Cpt.Dan and everyone,
I sent Dan a PM about this today, and then figured I better go back to put a finish on this thread.
I called on Winchester/BACo around the first of every month until December. Every time I was polite, and they were polite (no reason not to be, not like it was the service guys fault or something) The whole time, they were insistent that they had NO idea when the next shipment would arrive (as they were going to replace, rather than repair). About the second week in Dec. I called again and told them that a that point, I would be happy to receive any caliber they DID have rather than wait for a 45. The fellow I talked to told me they would be happy to upgrade my rifle to the CCH version as an apology. I told them I would take anything at that point (although I actually prefer the blued finish). They still had no idea when the next shipment would be in from Japan. A week after that I receive a check from BACo for a full refund of the price of the rifle.... No explanation, no note, nothing...... I called once more, but no one seemed to know anything about it.
I cashed the check, bought some Christmas presents with the money, and decided to move on.
The 73's are beautiful, the service people were doing their best( but had NO information to work with), and it just leaves me with the thought of "what a strange way to run a company!!
Scratched the "new gun" itch by buying a 95% finish Colt 1903 .32 Hammerless, that appeared to be unfired!!
Tom W.