Well, fellas, I picked up my new NEW Winchester Model of 1873 this afternoon. I am trying to get packed up and off to Founders Ranch for Buffalo Stampede, so this first report will be short! I did take a few quick pics as promised.
First, the rifle is very nicely finished. Metal is a deep blue/black polished finish, which was standard for the original. Wood is a nice straight grain Walnut (?), again in keeping with the standard rifle, and finely fitted. Barrel is 20 inch. Crescent butt plate is a polished blue, without the cleaning rod trap. Rifle cycles and functions with both 38 sol and 357 mag. It is surprisingly smooth out of the box, with much lighter springs than one would expect to find in a stock OTB firearm. Built in Japan by Miroku, marked Winchester. Overall, I am very pleased with it.
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I can tell you now, that Winchester has aimed this rifle squarely at the CAS shooter. More about that when I return from Buffalo Stampede.
Cheers!