model 66, lever safety ???

[Slamfire]

 I might should have posted this in " gun smithing " ,, but here I are !!! How hard is it to install a lever safety on a older 66 ( Navy Arms ),, looking at "77" model ( 44/40 of course ) .

smoke'm if ya' got'm ,, Hootmix.

[Coffinmaker]

Depends.  No ... not those Depends ..... If the rifle was originally machined and equipped with the trigger block safety, it's just a matter of finding the parts.  Those parts will only be found in someone else's gun.

If the gun was not originally manufactured with the trigger block safety, you will be looking at some extensive machine work to the lower tang and frame.  You would also need to adapt the parts from the '73.  A daunting task.

But .... but .... Why bother??  Preventing an Out of Battery Discharge is as simple as paying attention to what you're doing??  Winchester was looking at the damage that can occur with an OBD when they designed the '73 for a much more powerful cartridge than the 44 Henry Flat (no slouch, actually).

[Slamfire]

 Sir: Coffin,, again thank you ,, soooo , what models ( years ) did ( do ) the 66 ( copy's ) have the lever safety's.




   smoke'm if ya' got'm ,, Hootmix.

[Coffinmaker]

Weellllll ....... 

I can't actually give you a concrete, solid, this is it ..... answer     The '66s with the trigger block were manufactured during the 1970's.  Most of those guns were also only .38 Special although there was some carry-over into the early 44-40 guns.  The early 44-40 1866's from Uberti had to have the carrier block mortice specially cut for the longer cartridges (sort of a notch).  Kinda wonky looking from the top.  Those guns also had very different Carrier Blocks, links, lever side springs and such.  None of those parts are currently available from Uberti and have not been available for Decades.  Uberti does not support obsolete parts for any of their guns.

[Slamfire]

 Thanks for the information,, will make for a interesting bargaining point !!


   smoke'm if ya' got'm ,, Hootmix.

[Pettifogger]

Real simple to tell the "old" 66s have a carrier that is 1.5" long.  The newer 66s and 73s have 1.6" carriers.  As noted it is virtually impossible to find parts for the old ones.

[greyhawk]

uberti 66 1978 manufacture (I think) -- its 44/40 - has the lever block safety (or did have - its hangin out in a tobacco tin in the spare parts department someplace) - only fires a couple hundred rounds a year - never broke anything on it. Was my favrite lever till I got a 76.