid 2s for 10 rounds of 38s.  Nothing like Deuce or Stan but wasn't too slow.

Wonder if the ten top ranked shooters in SASS have the springs in their rifles.

Not knocking the springs. They are (were) there for a reason. For the inexperienced shooter I would recommend leaving them in.

Once at MuleCamp, a friend fired his 66 out of battery. Bolt/extension got his glasses and cut the brow of his eye. But he always ran the 66 like a jackhammer.

[Pit Mule]

Okay, I do not take the spring out. But I do snap off the little 90 degree tab. So the spring is there I just do not have to worry about it not being effective when I get in a hurry...