Winchester 73 project complete (almost)

[Hoosierdaddy]

Just finished this 1873 Winchester, 38-40 round barrel rifle w/single set trigger(made in 1882). Feels good to finally finish a "personal" project. Took it to the range this morning to test fire using some old hand loads, and while they all went off, they were hitting the 50 yard target sideways. Guess I'll try some larger diameter bullets, and maybe avoid relining it. Anyhow, here are some pics. Hope you like it.
http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h157/ ... /gripsprl/
Thanks,
Ken

[Mescalero]

WOW!!!!!
That is stunning!
Congrats!

[bdhold]

jaw-dropping

[Pisgah]

You ARE going to name me in your will, aren't you?

[J Miller]

Ken,

This is just my personal opinion for what it's worth, but that rifle is beautiful. With all the work you've done to it, if that bore is less than perfect; reline it and finish the job.

Joe

[Hoosierdaddy]

Thanks for the kind words. Pisgah, if this is like most of my projects it will be sold long before there is a will involved. Hoping that now both kids have graduated from college this won't become tuition or housing deposits.
Joe, I am leaning toward lining this. Kind of disappointed I won't be able to shoot a deer with it this season, though.
Thanks again,
Ken

[COSteve]

Don't give up yet. You might find that the larger dia. bullets work out. Remember, hope springs eternal!

[Chuck 100 yd]

WOW !!

[RIHMFIRE]

beautiful job

[pwl44m]

Beautiful Hoosier, refresh my memory- You did the engraving right ?
Perry

[ollogger]

THAT is SHOCKING

ollogger

[missionary5155]

Good evening
I have a tendency of using the fattest bullet I can in my 38-40's. Have one with a very erroaded throat and it shoots best with .406.
One thing for sure if yopurs will shoot as nice as the exterior you should name it 1-10,000.
Mike in ILL

[shooter]

That is amazingly beautiful. The '73/'76 is one of my favorite rifles to look at, especially with engraving like that.

[Griff]

Such pretty wood, it's a shame about all those scratches in the reciever! If ya want, you cab send it to ne and I'll see if I can get them out!

Seriously. looks grand! Did you do the engraving?

[rjohns94]

Beautiful. Is that the receiver that was for sale here on the classifieds a while back? Stunning. Good luck finding a load it likes

[Mescalero]

After seeing that I realize that my 1873 rimfire has hope, it will never materialize at my hand......... perhaps someone else?

[buckeyeshooter]

looks great! I would have a hard time selling that one!

[1894c]

WOW!!!!!
That is stunning!
Congrats!

+1 ... :)

[Hoosierdaddy]

Thanks again for all the nice comments! I did engrave it, along with drawfiling it and wearing out several sheets of sandpaper while polishing it by hand. Many more hours refinishing than the engraving took. Someone had already upgraded the wood before I received it. This is not the action I had for sale (it was made in 1891) but it's the same engraving pattern. That one one is now sporting a 19 1/2 inch octagon barrel and I'm in the process of fitting new wood to it. Hope it will be a shooter.
Thanks again,
Ken

[Grizzly Adams]

Beautiful workmanship. 1873s are special, and that one doubly so!

[44-40 Willy]

I bet you'll find that if you shoot black powder loads with soft lead bullets, it'll shoot a lot more accurately.

[Pitchy]

Absolutely beautiful, nice work.

[w30wcf]

Hoosierdaddy,
Wow beautiful work!
I have an 1873 Winchester made in 1882 that also has an oversized bore. Initial shooting had the bullets key holing but when I matched the bullet diameter to the barrel, all was well shooting smokeless

As was mentioned, I also found that soft lead bullets and b.p. shot very well......

w30wcf