model 73 Win 22 short pics and range report

[Hoosierdaddy]

Didn't get to the range until this morning on the way to work. Forgot targets, so used a piece of duck tape as a sighting point. Shot 5 shots at 25 yds resting an elbow on the bench, pretty nice group for old eyes and open sights. Shot the next twelve offhand, not bad with one called flyer. The rifle is just heavy enough to hold steady. Bore is a little dark, but looks like it won't have to be lined. Hope the pics come through.
Hoosierdaddy

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h157/ ... 5085-1.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h157/ ... CN5086.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h157/ ... CN5088.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h157/ ... CN5092.jpg

Not a lever gun, but also shot this one this morning.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h157/ ... CN5102.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h157/ ... CN5103.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h157/ ... CN5106.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h157/ ... CN5087.jpg

[Rimfire McNutjob]

Nice. Good to see that 1873 put back to work. Very nice SAA.

[bdhold]

thanks for the photos.

[Hoosierdaddy]

Here are some more pics. Just a nice , honest rifle that hasn't been messed with.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h157/ ... CN5089.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h157/ ... CN5090.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h157/ ... CN5091.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h157/ ... CN5093.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h157/ ... CN5094.jpg
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h157/ ... CN5095.jpg

[iceman]

Nice old rifle. Since it is in 22 short, was its use mostly for old shooting gallerys we used to see at county fairs etc?

[Sixgun]

HD,
Very interesting shooting post. In my collecting/shooting time of close to 40 years and in handling and shooting many hundreds of antique leverguns, I have never been fortunate to own/shoot a '73 in .22 caliber. I have only handled them and every bore of one that I looked down was minus any kind of rifling.

You have a gem there. One of the nicest .22 1873's I have ever seen. (and one with rifling!) Tell us, does the gun function with decent reliability?

Oh! I like your redneck ingenuity with the duct tape Thats my way of thinking too!------------------Sixgun

[Ben_Rumson]

Nice rifle Nice shooting!.. The dark bore.. I know you're not worrying about it after the range session.. But it will polish up in time just with the act of running soft cotton cleaning patches through it..

[mescalero1]

Well,
I no longer think mine is as bad as I thought it was.

[Hoosierdaddy]

HD,
Very interesting shooting post. In my collecting/shooting time of close to 40 years and in handling and shooting many hundreds of antique leverguns, I have never been fortunate to own/shoot a '73 in .22 caliber. I have only handled them and every bore of one that I looked down was minus any kind of rifling.

You have a gem there. One of the nicest .22 1873's I have ever seen. (and one with rifling!) Tell us, does the gun function with decent reliability?

Oh! I like your redneck ingenuity with the duct tape Thats my way of thinking too!------------------Sixgun

Hey Sixgun'
This is the first one in 22 short that I have seen/handled in person. I actually bought it because it looked brown and I was going to use it as an engraving sample. After a little oil on a rag on the outside, I think I can see a little bit of bluing poking through. As to the rifling, the bore looked so dark I single loaded and blew down the barrel after each shot, to make sure those low powered bullets actually left the barrel. I was pretty surprised to see how it shot when I walked down range. It functions OK, ejected about half the empties with no help.
I don't go many places without a roll of duct tape.
Thanks,
Hoosierdaddy

[Hoosierdaddy]

Nice old rifle. Since it is in 22 short, was its use mostly for old shooting gallerys we used to see at county fairs etc?

Hey iceman,
Good question, but I don't know. Thought most gallery guns were pumps, but most did shoot 22 shorts as far as I know.
Thanks,
Hoosierdaddy

[pokey]

cool x2.
maybe throw a wow out there too.

are you the engraver of the colt,then?
if so, nice work.

[Hoosierdaddy]

cool x2.
maybe throw a wow out there too.

are you the engraver of the colt,then?
if so, nice work.

Hey pokey,
Thanks, I did engrave the Colt. Planned on engraving the 73 to have a nice sample pair, but the more I look at it, not being messed with, I have about decided to find a different sample. On the up side, this 73 will be for sale sometime soon, so someone will get a good shooter.
Thanks,
Hoosierdaddy
(you can see more of my work at www.kenburklow.com)

[RIHMFIRE]

Great looking shooter....and very nice colt!

[Hoosierdaddy]

Great looking shooter....and very nice colt!

Thanks.
Hoosierdaddy

[Sixgun]

HD,
You do some nice engaving. Checked out your website and I must say I'm impressed. ---------------------Sixgun

[pokey]

cool x2.
maybe throw a wow out there too.

are you the engraver of the colt,then?
if so, nice work.

Hey pokey,
Thanks, I did engrave the Colt. Planned on engraving the 73 to have a nice sample pair, but the more I look at it, not being messed with, I have about decided to find a different sample. On the up side, this 73 will be for sale sometime soon, so someone will get a good shooter.
Thanks,
Hoosierdaddy
(you can see more of my work at http://www.kenburklow.com)

you do some nice work.
do you engrave with hammer and graver, or a machine, like a gravemeister?
definitely an artform, i do a little silver/steel work but don't have the art in my hands.
a little experience really makes one appreciate what it takes to cut those flourishes.
thanks for the pics.

[Hoosierdaddy]

cool x2.
maybe throw a wow out there too.

are you the engraver of the colt,then?
if so, nice work.

Hey pokey,
Thanks, I did engrave the Colt. Planned on engraving the 73 to have a nice sample pair, but the more I look at it, not being messed with, I have about decided to find a different sample. On the up side, this 73 will be for sale sometime soon, so someone will get a good shooter.
Thanks,
Hoosierdaddy
(you can see more of my work at http://www.kenburklow.com)

you do some nice work.
do you engrave with hammer and graver, or a machine, like a gravemeister?
definitely an artform, i do a little silver/steel work but don't have the art in my hands.
a little experience really makes one appreciate what it takes to cut those flourishes.
thanks for the pics.

Thanks pokey. I taught myself with hammer and chisel, then went to a Gravermeister, mate, and max. Now use a Lindsay Classic. Not a lot of difference in quality of the work, but those fancy tools help me work faster. I've been engraving since 1982, full time for the last nine years, and learn something new everyday.

"You do some nice engaving. Checked out your website and I must say I'm impressed. ---------------------Sixgun"

Thanks Sixgun. Appreciate the kind words.
Hoosierdaddy