"New" 1873 44-40 Carbine - quite a few pics

[Pop Watts]

After almost three years of haggling over this rifle I have it in my Gun Safe.

A gunsmith has had it for many years and we have talked about prices, but I was always a little too low for what he wanted to get - but I kept saving.

In June I went out to see him and seriously try and get this gun out of him. (he lives 400km from me) When we got down to talking about the 44 he told me he had sold it for $2000 more than I was able to offer him for it. hmmmm.

Fast foward to this month and I was visiting a construction job in Western Sydney, so called into a gun shop there - what was for sale??? The same 1873 Carbine!! New owner appears to have gotten into some sort of trouble and had ofloaded the Carbine to the dealer.

Now the offers started again. After two weeks I was able to buy the 44 for the same price I was originally going to offer the Gunsmith. I am a happy boy.

A couple of bits of external pitting. Timber is great. Some colour on hammer still. Internally it is like new. Bore is perfect and the action is crisp.

I will get a range report organised soon.

Took it out West last weekend and walked a couple of gullies with it looking for a pig to shoot, but did not find one. Next time perhaps.

Could anyone comment on the rear site. Sits backwards on the gun but the graduations are on the underside of the flip up and it is also stamped 1873. Is this the reversed sight that Madis mentions as being commonly fitted to first model 1873 Carbines?

The serial number on the gun dates it to 1880.

Also note the Australian importers stamp and serial number in the pic.

[pokey]

persistence pays off,

gotta love it.

[gamekeeper]

What a beauty mate! Congratulations.

[1886]

That is a sweetie. Persistence does pay. 1886.

[Borregos]

Now that is a nice one, well done Pop

[Dastook]

I am soooo jealous!!

[kimwcook]

Excellent! Good for you. I'm getting close to getting a '73. Just need a couple more coins.

Are you related to YK? Or did you just take a photography class from him.

[Griff]

Congrats on yer persistence. Patience pays... As for the rear sight, I would have to assume so. Looking at the where the dovetail is, it would have to wear that reversed sight... you say the graduations are facing the shooter when raised? Doesn't look like a standard rear sight woulda fit.

Didja have YK over to take yer pics?

[rangerider7]

1873 Winchester SRC are hard to find in any kind of good condition. That looks like a good one. A very good one and in 44-40. I know how you feel, I finally got my 1873 SRC a few years ago.

[O.S.O.K.]

And the bore is good! Ouststanding! Congrats!

[KirkD]

Beautiful carbine! I'm envious.

[Hobie]

[the telegraphist]

Pop
You have found a gem, I too am looking for something very similar, how come I missed this one? Congrats and hope to hear more in the future on how the piece shoots, keep us posted. Tony Cleaver in Brisbane has just scored a heap of old 73's so will be going for a look in the near future. Saw some there a few months ago, but nothing outstanding.
Regards and Enjoy

[Pete44ru]

And, the cleaning rod's still in there - Beautiful ! (the shoes, too )

.

[Ysabel Kid]

Didja have YK over to take yer pics?

Ahh - a pupil of the fine art of gun-foot photography!

Great score there!!!

[Pop Watts]

Sorry - I thought it was compulsory to include footwear in the gun pic.

At least note that they are Australian made Blundstone boots of the highest quality, could do with a little clean though.

Pop.

[Pop Watts]

[quote="the telegraphist"]Pop
You have found a gem, I too am looking for something very similar, how come I missed this one? Congrats and hope to hear more in the future on how the piece shoots, keep us posted. Tony Cleaver in Brisbane has just scored a heap of old 73's so will be going for a look in the near future. Saw some there a few months ago, but nothing outstanding.
Regards and Enjoy[/quote]

Bit short on funds at the moment, but I will send a "spy" to check out Cleavers. Pop

[the telegraphist]

Gday Pop,
Note the Boots, but they have now moved offshore alas, now made in Thailand. At least I own a few pairs of R.M. Williams, still made here and the most comfortable. Just gotta find me that original 73 with the same fit eh??
I still got plenty of time, plus guns to trade/sell. Once again keep us posted on how she shoots.

Rgds

[Pop Watts]

Hey Telegraphist, I got a couple of pairs of Oz made Blundstones when the offshore thing started. They will keep me going for a while. Then I will have to shell out some serious bucks for some RM Williams.

Drew first blood with the 1873 Carbine. Knocking over a couple of roos for a property owner with tags and used the 44-40 on one. Shot straight and did the job. Not the thing you take a picture of, but the old gun works well.

Regards, Pop.

[KirkD]

Drew first blood with the 1873 Carbine. Knocking over a couple of roos for a property owner with tags and used the 44-40 on one. Shot straight and did the job.

Using a vintage Winchester '73 to do the job provides a whole new level of satisfaction and enjoyment. If I were to use a modern rifle to harvest a Whitetail Deer, I would feel as if I had simply put meat in the freezer. However, using a vintage Winchester to get a deer is a thrill.

[the telegraphist]

Onya Pop, pleased to hear it. Would like to hear what it can do over a bench purely for interest, though I seem to shoot levers better off hand than off a bench, shifting to operate the lever etc. Still keeping my eyes open for something similar.
Went to Cleavers Monday, still nothing worth taking home though.
Rgds

[Borregos]

What are you using for a load Pop?

[Gun Smith]

The reversed sight appears to be correct. The dovetail on the barrel is too close to the receiver to allow the sight to be mounted forward. The dovetail locations don't seem to be standardized on '73's and pictures on the Madis book show a lot of variation in location.

[Mike D.]

WOW!! That, is one fine '73 carbine, Pop, my envy has no bounds. I once owned a .38 WCF SRC in that nice of condition, but let it go in a weak moment. A nice .33 WCF 1886 rifle was calling me and the little '73 went away.

The fact that you have already done in a couple Roos with your "new" gun is icing on the cake. I'm sure there are plenty more, too.

[Hank Dodge]

Great looking '73!!

That rear sight looks correct to me. All the '73s I've seen with the ladder sight still in place have looked like that one.