Restored an early 1873 Winchester

[jarhead jim]

The story behind this rifle is amazing. It was being used as a leg for a bench in a machinist's shop. Rusty, oily..... Traded a 25' long welder extension chord for it. Originally was just going to find a hammer and a side plate and make a wall hanger out of it. Then I saw the four digit serial number. Researching the rifle I found it was made July 25th 1875. Eventually found all of the missing parts. Relined the barrel, had it case colored and blued. The early 1873's didn't have the caliber engraved on the brass loading chute because .44 WCF was the only caliber this rifle came in this early. Single set trigger too. And of course shoot nothing but black powder and pure lead cast boolits!

[Sam Sackett]

Beautiful! It’s now a wall hanger AND a shooter. You brought it new life. Thanks!

Sam Sackett

[para45lda]

Fantastic!!

[Bazoo]

Cools man thanks for sharing. That’s an awesome find.

[Kimber1911]

That is really nice!!

[dverna]

Well done...if only the old girl could talk.

[Babbott213]

Beautiful!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Shawlerbrook]

Fantastic !!! If only that gun could talk.

[remy3424]

Well done Jim, very nice work.

[missionary5155]

Howdy JiM
Well done rescue job! Blesses my heart. Enjoy that fine old #1 Model 73.

[HWooldridge]

Please post some pics of how she shoots now that she's all purtied up.

[Randy Bohannon]

Now go shoot a fat Whitetail with it this fall.

[rcslotcar]

Thanks for sharing the amazing rifle!!!

[KenH]

Well done - the rifle sure does look nice. you did good.

[Bloodhound689]

Looks really good. The thanks for sharing. Can only imagine what life it has had.

[Ajohns]

Beautiful! Lots of stories I'm sure that one has

[John Taylor]

I ended up getting a 73 that was found under a house that was tore down. It has a good coat of rust but the action worked fine. So it got a liner and a new mage tube and became a shooter. While it probably could be cleaned up some I don't think it could ever be polished out to restore it. The butt stock is all there and usable, the forearm has a sliver out of it. It sort of reminds me of the one found leaning up against a tree a while back. I think I will leave it as an old rusted gun that shoots good. It's in 32-20 made in 1893.

[ATCDoktor]

I bought this one in southwestern Arizona for very short money (as far as 73’s go):

Gunshop I bought it from was convinced that it was a relic and not in firing condition and sold it “as is” as a “wall hanger” only.

I took it apart soaked it for a few days )it was dusty with rust), got everything loosened up (mag tube, follower and spring were rusted in place) and working properly and tried to clean the bore up as much as possible (it is quite rotten) and had it shooting in less than a week.



The shop I bought it from was shocked when the saw I was shooting it, they were convinced it was trashed.

[Wayne Smith]

Beautifully done. Did you do the case coloring? If so, you may not want to post it here or you will have an added business!

[jarhead jim]

Beautifully done. Did you do the case coloring? If so, you may not want to post it here or you will have an added business!

I was gonna try but backed out and had Lonnie Meyer at Run-n-iron in Bertrand, NE do it for me.

Jim