Winchester Model 1873 showing its age - The Firearms Forum

Downriver · 07-07-2011, 04:31 PM

Although I’d like to know the value of this rifle as judged by the forum, this write-up is really along the lines of an appreciation. I have a small collection of eight Winchester lever-actions, and this Model 1873 carbine is the oldest, rattiest, most beat-up, nastiest of the bunch. And it’s also undoubtedly my favorite. I’m sure all of you have a similar favorite firearm, maybe for reasons somebody else might not understand.

It’s often said of an antique firearm, “if this gun could talk…” If this Model 1873 could talk, it would speak Spanish. As far as I can determine, it spent the first century of its life in Mexico. That was a particularly tumultuous time in Mexican history, and I can well imagine the carbine being kept handy to put food on the table, hold off banditos, and take part in the Mexican Revolution (but on which side?).

Note: serious collectors may wish to skip this paragraph. Somewhere over time an owner with the initials DM decided to stipple his initials into both sides of the receiver, maybe out of pride or perhaps to distinguish his weapon from others. I’ve had this carbine for nearly 30 years, and in taking photos today I noticed for the first time that the initials differ on one side from the other, with a fancy “M” standing out from the block style of the other letters. A shame the initials aren’t “PV.”

As I value my eyesight I’ve never fired the 1873, but it handles beautifully. It feels comfortable in the hands and comes to the shoulder quickly, settling into firing position with no fuss. Probably my favorite thing about the Winchester is working the action. My other Winchesters, models 1892, 1894 and 53, cycle with a strong “click-click” sound and a solid modern action. The 1873 emits instead a low metallic “clunk-clunk,” and in cycling the action you can just feel the toggle link and the various gizmos inside working away. 1873 state of the art. Sweet.

As for the specifics, I believe it to be a third model .44-40, serial number 976XX, manufactured 1882. It’s missing its dust cover, but otherwise is intact.

Value: I expect some to proclaim it only a parts gun. Not to me. It’s worth its weight in character, functionality, engineering and history.

Your thoughts welcome. Thanks in advance.

And what's your favorite firearm in your collection?

oneshot onekill · 07-07-2011, 06:32 PM

I've seen worse... If the bore's good, I'd shoot that Bad-Boy! I have no idea of the value but I like it!

NZEF1945 · 07-09-2011, 04:43 AM

I have had one worse than this one - I would shoot it using black powder of course - but I might also add at this point that I am known to be quite mad - when my friends all use modern high powered hunting rifles I use ones like Whitney Kennedy and my New Model 1863 Sharps for pigs and a Martini Henry carbine now and again - still using 1899 - 1901 foil Ammunition for the latter!!!

I like your rifle - I would be happy to have it because it has history.

permafrost · 07-09-2011, 06:51 AM

I couln't stand it, myself .It would keep whispering to me "shoot me, shoot me"! I'd give in sooner or later.

Hawg · 07-09-2011, 08:00 AM

I'd have already shot it.

Downriver · 07-09-2011, 11:27 AM

Well, maybe you ol' boys are convincing me to give the carbine a try - after a gunsmith checks it out, as it's even older than I am. Two questions: what type of off-the-shelf ammo should I use? (I'm not a reloader.) And should I go to the expense of replacing the dustcover before shooting? It doesn't bother me that it's missing.

Jim Hauff · 07-09-2011, 12:19 PM

Nice old piece with lots of character. "Cowboy Action - SASS" sanctioned loads are way down-loaded for their type of low power competition.

Hawg · 07-09-2011, 12:20 PM

Don't worry about the dust cover and use cowboy loads.

Downriver · 07-10-2011, 09:14 AM

Glad to see there are some fellow "character" buffs out there.

Anybody available to give a value? Bert H? Jim K? jjmitchell60? Pls weigh in.

07-07-2011, 04:31 PM	#1
Downriver Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gulf Coast of Florida Posts: 29	Winchester Model 1873 showing its age Although I’d like to know the value of this rifle as judged by the forum, this write-up is really along the lines of an appreciation. I have a small collection of eight Winchester lever-actions, and this Model 1873 carbine is the oldest, rattiest, most beat-up, nastiest of the bunch. And it’s also undoubtedly my favorite. I’m sure all of you have a similar favorite firearm, maybe for reasons somebody else might not understand. It’s often said of an antique firearm, “if this gun could talk…” If this Model 1873 could talk, it would speak Spanish. As far as I can determine, it spent the first century of its life in Mexico. That was a particularly tumultuous time in Mexican history, and I can well imagine the carbine being kept handy to put food on the table, hold off banditos, and take part in the Mexican Revolution (but on which side?). Note: serious collectors may wish to skip this paragraph. Somewhere over time an owner with the initials DM decided to stipple his initials into both sides of the receiver, maybe out of pride or perhaps to distinguish his weapon from others. I’ve had this carbine for nearly 30 years, and in taking photos today I noticed for the first time that the initials differ on one side from the other, with a fancy “M” standing out from the block style of the other letters. A shame the initials aren’t “PV.” As I value my eyesight I’ve never fired the 1873, but it handles beautifully. It feels comfortable in the hands and comes to the shoulder quickly, settling into firing position with no fuss. Probably my favorite thing about the Winchester is working the action. My other Winchesters, models 1892, 1894 and 53, cycle with a strong “click-click” sound and a solid modern action. The 1873 emits instead a low metallic “clunk-clunk,” and in cycling the action you can just feel the toggle link and the various gizmos inside working away. 1873 state of the art. Sweet. As for the specifics, I believe it to be a third model .44-40, serial number 976XX, manufactured 1882. It’s missing its dust cover, but otherwise is intact. Value: I expect some to proclaim it only a parts gun. Not to me. It’s worth its weight in character, functionality, engineering and history. Your thoughts welcome. Thanks in advance. And what's your favorite firearm in your collection? Attached Images --> Last edited by Downriver; 07-07-2011 at 05:32 PM.. Reason: Add PS

07-07-2011, 06:32 PM	#2
oneshot onekill V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: DeBary, Florida Posts: 189	Re: Winchester Model 1873 showing its age I've seen worse... If the bore's good, I'd shoot that Bad-Boy! I have no idea of the value but I like it!

07-09-2011, 04:43 AM	#3
NZEF1945 Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Otago, New Zealand Posts: 6	Re: Winchester Model 1873 showing its age I have had one worse than this one - I would shoot it using black powder of course - but I might also add at this point that I am known to be quite mad - when my friends all use modern high powered hunting rifles I use ones like Whitney Kennedy and my New Model 1863 Sharps for pigs and a Martini Henry carbine now and again - still using 1899 - 1901 foil Ammunition for the latter!!! I like your rifle - I would be happy to have it because it has history. Last edited by NZEF1945; 07-09-2011 at 04:45 AM..

07-09-2011, 06:51 AM	#4
permafrost Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oklahoma, USA Contributor Posts: 1,771	Re: Winchester Model 1873 showing its age I couln't stand it, myself .It would keep whispering to me "shoot me, shoot me"! I'd give in sooner or later. __________________ Stand and Fight

07-09-2011, 08:00 AM	#5
Hawg Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,559	Re: Winchester Model 1873 showing its age I'd have already shot it.

07-09-2011, 11:27 AM	#6
Downriver Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gulf Coast of Florida Posts: 29	Re: Winchester Model 1873 showing its age Well, maybe you ol' boys are convincing me to give the carbine a try - after a gunsmith checks it out, as it's even older than I am. Two questions: what type of off-the-shelf ammo should I use? (I'm not a reloader.) And should I go to the expense of replacing the dustcover before shooting? It doesn't bother me that it's missing.

07-09-2011, 12:19 PM	#7
Jim Hauff Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 2,980	Re: Winchester Model 1873 showing its age Nice old piece with lots of character. "Cowboy Action - SASS" sanctioned loads are way down-loaded for their type of low power competition. __________________ Jim Hauff ~ H&R Collector In Memory of Bill Goforth and Jim Ritchie

07-09-2011, 12:20 PM	#8
Hawg Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,559	Re: Winchester Model 1873 showing its age Don't worry about the dust cover and use cowboy loads.

07-10-2011, 09:14 AM	#9
Downriver Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Gulf Coast of Florida Posts: 29	Re: Winchester Model 1873 showing its age Glad to see there are some fellow "character" buffs out there. Anybody available to give a value? Bert H? Jim K? jjmitchell60? Pls weigh in.