UPON THE WINCHESTER '73 44-40....

[Terry Murbach]

" THE COMBINED INGENUITY OF EARTH, EVEN ASSISTED BY LIGHT FROM ON HIGH, COULD NOT IMPROVE UPON THE QUINTESSENCE OF PERFECTION FOR DEER HUNTING KNOWN AS THE WINCHESTER OF ' 73. "

T.S.VAN DYKE

[Chuck 100 yd]

No argument here!

[w30wcf]

"I consider the Winchester Repeater, Model of 1873, a model gun in all respects, and cannot see wherein it could be improved.
In point of accuracy, I can safely say it is surpassed by no other gun, at distances up to a quarter of a mile, while its action is more perfect than any other rifle.
I gave my gun a thorough trial last summer while in the North Woods, and it not only satisfied me but was liked universally by those who saw it."

1875 William Lyman (Lyman Gunsight Co.)

w30wcf

[cowboykell]

...and then John Marlin came to the rescue !!!

[awp101]

...and then John Marlin came to the rescue !!!

[rjohns94]

[Old Time Hunter]

I did not know John Marlin worked at Winchester...

[winchester1886]

Then John M Browning came along and showed'em all how it could, should and would be done. Just love them 86's.

[winchester1886]

One hundred and twenty two years later and still the best rifle ever made, just love them 86's.

[J Miller]

Wow, this thread sure got hijacked quick. Too bad too. The 1873 is a great rifle in it's own right. Never mind who or what came later.

Joe

[Griff]

And then the Italians came along and made them available for all of us!

[Modoc ED]

I don't see it that way Joe. Terry posted a quote from a guy extolling the greatness of the Winchester 73 44-40 and by doing so implied directly or indirectly that the Winchester 73 44-40 was/is the greatest lever action of all times. To me, that invited comments about whether the Winchester 73 44-40 was/is the greatest lever action of all time.

Some think it is - some think it isn't. I fall in the latter group. While the rifle itself may have been a great rifle, the ammo it used could not compete with more powerful ammunition of the times. Just my .02¢ .

[Dastook]

Then John M Browning came along and showed'em all how it could, should and would be done. Just love them 86's.

+++++10000!!!


and the '92
and the '94
and the '95

[Mike D.]

I though that my verbose post extolling the virtues of the .44 WCF cartridge would have made it to this forum, but ,no, it went to "post limbo, again. I will not repeat it.

[J Miller]

Ed,

At the time of the two quotes, both Terry's and W30WCF's the 1873 Winchester was the best that had come along. You're looking at these quotes from 2008, not at them in context.

The thread has been hijacked and is being held hostage, where is the threadland security administration when you need them?


Joe

[Old Time Hunter]

The '73 Winchester still is the ONLY levergun that has had any impact in a major battle between two large standing armies. It also changed the entire strategic way battles have been fought in the field and what type of weapons regular troops would be issued right up to this day. If the Turks did not have Winchester '73's, the Russians would have over run them back in '76 and the magazine rifles would not have become the vogue of all Militaries. Just think, without the Winchester '73, Paul Mauser would not have had a need for a controled feed system, Paris Lee would not have developed the removable cartridge magazine...so on and so forth. What dramatic change that affected the entire world did John Marlin's improvements do?

[2ndovc]

The Turks were armed w/ 1866 Winchester's Chambered in .44 Henry.


Love the '73 though mine's a 32-20 that belonged to my grandfather.

Won't replace the 92 as my favorite though.

jb

[cowboykell]

John Marlin designed the first lever action to handle the 45-70 cartridge. With all the government ammo available, and often given away to the settlers by the Army...that was a big deal.

[Grizzly Adams]

I too love the Model of 1873. All of the John Browning designs are wonderful and strong, and the Marlin is also a fine levergun. But for simplicity, elegance of design, and smoothness of action, the Winchester Model of 1873 has no peer.

[Modoc ED]

Ed,

At the time of the two quotes, both Terry's and W30WCF's the 1873 Winchester was the best that had come along. You're looking at these quotes from 2008, not at them in context.

The thread has been hijacked and is being held hostage, where is the threadland security administration when you need them?


Joe

Oh, I see your point now Joe. From your point of view, you are correct about the hijacking.

[1886]

Good to hear from Terry again. How don't go betchin' at me for being nice. Mic says HI. 1886.

[jd45]

I LOVE my Uberti 1873 Sporting Rifle, & though it's not chambered in .44WCF, it's .45 Colt, which is a step UP, IMHO, it IS a tack-driver with the sights I put on it. I just wish the design could handle warmer than standard loads. But hell, a 250 @ 1200fps can do a LOT. jd45

[Sixgun]

Then John M Browning came along and showed'em all how it could, should and would be done. Just love them 86's.

There 'ya go!!--------Sixgun