1873 Winchester - who knows anything about them?

[S&W_aussie]

HI All,

I just bought an 1873 Winchester 44-40 cal with a full octagonal barrel, button 6 - shot mag, built in 1895. I paid $590 for it. I cant really show you a pic as I have to wait for the permit but it seems to be in fine working order. It has been refinished a loooong time ago and is in overall vgc.

Now...the problem is that I know less than nothing about them. I have never even shot a lever action! I have a basic understanding of them but I do not know the specifics of this model.

• For example, the top dust cover comes back when the lever is cycled but is it meant to stay open or close again? (stay open is my guess)
• Are the 6 shot and 15 shot mags (easily) interchangable?
• What was the basic finish configuration? I hear it was a blued reciever & barrel with case hardened lever, hammer, trigger and internals. I hear that there were case hardened recievers and forend caps as special orders..is this the basic configuration tho?

Probably the most important question I have is if it is ok to use smokeless powder cartriges in an 1895 built gun. My understanding is that it was in 1895 that Winchester changed the 44-40 from 40gr of BP to 17gr of DuPont Number 2 Smokeless Powder. I assume this was ok to use in 1895 guns?

AS always any help is greatly appreciated

Mike

 

[David LaPell]

I once owned a Winchester 1873 in .38-40 that was manufactured in 1892. Yes you can use factory ammo in it because the smokeless load duplicated the old black powder loads. If your magazine is original (alot of people trimmed magazines down and a button mag in an octagon barrel would be very rare) then changing it would reduce its value. You would need a magazine tube, spring, plunger and the band to hold everything in place. As far as the finish goes, they had a blued finish but I do not recall what parts would be case colored. As far as the dust cover, yes it stays open. I will say for $590, as long as your gun fully functions and there are no issues (I would have a gunsmith check it out) then you got a steal for sure, they don't grow on trees like they used to and they are usually big bucks for even a junker. I know I still wish I owned mine.

 

[S&W_aussie]

Thanks David!

Can you get these things factory "lettered"? That would tell me the original configuration I guess?

The guy I got it from is a collector owns one of the biggest gunshops around here. He had it checked by his gunsmith. He is getting rid of a few of his lower grade guns...too many storage vaults full already..lol. He is mainly into Colts (has 1 of only two "Walkers" I know of in this country) and Winchesters.

Great to hear about the smokeless powder too

I do have one pic of the actual gun as I first saw on his website..it is not very good and the gun looks a LOT better in person... .lol



Cheers

Mike

 

[s&wchad]

The dust cover is designed to be open when firing. If it's closed and you have a case failure, you won't have a cover any more.

Changing a button mag to full length is very complicated and ill advised. It requires machining the botton of the barrel for the tube, hanger and cap. Besides, octagon barrels with button mags are much rarer than OBFM's. Great buy!

Factory leters are available from the Cody Firearms Museum on guns made before 1906.

 

[Trooperdan]

Mike, here is a link to a page on the 1873 model with info on getting a factory letter. I've forgotten the cost for a letter but recall that it wasn't cheap!

The Winchester Collector Model 1873

Edited to add an email address for serial number inquiries:

[email protected]

 

[S&W_aussie]

Thanks heaps for the info Chad and Dan!....guess its a $60 payment to the Cody Museum for a letter

Ill let you guys know what it turns up...would be great if it is original..fingers crossed (you never know your luck)

 

[mm6mm6]

I think all of your questions have already been answered. But I'll tell you one thing, you're gonna have a blast shooting that gorgeous '73! I also have a .44-40 half magazine tube '73 made in 1881.

I have fired it in a Cowboy Action Shoot and everyone asked me if it was a Cimarron or an Uberti or a Beretta. The look on their faces when I answer that it's an original Winchester is priceless!

Enjoy yours!

 

[S&W_aussie]

Thanks mm6mm6

I like the idea of that too. I have never owned a
'replica' anything....I don't see the point. I would rather play with an original anyday

Thanks to everyone for the info. I knew this was the best place to coem for it

Mike