My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Forum rules
Welcome to the Leverguns.Com General Discussions Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here other than politics... politely.
Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
Welcome to the Leverguns.Com General Discussions Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here other than politics... politely.
Please post political post in the new Politics forum.
- KirkD
- Desktop Artiste
- Posts: 4406
- Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2007 6:52 am
- Location: Central Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Ladies and Gents, this past week I acquired an original Winchester Model 1873 in 38 WCF caliber. I had been thinking long and hard about getting an 1873, but didn't know whether to get a new Uberti or a well-used original. Those Uberti's are sure beautiful. But as I looked at the other old Winchesters hanging on the wall of my office, I knew that there was something about an old, well-used Winchester that would be missing if I bought a new one.
Also, there was the question of caliber. I already have a Winchester Model 53 in 44 WCF (aka 44-40). I had a Winchester 1892 in 38 WCF (38-40) and there was something about that cartridge that really grew on me. I sold the '92 last spring, but I sure did miss the 38-40 cartridge. I decided that I would hunt for an original Winchester 1873 in 38 WCF caliber.
Word spread on the grapevine and a fellow I knew said he knew an old retired fellow that had one. It turned out that the old fellow had owned this old '73 for 40 years. Prior to that, he said it used to hang on the wall of a sporting goods shop in Cowansville, Quebec, just a few miles north of the Vermont border with Canada. It is beautiful, rolling country, with a mixture of Maple-forested hills and farmland in the valleys. The old '73 had hung on the wall of that store as long as the old fellow knew; the store owner appeared to have taken it on trade sometime in the distant past and just hung it on the wall, along with some other old Winchesters, as a decoration. When the owner closed up shop 40 years ago, the old fellow I bought this from, bought it from the old proprietor. Long story short, this old '73 appears to have earned its keep bagging Whitetail deer along the Vermont-Quebec border a hundred years ago when life was simpler, there were no cars, and people used cedar rail fences to keep their cows in and heated their homes with wood. This particular gun is serial number 400100B, which puts it around 1891 mfg. date. The action is tight and smooth with no droop on the lever. The bore has strong rifling but scattered pitting .... it looks like it will give me 5-shot groups at 100 yards of around 3". I will harvest a Whitetail deer with this old vintage Winchester for old times sake, where I will be hunting in Maple and Cedar woods where the shots are less than 50 yards.
I like this old rifle. It is an honest old classic that no one has ever messed with. It also has some nice figuring in the buttstock wood, which really appeals to me. You can tell that it once earned its keep by bringing home a lot of venison. A couple photos are below. The quilt, by the way, was made for me by my grandmother when I left home at 18, 37 years ago. The saddle is my old saddle from my teenage years. It saw a lot of hard use, rain or shine, summer or winter, a lot of thick bush, and is pretty beat up, but it has a soft life now, here in my office.
Also, there was the question of caliber. I already have a Winchester Model 53 in 44 WCF (aka 44-40). I had a Winchester 1892 in 38 WCF (38-40) and there was something about that cartridge that really grew on me. I sold the '92 last spring, but I sure did miss the 38-40 cartridge. I decided that I would hunt for an original Winchester 1873 in 38 WCF caliber.
Word spread on the grapevine and a fellow I knew said he knew an old retired fellow that had one. It turned out that the old fellow had owned this old '73 for 40 years. Prior to that, he said it used to hang on the wall of a sporting goods shop in Cowansville, Quebec, just a few miles north of the Vermont border with Canada. It is beautiful, rolling country, with a mixture of Maple-forested hills and farmland in the valleys. The old '73 had hung on the wall of that store as long as the old fellow knew; the store owner appeared to have taken it on trade sometime in the distant past and just hung it on the wall, along with some other old Winchesters, as a decoration. When the owner closed up shop 40 years ago, the old fellow I bought this from, bought it from the old proprietor. Long story short, this old '73 appears to have earned its keep bagging Whitetail deer along the Vermont-Quebec border a hundred years ago when life was simpler, there were no cars, and people used cedar rail fences to keep their cows in and heated their homes with wood. This particular gun is serial number 400100B, which puts it around 1891 mfg. date. The action is tight and smooth with no droop on the lever. The bore has strong rifling but scattered pitting .... it looks like it will give me 5-shot groups at 100 yards of around 3". I will harvest a Whitetail deer with this old vintage Winchester for old times sake, where I will be hunting in Maple and Cedar woods where the shots are less than 50 yards.
I like this old rifle. It is an honest old classic that no one has ever messed with. It also has some nice figuring in the buttstock wood, which really appeals to me. You can tell that it once earned its keep by bringing home a lot of venison. A couple photos are below. The quilt, by the way, was made for me by my grandmother when I left home at 18, 37 years ago. The saddle is my old saddle from my teenage years. It saw a lot of hard use, rain or shine, summer or winter, a lot of thick bush, and is pretty beat up, but it has a soft life now, here in my office.
Last edited by KirkD on Sat Feb 06, 2010 4:17 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
THat is a beauty, a real treasure.
If only guns could talk, I'm sure that one would have some stories to tell.
If only guns could talk, I'm sure that one would have some stories to tell.
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Kirk, that '73 is a real treasure and you, sir, have an excellent way with words. Tour story of the background of the rifle only adds to the mystique of the 1873. Thanks for sharing.
"Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale, and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled or hanged"....President Abraham Lincoln
- Buck Elliott
- Member Emeritus
- Posts: 2830
- Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2007 12:15 pm
- Location: Halfway up Sheep Mountain -- Cody, Wyoming
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
honest old rifle for sure. True classic
Regards
Buck
Life has a way of making the foreseeable that which never happens, and the unforeseeable, that which your life becomes...
Buck
Life has a way of making the foreseeable that which never happens, and the unforeseeable, that which your life becomes...
- Borregos
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 4756
- Joined: Thu Sep 13, 2007 7:40 am
- Location: Ontario, Canada
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
That is a really nice one Kirk, congratulations
Pete
Sometimes I wonder if it is worthwhile gnawing through the leather straps to get up in the morning..................
Sometimes I wonder if it is worthwhile gnawing through the leather straps to get up in the morning..................
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
that is a beauty.....
and my favorite winchester....
its just a perfect rifle....
and my favorite winchester....
its just a perfect rifle....
LETS GO SHOOT'N BOYS
- J Miller
- Member Emeritus
- Posts: 14880
- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 7:46 pm
- Location: Not in IL no more ... :)
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Kirk,
I envy you Canadians. You seem to have a large quantity of good old Winchesters and Marlins up there.
You got a jewel of a rifle, now don't change your mind next year and trade it off for a different one.
Joe
I envy you Canadians. You seem to have a large quantity of good old Winchesters and Marlins up there.
You got a jewel of a rifle, now don't change your mind next year and trade it off for a different one.
Joe
***Be sneaky, get closer, bust the cap on him when you can put the ball where it counts .***
- kimwcook
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 7978
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:01 pm
- Location: Soap Lake, WA., U.S.A.
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
You're a lucky man to be able to pick that '73 up. Hope it makes meat for ya.
Old Law Dawg
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Kirk, you keep raising the bar. That 73 has alot of soul rubbed in it, boy if only it could speak!
First rate photo's KD as ever
Nath.
First rate photo's KD as ever
Nath.
Psalm ch8.
Because I wish I could!
Because I wish I could!
- KirkD
- Desktop Artiste
- Posts: 4406
- Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2007 6:52 am
- Location: Central Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
This old '73, and where it came from, seems to speak of everything that is in the byline of my signature below. When I handle this old rifle, it conjures up a picture of woodsmoke curling up from the chimney of an old farm house nestled in a valley surrounded by wooded hills of Maple and Red Oak, turning their autumn colors, and a couple Whitetail deer at the far end of a golden corn field in the evening, near a zig zag cedar rail fence. Chores are done for the day.Nath wrote: .... That 73 has alot of soul rubbed in it, boy if only it could speak!
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Congrats on a beautiful rifle! It looks just like a 73 should look.
-
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 5493
- Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:23 pm
- Location: Batesville,Arkansas
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
That is a beauty Kirk, real proud for you.
JerryB II Corinthians 3:17, Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
JOSHUA 24:15
JOSHUA 24:15
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Very nice. It's neat to have some it's history to go along with it.
NRA Life Member
-
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 2427
- Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:37 pm
- Location: Texas
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Thats the way I like them. Great find. I have one just like it and love it. Great photo too!
"That'll Be The Day"
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
man.KirkD wrote:This old '73, and where it came from, seems to speak of everything that is in the byline of my signature below. When I handle this old rifle, it conjures up a picture of woodsmoke curling up from the chimney of an old farm house nestled in a valley surrounded by wooded hills of Maple and Red Oak, turning their autumn colors, and a couple Whitetail deer at the far end of a golden corn field in the evening, near a zig zag cedar rail fence. Chores are done for the day.Nath wrote: .... That 73 has alot of soul rubbed in it, boy if only it could speak!
you make it seem like home.
careful what you wish for, you might just get it.
"BECAUSE I CAN"
"BECAUSE I CAN"
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Nice rifle Kirk. I think you'll love it. The two I have are two of the most fun rifles I probably own... both in 38-40 btw. But it sure takes some mental getting used to, not feeling that carrier lock into place like on our other models.
Ed
Ed
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Great rifle! Just the way I love them, not so pretty you can't shoot it yet lots of life left. Have fun - you and the rifle deserve it.
there is no such thing as a miss if you still have ammo
- Griff
- Posting leader...
- Posts: 20803
- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2007 4:56 pm
- Location: OH MY GAWD they installed a STOP light!!!
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Congrats Kirk, that's a fine example of a fine arm. I good friend of mine in SoCal loves that cartridge as I love my .30-30 and .45Colt. Good selection.
Griff,
SASS/CMSA #93
NRA Patron
GUSA #93
There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
SASS/CMSA #93
NRA Patron
GUSA #93
There is a fine line between hobby & obsession!
AND... I'm over it!!
No I ain't ready, but let's do it anyway!
- KirkD
- Desktop Artiste
- Posts: 4406
- Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2007 6:52 am
- Location: Central Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
I keep thinking that Nath needs one of these old original '73s for all those foxes. Now that would be fox hunting in style! The 38-40 would be just perfect for fox. Nath, if you decide you need one of these, let me know, and I'll hunt you one of them here in Canada and get it shipped over to you.
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Fine rifle, Kirk! Congratulations! And as usual, you are a master of the camera and of words.
Have you hugged your rifle today?
-
- Levergunner 3.0
- Posts: 559
- Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 7:53 pm
- Location: Surrey, England
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Fine piece of history you have there Kirk. I have one in 38-40, made in 1890, but the only thing I know about it is that, from the sun bleaching on the butt and the muzzle wear, it probably spent a lot of its life in a saddle scabbard.
To date I have only shot black and 777 in it but lately I have been having impure thoughts about trying some smokeless loads, maybe SR4759 or Trail Boss.
Perry Owens
To date I have only shot black and 777 in it but lately I have been having impure thoughts about trying some smokeless loads, maybe SR4759 or Trail Boss.
Perry Owens
"Always carry a firearm east of Aldgate Watson."
- gamekeeper
- Spambot Zapper
- Posts: 17325
- Joined: Thu Sep 06, 2007 3:32 pm
- Location: Over the pond unfortunately.
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Kirk, you will never regret owning that original Winchester over a brand spanking new Uberti.
The history behind that rifle makes it unique and it's a looker too!
The history behind that rifle makes it unique and it's a looker too!
If more men loved and cherished their wives as much as I love bacon the world would be a much better place.
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Very nice. One of my favorites of those you have shared. That rifle speaks through your pictures, proud and honest as the day is long. May the memories you make with it last you a life time. blessings
Mike Johnson,
"Only those who will risk going too far, can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot
"Only those who will risk going too far, can possibly find out how far one can go." T.S. Eliot
-
- Senior Levergunner
- Posts: 1924
- Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:36 pm
- Location: New Hampshire
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Beautiful Winchester! Looks like a rifle picture for the next Winchester calender!
Just curious, Kirk...how do old Winchester prices compare between Canada and the US? Does it vary regionally, too?
Just curious, Kirk...how do old Winchester prices compare between Canada and the US? Does it vary regionally, too?
- KirkD
- Desktop Artiste
- Posts: 4406
- Joined: Sat Apr 07, 2007 6:52 am
- Location: Central Ontario, Canada
- Contact:
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Prices in Canada run significantly cheaper than what I see in the US ..... maybe 2/3's. I don't think there is much regional variation .... we have a national website, and gun collectors are constantly travelling back and forth across the country, which tends to level the prices.mod71alaska wrote:Just curious, Kirk...how do old Winchester prices compare between Canada and the US? Does it vary regionally, too?
Kirk: An old geezer who loves the smell of freshly turned earth, old cedar rail fences, wood smoke, a crackling fireplace on a snowy evening, pristine wilderness lakes, the scent of
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
cedars and a magnificent Whitetail buck framed in the semi-buckhorn sights of a 120-year old Winchester.
Blog: https://www.kirkdurston.com/
- Sixgun
- Posting leader...
- Posts: 18566
- Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:17 pm
- Location: S.E. Pa. Where The Finest Winchesters & Colts Reside
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Kirk,
Nice snag with a bit of neat history to go with it. And............what a cool serial number
I too, prefer the 38-40 much more than the 44-40. Seems like every 38-40 I get has a nice tight .400-.401 bore where 44-40's are all over the map.
I'm thinking 7.5 grains of Unique with a 180 cast would make a nice factory equal load that is light in pressure and powerful enough to drop a deer. (About 4,000 of these loads have traveled the bores of one of my Colt Lightnings) The powder is fast enough to keep pressures up in cold weather, unlike light charges of 2400.------------Sixgun
Nice snag with a bit of neat history to go with it. And............what a cool serial number
I too, prefer the 38-40 much more than the 44-40. Seems like every 38-40 I get has a nice tight .400-.401 bore where 44-40's are all over the map.
I'm thinking 7.5 grains of Unique with a 180 cast would make a nice factory equal load that is light in pressure and powerful enough to drop a deer. (About 4,000 of these loads have traveled the bores of one of my Colt Lightnings) The powder is fast enough to keep pressures up in cold weather, unlike light charges of 2400.------------Sixgun
-
- Levergunner
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:02 am
- Location: St. Petersburg Florida
- Contact:
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Kirk,
Wow, what a super nice rifle. You know who to turn to if you need a .401", 20-1 lead/gas check RNFP-SWC bullet for that thing!
-Stone
Wow, what a super nice rifle. You know who to turn to if you need a .401", 20-1 lead/gas check RNFP-SWC bullet for that thing!
-Stone
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
That's a fine rifle in good shape. Kind of like my brother's WW1 Mauser 98 kar a, which is stamped for service with the Weimar Republic's police.....
These rifles have more than just shooting to do. They've got stories. Too bad they can't talk.
These rifles have more than just shooting to do. They've got stories. Too bad they can't talk.
- Ysabel Kid
- Moderator
- Posts: 27790
- Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2007 7:10 pm
- Location: South Carolina, USA
- Contact:
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Wow! Thanks for sharing the story and the picture. You'd think I'd know better by now to grab the "drool rag" before opening any of your posts. Thick Irish skull I guess!!!
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Yes your right with the all over the place 44/40, I never had a 44/40 that shot good unless I played with the sizing.Sixgun wrote:Kirk,
Nice snag with a bit of neat history to go with it. And............what a cool serial number
I too, prefer the 38-40 much more than the 44-40. Seems like every 38-40 I get has a nice tight .400-.401 bore where 44-40's are all over the map.
I'm thinking 7.5 grains of Unique with a 180 cast would make a nice factory equal load that is light in pressure and powerful enough to drop a deer. (About 4,000 of these loads have traveled the bores of one of my Colt Lightnings) The powder is fast enough to keep pressures up in cold weather, unlike light charges of 2400.------------Sixgun
I have wanted a 38/40 all my life I have yet to find one!
Even up here in Canada I new a guy that had a Buckey Ruger in 10mm with a 38/40 cyl with some 296 and a 200gr bullet it made the 10mm look week! it was really just a .40, 41 mag.
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Well done!
-
- Levergunner 2.0
- Posts: 442
- Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:35 am
- Location: Queensland Australia
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
Good onya Kirk, thats one fine rifle, gotta find one myself like that. Congrats and if you fall on hard times and need to sell give me a call eh!!! Enjoy sir.
GUN CONTROL IS HITTING YOUR TARGET
- Streetstar
- Advanced Levergunner
- Posts: 3869
- Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 5:58 am
- Location: from what used to be Moore OK
-
- Levergunner 2.0
- Posts: 442
- Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:35 am
- Location: Queensland Australia
Re: My 'New' Winchester 1873 38 WCF
perry owens wrote:Fine piece of history you have there Kirk. I have one in 38-40, made in 1890, but the only thing I know about it is that, from the sun bleaching on the butt and the muzzle wear, it probably spent a lot of its life in a saddle scabbard.
To date I have only shot black and 777 in it but lately I have been having impure thoughts about trying some smokeless loads, maybe SR4759 or Trail Boss.
Perry Owens
Gday Perry, 2400 is not a bad powder in these old cartridges if you can get hold of it in UK. Pressures are low. With 180g lead start at 12g slowly up to a max of 15g as always rifles are individuals, watch for pressure signs. Love those impure thoughts, whats life without taking acceptable risks.
Rgds
GUN CONTROL IS HITTING YOUR TARGET