Both are priced very good, in good shape and each would be a good deal. The Winchester is dated somewhere in the mid 1870's. I forgot the exact mfg date as I was so excited about it.

If you could only get one....which would it be?

I have the above offered to me.

I have a dilemma.

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It may be heresy here, but I'd go with the Winchester if its a good deal. I like guns that might have done things, and the odds are better that Winchester has some stories to tell.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

I'd go for the Smith. I hate the cleanup involved with black powder, and there ain't no way I'd shoot smokeless in a gun made in the 1870s. If I wanted a '73, in .44, to actually shoot, I'd look for one made in the 1920s, or buy a Uberti.

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I always take precautions

I would be interested in the 27 if you aren't. thanks

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

Probably the Winchester, just because you don't see them much....I see 27-2's come up every now and then.....

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Even older, even crankier....

What is the condition of each? The old '73 is more likely to suffer expensive parts breakage. I wouldn't consider it as a "shooter."

I'd jump on that .357, if in good shape and well-fitted. It probably looks a lot nicer if the price is even close, and a M-27 is also a classic gun, and more practical.

This. Black powder is a massive PITA. The .427 dia bullets for reloading 44-40 are not common, nor inexpensive

The Smith can shoot 38 Special and 357 magnum ammunition, which is very common.

If you reload for it, components are relatively inexpensive and VERY common.

The 1873 44-40 should probably re relegated to collector, non shooting status, or at the very least, very little shooting.

As for me, if I buy a gun, I want to take it out and shoot it, a LOT. You just can't do that with an antique Winchester,

All depends if you want a shooter "model 27" or a collector piece
"Winchester".... Both are nice guns but i'm with those who will
not be messing with black powder again. Been there done that.
Good luck with your choice.


chuck

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They hold no Quarter

The 27-2. I've got two of them, a 3 1/2" and a 6". I'd love to have a 5" as well.

I would have to go for the '73 since I killed my first deer with one in 44/40 at the age of fourteen. Lordy, that was a long time ago.

I'd be on that Winchester like ugly on an ape........Whoops, mebbe I better re-phrase that.... Don't want no trouble with the trail boss here.

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Eccentric old coot

All depends on what you want or need. I already own a 27-2 5" so personaly I would go for the winchester. The rifle should be worth more now and later. I am surprised that in like good condition that they are in the same price range. The winchester would be bought to collect and not shoot, the 27 would be bought to use.
I just know this is going to po some here. I bought my 27-2 NIB around 1970. I sent it back to smith, got all the options put on. Presentation smooth grips, red insert, wo rear sight, target hammer and trigger plus my name engraved in a gold oval on the side plate and the wood case. I shot it a little initaly, maybe requalfied with it for my job on a half dozzen requals or so. Other than that its been a safe queen for 40 years! Why? Because I have owned and still own other 357s that are lighter, therefore handyier and easier to pack that are just as accurate. Colt troopers, a 66-3, 2 1/2" python etc. I also own a companion 5" 29-2. I have come to find through the years that if I carry a N frame for the day on rideing the trails ATVing, I prefer a .44 special 24-3 4" that is lighter or a old converted HD to .44 special.
Now I have to get that jewel out of the safe and see what it looks like!

I have a 27-2 5”, which like feralmerril, I bought new, mine in 1967, just before the Chicago Riots. It came with target trigger and hammer, and about the nicest out-of-box trigger I have.
Since we are not permitted open carry here, it is not a carry pistol any longer. I do shoot it however, and I expect it will be the last pistol to go---you know the legendary gun pried from my cold, dead hands.

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Ipsis Rebus Dictantitbus

I'm with Iggy and feral; Winchester. I have two 5" mod 27-2's, and you still see them for sale on a semi-regular basis. If you can only afford one now, ask yourself which one would likely come up for sale in another year or two when your gun-buying budget has been replenished.

A mid-1870's Winchester is far less likely to come around again.

Oh yeah, I'm NOT with Iggy on the part about the ape...

I'd take the Winchester,,if I didn't already have one to shoot and one just for lookin'..
Ones a plain 44-40 full oct straight grip. I had it rebored from a 38-40. Wonderful shooter. Made in 1888. Cast bullets of the 'odd' 44wcf diameters are sold by most cast bullet dealers.

I use either American Pioneer BP sub or light smokeless loads of RedDot.
Lately more R/D loads, but I've been loading them for a Remington 14 1/2 in that caliber too.

It's not a Magnum and never was meant to be.
But check the ballistics of the 205gr cast out of a rifle bbl and it isn't too shabby.
The round is easy to load dispite to horror storys of brass cases crumpling before your very eyes.

The other 73 is a pistol grip deluxe 44-40 in too nice of condition that it doesn't see any use.

>
Other than the 5" bbl,,there really isn't anything about the revolver that's different from the rest of the 27-2's.
I know they bring a premium and they balance well, ect, ect.

But it's not like it's a pre-war mag or or even a pre-27 model.

Still working on a deal, but the 27-2 is a sure thing at a great price. I'll have it this week. Going to do the transfer today or tomorrow. It's an S number and is beautiful. Just a slight bit of muzzle wear. Boy does it shine.

Since my OP, I've decided I can handle the cost of the Winchester as well !!!

I didn't state that they were the same price (as one poster commented) but that they were both 'a good deal'.


I've wanted an 1873 for a long time and I hope this part comes thru soon.

The seller is waffling a bit on the Winny but I made him a nice offer and I think it will be mine soon.

Once I have this, then I want to find an original 1873 Colt SAA. I don't want the Winny to be lonely.

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Congratulations on the 27, and hopefully the Winchester as well! Pics needed, of course!

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Even older, even crankier....

Yeah if I could not have bought them both, my vote would have been for the 73

Have fun with your Winchester, a model '73 manufactured as early as yours is strictly a blackpowder cartridge rifle, pyrodex may be substituted, theres got to be somebody that will disagree. I'd recommend you get a copy of "Shooting Lever Guns of the Old West" by Mike Venturino. Its a good read with information regarding all of the original Winchester and Marlin lever rifles as well as the modern copies.

Well, I got them both. The 27-2 is real purdy, not 100% mint but absolutely nothing to be ashamed of either. It's an 'S' series number. Some small bluing wear spots on the end of the 5 inch barrel and a small spot on the cylinder where it sat for a while. Not a safe queen but as good as it can be and still be called a shooter. I'm very pleased with it.

The 1873 is in good shape, the bluing is about typical for the age, mostly gone, but it was well taken care of, smooth action, good wood, barrel.

I want to know more about it but I can't seem to find any thing on the web where there's a dedicated Winchester forum.

Anyone know of a good source of 1873 info?

I've ordered a couple of books to learn more about them but online sources would be appreciated.

I'll get some pics up later.

Thanks.

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Here is where you want to go. Levergunner site.
Paco Kelly's Leverguns.com • Index page

Venturino's books is full of information. You can look into the Lever Action Shooter's Society, they have some folks on their that are historians and would probably be interested in getting some pictures of your '73. There is also quite a bit of information regarding reloading, etc. Reloading black powder cartridges is different from smokeless, most loads are done compressed, you need to use a brass or aluminum funnel or powder measure in order to cut down on static electricity. I might one day pick up a black powder Winchester/Browning 1885 high-wall, they were made a few years ago with Badger barrels with appropriate twist for black powder loads. Its fun to watch the guys down at the range making one ragged 1" hole in the bull at 200yds, buffalo rifles. I passed on a 1885 high-wall in 40-82 a real rare bird and renowned for its accuracy, still kickin myself...gotta stay outa Cabela's special gun room.

winchester in a heartbeat! I have 27's already.

lousy pic taken with a cell phone..my memory card for my real camera walked away. It looks scarred but isn't. Is it worth $500 ?


The 1873. Actually made in 1887. I can't find anything about the short magazine or the B at the end of the serial number. 24 inch barrel and no saddle ring.

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That, I believe, is known as a button magazine.
You admitted to what you stole the 27 for, but not the 1873...

Are those ivories on the 27?

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War Eagle! '10 BCS & '13 SEC

They are genuine ivory from the wild fauxbeast. I think the Tyler's look good on it. It's the first set I've gotten and I'm pleasantly surprised that I like them.

Although I know I got a very good deal on the 73, I'm not going to post it here on the off chance my wife will see it and not understand what a 'good deal' means regarding 1873's.

It's the only one I've seen without the full mag. I wonder if it's a scarce model.

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