1873 Winchester Rebuild - The beginning

[Mossyrock]

Here are some pics of a Second Model '73 Winchester I picked up yesterday as a rebuild project.  It is not even CLOSE to collectable or shootable at this stage.  Heck, it isn't even good enough for a wall-hanger.  I am going to do a complete rebuild/restoration, doing as much of the work myself as I can.  This will include restocking, replacing parts as needed, all of the hand polishing, the nitre bluing and the rust bluing.  I have guys locally who can do the barrel relining (John Taylor) and relettering/remarking (www.gunfancy.com).  At this point, aside from the restocking, relettering and refinishing, it needs a new mag tube and spring (you can see in one of the pics that the tube is bent), a new mag tube plug, a new mainspring and lever-safety tab spring, and possibly a new dust cover.  It may also need a new buttplate since whoever restocked it with a pine 2X6 ground the lower end of the buttplate off.  I will see if the ground off material can be built back up with welding (John?  Comment?).  The bore is an absolute sewer pipe, and yes, that IS a buckhorn rear sight in the front sight dovetail.  No, I have NO idea why....


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I've had the sideplates off, and the links and pins look OK, although the firing pin is stuck, protruding from the breechface.  Once I start tearing it down, I'll post an update.  Once thing you CAN be assured of is that the butstock and foreend will be going in the wood stove as soon as I get them off!!

[yeti76620]

AAAHHHhhh GEEE-WIZzzzzz Mossyrock.......Looks like someone worked real hard carving up that fir 2x6 to fit that '73........        

Look'n forward to your progress......... WHAT, them boards aren't already in the stove?      

Yeti76620

[Coal Creek Griff]

This should be interesting.  Keep us posted on your progress!

CC Griff

[ndnchf]

Hey Mossy,

You got your hands full with this project.  Look forward to seeing your progress, trials and tribulations.  Good luck!

[Mossyrock]

I am going to tear it down to the frame this weekend and see how things look inside.  I KNOW I have a bad mainspring and some other issues.  I will order new wood by the end of the week.  After I get that fitted, the fun REALLY starts.....

[Cemetery]

What is with the stock and forearm 

Do you have a web link, or contact info for you're barrel reliner person?  I'm thinking of getting my '73 relined.

[Mossyrock]

What is with the stock and forearm 

Do you have a web link, or contact info for you're barrel reliner person?  I'm thinking of getting my '73 relined.

The stock and fore end were made of the finiest, custom pine 2X6 available from the lumber yard!  They burned quite nicely...   

John Taylor, a member here, will do the reline.