re: Winchester may reintroduce '73 .... topic

[PJ Hardtack]

I've seen and handled two Turnbull '86's. Both with bright, beautiful colour case hardened frames and special wood, shotgun butts.
These rifles are works of art and dragging one through the boonies or putting one in a scabbard for a horse trek would be sacrilegious - IMHO.

I think my Browning '86 looks better. It's a matter of taste and preference. I also prefer the looks of my military Sharps rifles to my one and only civilian model - a plain Jane' Business Rifle'.

My beef with our B-9s's is that they have alloy barrels bands that are showing wear. Easily replaced by steel.

[Gus Walker]

   Dang  I must be the only feller around that likes the color of his Uberti 66. I look at it this way. does Uberrti cut corners as far as historical looks Yep . probably to facillatate modern manufacture. Remember folks there bottom line is profit. No profit no company.Same as with Winchester. Not to mention litigation lawyers. Look at all the oddball safties they have put on repop 92's and the peacemakers.
  Im just glad they are turning them out. Face it we are dealing guns that were obsolete 100 years ago.When they bring out a new model its great to me. Kinda like Dodge bringing back the Challenger...... Is it an exact copy...Nope.. but i sure would like one.
      Just my 2 cents and worth and worth every penny..  lol

[Blair]

I, for one (and this is just speaking from my own perspective), would like to see just how interchangeable these "new" made Japanize copies are of an "Original"/"REAL" 1873 Winchester 1873 Model.

What a bonus this could be to those wishing to restore any originals from new made arms?
And very much lost on those who make such "reproduction" arms.
My best,
Blair

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[Mean Bob Mean]

I don't really care for the case hardening on a Winchester

I like them both ways, and all grades and styles hold their own attraction for me.  I like the blued SRCs very much.

[King Medallion]

I would like to see them come out with an antique finish, one that looks like its been in a scabbard for 20 years. I'd buy on of those, in 44-40.

[Slamfire]

44/40,,,,,,,,HOOOORAH!!








  HOOTNIX.

[PJ Hardtack]

Why not 'antique' it yourself? The process is buggy science, not rocket.

I would like to see them come out with an antique finish, one that looks like its been in a scabbard for 20 years. I'd buy on of those, in 44-40.

[KirkD]

Some Miroku parts may not be interchangeable with original '73 bits. I know my Browning/Miroku 1886 SRC has different sized bolts and they are metric threaded.

[King Medallion]

Why not 'antique' it yourself? The process is buggy science, not rocket.

OK, what is "Buggy Science"? Heard this reference before but don't understand it.

[Ranch 13]

I think what he meant to say was get your rifle , put it in a scabbard and toss it into the trunk of your car or the back of your pickup seat and let it ride around for awhile, leave it out there in all kinds of weather. It'll look "antiqued" and scabbard worn in no time.

[Cliff Fendley]

That is the best way to get a used look, actually use the gun. The antique finishes always go too far. The guns were new back in the time we portray using them.

[PJ Hardtack]

No, I didn't mean that at all. What you described isn't "antiquing", it's firearms abuse. Most pistol makers offer 'antique' finishes out-of-the-box as an option. There is also a sticky on 'how to' on many sites.

Buggy science = low tech as rocket science = high tech.

When I was very much into re-enacting (Royal Engineers circa 1850-1870) I had a rack of Parker-Hale Enfields ('61 Musketoon, '58 two bander and '53 three bander) along with my Henry, etc.

Tourists would remark - "Those don't look very old." I'd respond - "Why would they Sir/Madam? This is 1863. They are fresh out of stores. If you want to see 'antiques', please go down the street to the Firearms Museum."

The historical awareness of MOST tourists that go to such venues is below par. It got tiresome dealing with them at times.

[Ranch 13]

 ???Abuse   I don't ever recall Meana selling doskocill padded, waterproof, and airline approved ATV scabbards from his shop...

[PJ Hardtack]

I thought we were talkin' guns, not leather.

But speaking of leather .... a pal only wears El Paso Saddlery leather. He never cleans, polishes or takes any care with it. In fact he does abuse it as he likes the look.

You pays you money - you does what you wants

[Ranch 13]

Wasn't zactly talkin leather, but was talkin about how to get a new rifle to look like those from days gone by..

[Blair]

Guns "from days gone by", surprisingly looked new when they were new.
Who would have thought?
My best,
 Blair

[King Medallion]

I didnt mean to make an argument out of it. I live in northern Illinois, dont have a horse, or a scabbard. Been using the same SRC Rossi 92 for almost 20 years for CAS. I shoot it, clean it, put it away. The finish looks the same now as it did 20 years ago new, few bumps and scratches n the stocks is all for signs of use. I was just saying I would buy a 73 that had an "antiqued" finish. 

[Ranch 13]

King yes sir, that's the way that most rifles were used even back in the day. The ones that are trying to be copied with a factory finish to look antiqued, didn't have that luxury treatment.
 Nothing like days, stretching on to weeks and years in a scabbard, or a holster (if we're talkin sixguns) to take the blue and finish off the metal parts.  And there's nothing quite like being so soaked in a rain that even the rawhide on a saddle horn is trying to melt off the frame to put a goodly bit of character on everything a fella might of had in his possession that day.
 

[Blair]

King M,

You are correct.
These item were tools. Very expensive tools within there day. (like they are cheap today?).
They were maintained and taken care of, if for no other reason than their cost and need for survival (cowboy or not)
My best,
Blair

[PJ Hardtack]

Yeah. Whenever I'm watching a duster and the waddies are herding cattle across a deep ford, I often wonder how many rifles in scabbards took a soaking and were never dried, cleaned and oiled. Same applies to pistols.

Can't say I recall more than one or two examples of Cowboys cleaning their guns in movies, and then they weren't even on the trail.

At a live fire demo at an historic mining town, we got hit by a torrential mountain thunderstorm! Man, did it rain! We had pistols in glass covered display cases and at least 18 rifles and shotguns out on tables.

We high tailed it into the carpentry shop and spent the next hour drying, cleaning and oiling as we had another show scheduled.
A year later, I had feeding issues with my '66 carbine. I pulled the mag tube plug and was shocked to see the rusty spring and interior of the tube.

And that was not a full immersion baptism, just a shower.