Why not a Winchester Model 73 Forum?

[Stillwater]

WaddWatsonEllis,

I don't know why I had not noticed your thread before.  
I would agree that a forum for the 1873 Winchester would be a good if not GREAT one!

After all, historically speaking, the 44 WCF cartridge (aka 44-40) was first chambered in the 1873 not the 1866 nor the Henry.
In addition, the 32 WCF (32-20) and 38 WCF (38-40) were also available only in the 1873 before the '92 was born.  

So........to be historically correct, discussion and information about those three cartridges should be related to the 1873 Winchester.

Today, as we know, the 44-40 is chambered in the the Henry and 1866 reproduction rifles....but the 32-20 and 38-40 are not.

Long live the '73!

w44wcf

It seems that the only thing that is rigidly, historically accurate, on this forum, are belts and belt loops...! Other things are granted exceptions...!

Bill

[Montana Slim]

Everyone already knows that Winchester's basic toggle-link action is the "gold-standard" for a cowboy lever gun...and, shooter-grade originals are still available at reasonable cost. Unlike original Henry & Improved Henry models which a fixer-upper will set you back nearly $10K, plus purchasing ammo or reloading for it is a bit dicey.

Old 1873's...yes I have a 44 WCF....my Pa has a 38 WCF & 32-20 WCF.

Slim

[Thomas (Tom) Horn aka James Hicks]

Montana,
You state..."Everyone already knows that Winchester's basic toggle-link action is the "gold-standard" for a cowboy lever gun..."  AND you are most correct. However, The toggle-link action was also the death of this historic rifle.  John Moses Browing worked on these rifles and told his father, "I can make a better one." In 1882 he did the patent and in 1886 he convinced Winchester to produce his 1886 Lever Action in 45-70 caliber. The action that is on the '86 is the '82 patent he designed.... same action on the 1892 Winchester.  Even though Wichester continued to make the '73 ... the writing was on the wall. The Toggel-Link action was to be history. It was a weak system for people who wanted a stronger rifle. The "Gold Standard" changed in 1886. It was a slow death sentence for the '73...

I know the '73 in all its different styles and models is EXTREMELY popular and probably it is the most used rifle in all of SASS. But the Toggel-Link system with the Elevator carrier can be your worst nightmare... and I am not speaking about shooting extremely hot loads. Shooters are keeping a lot of folks employed with all the short-stroking kits, action jobs, etc, etc, etc. When the '73 is done right... it is a joy to behold... but there is also a darkside to the '73. LOL  I have a '92 and I did the action work on it myself and it is just as slick as the '73, (if not slicker) with all the bells and whistles. The difference...COST and you cannot short stroke the '92 where it is cost effective.. so the difference is cost plus 3/4 of an inch in levering AND if'n I want to shoot HOT LOADS the '92 will do it, the 73 won't.  Winchester found this out with JMB's 1886 rifle.  That is why the 1876 Winchester had a short life cycle.