Reality Check / Age Confirmation on my Navy Arms 1873 Trapper

Phil Morris · March 31, 2021, 07:35:05 PM

I acquired this Uberti/Navy Arms 1873 saddle ring trapper a few months ago. It is chambered in 44/40.
The rifle looks brand new and I assumed it was a year or two old. I've been reading through a bunch of old posts on this forum trying to get a little smarter about this model as I have a bunch of lever guns but this is my first 1873. I found the thread on Italian date codes and looked mine up. The code on the gun is [AD] which is shown as 1978? My common sense tells me it is unlikely that this gun survived 43 years in this condition. I have attached a picture of the gun and the code. What do y'all think?

Phil

River City John · March 31, 2021, 07:44:10 PM

Safe Queen?

Major 2 · March 31, 2021, 07:45:07 PM

That is the date code and it is [AD] 1978 you have a NOS or safe queen beauty ...you lucky duck !

If you click on the pictures, it flips and shows the tiger stripe butt in its glory ...nice find

Phil Morris · March 31, 2021, 08:08:24 PM

Thanks for the quick replies. I guess I need to quit reading the posts on current Uberti production and start looking for posts on Vintage Ubertis.

Abilene · March 31, 2021, 10:15:58 PM

Great find. You should slug the barrel. Uberti might have still been using .427 back then.

Phil Morris · April 01, 2021, 12:25:36 PM

Quote from: Abilene on March 31, 2021, 10:15:58 PM
Great find. You should slug the barrel. Uberti might have still been using .427 back then.

Good suggestion. I will do that.

Thanks - Phil

Cliff Fendley · April 03, 2021, 09:31:29 AM

Quote from: Abilene on March 31, 2021, 10:15:58 PM
Great find. You should slug the barrel. Uberti might have still been using .427 back then.

I have one that is a 78. It and others of that vintage are .427 bore and are 1-36 twist rate rather than the faster twist rate today. They seem to like black powder better than the newer ones.

Cliff Fendley · April 03, 2021, 09:37:07 AM

Phil, that sure is a nice find. Great little rifle. That one will have to old style bolt and firing pin extension in it.

Phil Morris · April 05, 2021, 04:51:37 PM

Thanks for the additional info! I slugged the barrel and the bore groves were running .424 and .425 with one spot at .427. I'm thinking of starting with .427 bullets. I already have a pile of .430s on order (thinking this was a new gun) but I think I can use them for 44 magnum or resize them.

Phil

Cliff Fendley · April 06, 2021, 02:12:19 PM

Quote from: Phil Morris on April 05, 2021, 04:51:37 PM
Thanks for the additional info! I slugged the barrel and the bore groves were running .424 and .425 with one spot at .427. I'm thinking of starting with .427 bullets. I already have a pile of .430s on order (thinking this was a new gun) but I think I can use them for 44 magnum or resize them.

Phil

If they are soft lead I wouldn't be afraid to run them. I've ran .430s in some of my older ones and were very accurate.