Doc Coles SASS 1188 Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 I dropped by the local shop on Saturday and saw an interesting 44-40 Winchester 1873. It’s a pistol grip deluxe with xx or xxx wood, a half magazine, half round barrel. It shows it’s wear and has some pitting but it retains strong traces of color case and blue. The bore is nice and bright and the gun is mechanically perfect. I was taken with it and moved a couple of reproduction guns that I was not using to pay for it. I went and picked it up today. It was not much more than the cost of a current production 1873 deluxe. It joins the 1886 deluxe I found a couple of years back. Thought folks might enjoy seeing it. Update: It was manufactured in 1884. According to Madis, for the 1873, only 801 rifles had part round barrels, 2669 had short magazines, 1279 had special wood, 1066 were checkered, 1896 had pistol grips, 16137 had special order sights (it has the Rocky Mountain sight). So that is six custom order options. This one deserves a factory letter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 I like it .. a lot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rainmaker, SASS #11631 Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 Sharp! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goody, SASS #26190 Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 Very nice! Always wonder why so many back in the day would choose the button mag configuration. It certainly adds to the curb appeal, but limits the number of readily available shots. Granted, there wouldn't be that many occasions to rip off 10 or 12 shots, but still....., Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex Jones, SASS 2263 Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 Nice find. The wood looks pretty good. Any idea when it was made? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evil dogooder Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 39 minutes ago, Goody, SASS #26190 said: Very nice! Always wonder why so many back in the day would choose the button mag configuration. It certainly adds to the curb appeal, but limits the number of readily available shots. Granted, there wouldn't be that many occasions to rip off 10 or 12 shots, but still....., Because the guns were used a lot, bent mag tubes were a lot harder to replace back then. They didn't have next day shipping Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goody, SASS #26190 Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 9 minutes ago, evil dogooder said: Because the guns were used a lot, bent mag tubes were a lot harder to replace back then. They didn't have next day shipping Logical, Mr. Spock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tacobill Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 Nice, I like those 1/2 round 1/2 octagon barrels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Coles SASS 1188 Posted April 21, 2021 Author Share Posted April 21, 2021 2 hours ago, evil dogooder said: Because the guns were used a lot, bent mag tubes were a lot harder to replace back then. They didn't have next day shipping They also have a totally different, and very pleasant balance. I have a number of 73s and this one feels quite different. No good for sass because it only holds 6 rounds, but it would be a great gun otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimble Fingers SASS# 25439 Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 10 hours ago, Doc Coles SASS 1188 said: I dropped by the local shop on Saturday and saw an interesting 44-40 Winchester 1873. It’s a pistol grip deluxe with xx or xxx wood, a half magazine, half round barrel. It shows it’s wear and has some pitting but it retains strong traces of color case and blue. The bore is nice and bright and the gun is mechanically perfect. I was taken with it and moved a couple of reproduction guns that I was not using to pay for it. I went and picked it up today. It was not much more than the cost of a current production 1873 deluxe. It joins the 1886 deluxe I found a couple of years back. Thought folks might enjoy seeing it. Update: It was manufactured in 1882. According to Madis, for the 1873, only 801 rifles had part round barrels, 2669 had short magazines, 1279 had special wood, 1066 were checkered, 1896 had pistol grips, 16137 had special order fights (it has the Rocky Mountain sight). So that is six custom order options. This one deserves a factory letter. Reminds me of the rifle in the movies Hombre & Rio Conchos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 Go gentle on the cleanup. I use Murphy's Oil and a burlap rag to get the accumulation of scum off the wood. Maybe use Murphy's cleaner if not heavy. That's how l cleaned the wood on this Marlin made 1893. Copper wool (not copper plated steel) with your favorite cleaning oil on the steel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshall Matt Dillon Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 Doc, i could not resist redoing that wood. There is some beauty shining thru the dirt already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warden Callaway Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 Old Hunter Arms (top) picked up for $75 at gunshow. Look what was under the scum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 wow , i think you got a nice one , hope it comes clean as nice as WCs shotgun did , but it looks like it will , Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Coles SASS 1188 Posted April 22, 2021 Author Share Posted April 22, 2021 I am gently cleaning it up, but I want to keep its original patina and not remove any of the surviving finish. I am not going to refinish the gun. There are some things that can be done to improve the stocks without causing issues or making it look like it’s been worked over. Slow and easy is best with a gun this rare. I have had the side plates off snd the inside shows a lot of color case and blue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joeronimo Caffiend Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 Dude, you should totally ceracoat that iron and ditch the firewood for some sweet Realtree synthetic! (Can you tell I'm green with envy?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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