*Original* Winchester '73 Help

[Cemetery]

Howdy,

Recently got my hands on an original '73, and was wondering if anybody could help me out with two things;

1) How do you take the front stock off and disassemble the mag tube from the barrel?  I can't seem to find this info.

2) The Hammer spring is super stiff, do the Uberti springs fit by chance?  I'd like to get one and grind it down.

Thanks in advance.

[Trooper Zeke]

This link will take you to some Win 73 takedown instructions, hope this helps, There are also some links for action work on that site.



http://marauder.homestead.com/files/Model66.html

[WaddWatsonEllis]

I was looking around for an exploded drawing of a Model '73 and found this :

http://www.rarewinchesters.com/images/Exploded%20Views/1866-73-dissassembly.shtml

[Coffinmaker]

You didn't mention if it was a carbine, or a Rifle.  Makes a difference.

Yes, in most cases you can use Uberti springs.  If your going to "play" with this gun, you should also replace the stock
Winchester side lever springs with Uberti, or "Slixsprings."  The Uberti side lever springs will need to be "reduced," the Slixsprings you use out of the box.  You can get the Uberti goodies from VTI, the Slixsprings either from Longhunter or Pioneer Gunworks.

Coffinmaker

[Cemetery]

You didn't mention if it was a carbine, or a Rifle. 

It's a Rifle.  24" barrel.

I thought it would as simple as taking the metal piece of the front of the forestock, but there's the metal bracket type thing that the screws screw into that's in the way of the wood.

[Coffinmaker]

OK,  The metal "bracket thing" has to be drifted out of it's dovetail.  You will first have to remove the magazine tube.  The magazine tube pulls straight out, although it may be "tight."  In the event there are burrs where the screws go thru the "bracket thingy" DO NOT TWIST the magazine tube or you'll get real ugly scratches on the tube.
Once you have removed the tube, the bracket may just push out (left to right).  Then you can slide the fore end wood forward and it will drop off the barrel.
To re-assemble, wood first, then the bracket, then the tube, then the screws, etc.

Coffinmaker

[Deadeye Dick]

If the original is like my Uberti you need to drift out the magazine tube retaining pin before you pull the magazine tube out. It is really fairly easy to disassemble. Be sure you heed Coffinmakers warning about twisting the magazine tube.
Deadeye Dick

[Cemetery]

Well, I tried to pull the mag tube off, but it ain't budging.  So I'm gonna leave it alone for now.

But to move onto the spings.....I was gonna get some slix spings and a Uberti hammer spring or two, but then I thought about the screws and threads.  Are Winchester screws and threads compatible with the screws and threads of slix springs and Uberti's??

[Coffinmaker]

No.  Order them with screws.

Coffinmaker