73 Winchester

[Jasonfrisbie]

A few years ago a friend of my father gave him a 73 Winchester in 32-20. Unfortunately; his friend had taken the mag. tube & spring, follower ect.. and butt plate off to put on another one that he had that was in better condition.

My father didn't have any interest in it and gave it to me. I've had it for a few years but don't know much about Winchesters of this era. The wood is good but there isn't any blue left on the metal surfaces. The bore has some slight pitting. Also; the hammer won't set for some reason. My question is: 1. Is it even possible to find original parts to repair this rifle? 2. Is it worth the effort since it doesn't seem to me to be in the greatest of conditions?

Anyone got any advice?

[Ben_Rumson]

Welcome ebay often has the parts you mention.. There are others here that know of sources for parts... I can see where you could get it up & running for a resonable price...Spend a few bucks to get it shooting then see if you want to spend $ on a refinish or restoration.. Post some photos of it and folks here will be able to guide you more.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

A few years ago a friend of my father gave him a 73 Winchester in 32-20. Unfortunately; his friend had taken the mag. tube & spring, follower ect.. and butt plate off to put on another one that he had that was in better condition.

My father didn't have any interest in it and gave it to me. I've had it for a few years but don't know much about Winchesters of this era. The wood is good but there isn't any blue left on the metal surfaces. The bore has some slight pitting. Also; the hammer won't set for some reason. My question is: 1. Is it even possible to find original parts to repair this rifle? 2. Is it worth the effort since it doesn't seem to me to be in the greatest of conditions?

Anyone got any advice?

Hi Jason,
Welcome to the fire.
There are new mag tube blanks available and unlike the original they are seamless. Will the hammer cock and stay back if you cock it by hand? If it will most likely the toggles, firing pin and bolt have enough wear that it rides up over the hammer rather than push it down enough to cock. If it is that loose it probably has excessive headspace as well. This all can be corrected. I'm currently working on one for a feller that had some of these issue. The bore was slightly pitted so it's getting a re-line and this will also help correct headspace. I'm adapting a set of small pin Uberti toggles with new pins. These are new modern steel and will also tighten up the action some. He will have about $700 in it to get it back shooting.

[KirkD]

I'd recommend getting that old '73 back up and running. Sounds like Nate might be able to do it for you if you are not sure about doing it yourself. With only 'slight pitting' in the barrel, you may not even need a re-line. That old '73 is a valuable piece of history. Mine has very little blue on it, but it shoots great and I love shooting and hunting with it.

[JB]

Personally if I were getting into repro parts, barrel relined, etc., I'd buy a new 73 for shooting since I'd think the collectors value would be killed and you'd be money ahead buying a modern 73. But I'm much more of a lever gun collector than shooter.

[COSteve]

Personally if I were getting into repro parts, barrel relined, etc., I'd buy a new 73 for shooting since I'd think the collectors value would be killed and you'd be money ahead buying a modern 73. But I'm much more of a lever gun collector than shooter.

I have to agree. I don't collect anything that I don't use for the purpose it was made for. All my firearms are shot and enjoyed. As it's a family heirloom, I'd put it up on the wall and shot a new Uberti version.

[J Miller]

A few years ago a friend of my father gave him a 73 Winchester in 32-20. Unfortunately; his friend had taken the mag. tube & spring, follower ect.. and butt plate off to put on another one that he had that was in better condition.

My father didn't have any interest in it and gave it to me. I've had it for a few years but don't know much about Winchesters of this era. The wood is good but there isn't any blue left on the metal surfaces. The bore has some slight pitting. Also; the hammer won't set for some reason. My question is: 1. Is it even possible to find original parts to repair this rifle? 2. Is it worth the effort since it doesn't seem to me to be in the greatest of conditions?

Anyone got any advice?

Jason,

Never mind restoring it. That would cost a fortune. Refurbish it to safe shootable condition, then enjoy it. Wall hangers are just ugly dust catchers, and broke guns are a waste of space.
And when you've finished getting it fixed up, you'll have the pleasure of knowing you accomplished something.

Of course buying an Uberti to keep the Winchester company is a good idea too.

Joe

[Kansas Ed]

As there were a lot of '73's built (and it's easy to see why they were so popular), and as it came from someone else's family instead of your own. I would make it shootable again, and have it relined in a little different caliber than the original 32-20. I had one in 32-20 that I couldn't make shoot accurately and I regret ever trading it off. What I SHOULD have done (emphasis on should)...was to reline it in .218 Bee or 25-20....but I never seem to think of those things before I act. One thing is for certain, once you start shooting a '73 you will quickly become addicted.

Ed

[Sixgun]

I'm with the other boys in trying to make it a shooter again. It will be serious bucks to make it "right", while putting it back to shooting condition will give you a toy to play with, but that won't be cheap either, especially if you have headspace problems.

In the end, if your looking to turn it into cash, pm me. I like playing with the antiques. ------------------Sixgun

[Marc]

I would also rebuild it as a shooter. I have more fun shooting my 73 than any other rifle! I wouldn't reline it til I shot it. Mine shoots fine with a rough bore.

[Mike Hunter]

My 2cents

Mag tube, follower spring...all easy, lots of repo parts, I've even been known to make them here in the shop.

I'm against relining, first, you dont even know how the rifle shoots, minor pitting in the bore may not affect the accuracy of the 73.

Second; once you reline...you can never go back... I will always be a relined gun. Fairly easy to spot, most folks doing relining really dont know how to do the relining without it showing, and so far have not found any liners that are correct for Winchesters; 6 grove Cut rifling.

If it were mine, take it someone that knows what they are doing, have the mag tube & misc parts replaced, have the hammer fixed, then take it out and shoot it, it might just surprise you.

V/R

Mike