Good morning.
I recently acquired a basket case Uberti 73 in 44-40. It was reported to be reassembled wrong by the previous owner and he was frustrated and sold it. So I took a chance on a cheap project.
Upon arrival it had obvious signs of being a Frankenstein. The lever was missing the forward pad that was to depress the safety bar. It was also to small to reach the lever lock. It?s color case, and it?s not been ground on, just does not belong originally on the rifle. The safety bar spring was missing, and the bar flopping around. The extractor has the upper lobe designed to catch the dust cover filed off.
I ordered a replacement lever from Numrich, and a new extractor. I ordered an upgrade safety spring from Pioneer. When assembled, I have two issues which I believe are related to the toggle links.
1) The breech block won?t close all the way with a round in it. Minus the round, the breech block will close and the toggle links are locked and straight. A rudimentary attempt at headspace measurements, using strips of paper and then using veneers to check show 0.017 without shell. So with a shell in there, there is insufficient space to allow the links to lock.
2) The round in the carrier upon actuating the lever to load hits the stabilizing tip on the bottom of the breech block and stops the upward motion. I assumed timing issues, but if I pull the right side cover, holding the left cover in place, with the round and carrier elevated to the point they are hitting the stabilizing lip, if I use my fingers, and pinch the slight gap between the now compressed toggles, the breech block retracts just enough to allow the face of the breech block to recede into the channel to allow the round and carrier to continue upwards. This gap between the two toggles when they are in the compressed mode is noticeably present, moves about 1/16? maybe slightly less. But the lever is at full travel.
With the lack of ability to compress the toggles about the same distance the are to long when in lock mode leads me to believe these are to big and not the original to this rifle. The only stamps on them for indication is a number 3, on each toggle.
I can?t find any information on what the measurements should be for these toggles. They are different from an original Winchester, so I can?t use their numbers.
To this end, I have no way of knowing if the breech block and related components are original to this rifle, and have no confidence they are.
So, how do I go about ordering toggle links that will work for my basket case Uberti? I know it?ll cost some coin, but now I?m angry and money be damed. I?m going to figure this out.
It?s my first 1873, and I?m learning as I go, but logic tells me this poor thing has guts and parts from either another rifle or aftermarket parts that don?t work.
Appreciate any help and guidance.
Thanks
Justin.