Winchester 1873 dimensions?

Welcome to the Leverguns.Com Forum. This is a high-class place so act respectable. We discuss most anything here ... politely.

Moderators: AmBraCol, Hobie

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.
Post Reply
kizmit99
Levergunner
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat May 19, 2018 5:47 pm

Winchester 1873 dimensions?

Post by kizmit99 »

Hi all,
I'm in the process of trying to accurately model a Winchester 1873 carbine so that I can attempt building one from scratch. Finding measured drawings for the parts has been basically impossible. Since I don't have access to a real one to take measurements from, I've been using screen calipers and various pics from the internet with varying results....

I'm active on other forums and a fellow member suggested I give this site a shot.
So - is there anyone here who access to an original Winchester 1873 that would be willing to grab a few (accurate) measurements for me??? I'm just looking for caliper accuracy measurements of the following features (although measurements of additional features would be great as well):

* Width and Length of Carrier Block
* Width and Length of carrier block pocket in receiver
* Distance from rear of carrier block pocket to center of spring retainer screws on bottom of receiver
* Width of Receiver at carrier block
* Width of Finger Lever (at receiver)
* Width of bottom strap (just measured at bottom of receiver)
* Width of Hammer
* Width and length of hammer pocket in receiver
* Width of Trigger at receiver
* Diameter of Breech Pin (where it extends from the receiver and is hit by the hammer)

Hopefully those should all be quick and shouldn't require any disassembly.
If you want to go overboard you could include the following:
* Diameter of Breech Bolt nose
* Distance between holes in the link pins

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to help me out on this!
JerryB
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 5493
Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2007 9:23 pm
Location: Batesville,Arkansas

Re: Winchester 1873 dimensions?

Post by JerryB »

Welcome to a great place for levergun knowledge. There was two people here on this forum that made full scale shooting rifles. I think one of them was Charlie and I believe the other one went by Alpha Wolf. Do a history search here and you should get the articles.
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
User avatar
OldWin
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 8962
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 2:38 pm

Re: Winchester 1873 dimensions?

Post by OldWin »

I can get you these measurements. May be a couple days getting to it, though.
"Oh bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round.
User avatar
Blaine
Posting leader...
Posts: 30495
Joined: Mon Dec 17, 2007 2:22 pm
Location: Still Deciding

Re: Winchester 1873 dimensions?

Post by Blaine »

We will, of course :wink: , require full photographic record of the build. Please.
The Rotten Fruit Always Hits The Ground First

Proud Life Member Of:
NRA
Second Amendment Foundation
Citizens Committee For The Right To Keep And Bear Arms
DAV
kizmit99
Levergunner
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat May 19, 2018 5:47 pm

Re: Winchester 1873 dimensions?

Post by kizmit99 »

OldWin wrote: Mon May 21, 2018 5:48 pm I can get you these measurements. May be a couple days getting to it, though.
Thanks OldWin - that would be great!
User avatar
OldWin
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 8962
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 2:38 pm

Re: Winchester 1873 dimensions?

Post by OldWin »

No prob. I will try tomorrow.
"Oh bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round.
User avatar
OldWin
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 8962
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 2:38 pm

Re: Winchester 1873 dimensions?

Post by OldWin »

kizmit99 wrote: Sat May 19, 2018 5:52 pm Hi all,
I'm in the process of trying to accurately model a Winchester 1873 carbine so that I can attempt building one from scratch. Finding measured drawings for the parts has been basically impossible. Since I don't have access to a real one to take measurements from, I've been using screen calipers and various pics from the internet with varying results....

I'm active on other forums and a fellow member suggested I give this site a shot.
So - is there anyone here who access to an original Winchester 1873 that would be willing to grab a few (accurate) measurements for me??? I'm just looking for caliper accuracy measurements of the following features (although measurements of additional features would be great as well):

* Width and Length of Carrier Block
* Width and Length of carrier block pocket in receiver
* Distance from rear of carrier block pocket to center of spring retainer screws on bottom of receiver
* Width of Receiver at carrier block
* Width of Finger Lever (at receiver)
* Width of bottom strap (just measured at bottom of receiver)
* Width of Hammer
* Width and length of hammer pocket in receiver
* Width of Trigger at receiver
* Diameter of Breech Pin (where it extends from the receiver and is hit by the hammer)

Hopefully those should all be quick and shouldn't require any disassembly.
If you want to go overboard you could include the following:
* Diameter of Breech Bolt nose
* Distance between holes in the link pins

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to help me out on this!
Ok.
All except the toggle dimensions are from a 3rd model
.44 I had in parts. The toggle dimensions are from another 3rd model .44, but close in number.
Measured with a set of Starrett 120s.
In the order of your list.
1. 1.605 x .748
2. 1.630 x .756
3. .425
4. 1.055
5. .332 inside. .437 outside width
6. .692 width of lower tang I assume you wanted?
7. .375
8. 1.825 x .390
9. .375
10. .345
11. .520
12. 2.265 between front and rear pins at lockup.
1.220 between front and center hinge point at
lockup.

Good Luck!
"Oh bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round.
kizmit99
Levergunner
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat May 19, 2018 5:47 pm

Re: Winchester 1873 dimensions?

Post by kizmit99 »

Thanks so much for taking the time to get those measurements for me!
They should be a huge help in getting my model working. After that, hopefully, I'll start cutting metal.
Thanks again!
User avatar
OldWin
Advanced Levergunner
Posts: 8962
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 2:38 pm

Re: Winchester 1873 dimensions?

Post by OldWin »

You're very welcome. Let me know if you need something else.
Good luck with your project.
"Oh bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round.
Eric37
Levergunner
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Dec 31, 2018 11:48 am

Re: Winchester 1873 dimensions?

Post by Eric37 »

Kizmutt99,
Were you able to find all of the dimensions to model the action? I'm currently trying to do the same and am having a lot of trouble finding everything.
User avatar
Sixgun
Posting leader...
Posts: 18563
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:17 pm
Location: S.E. Pa. Where The Finest Winchesters & Colts Reside

Re: Winchester 1873 dimensions?

Post by Sixgun »

I'm not sure if I have this right....you want to build a 1873 from scratch? A real working model? From steel?
Model A Uzi’s
Image
Alphawolf45
Levergunner 2.0
Posts: 229
Joined: Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:09 pm
Location: Bismarck ,Arkansas

Re: Winchester 1873 dimensions?

Post by Alphawolf45 »

The book "Winchester Lever Action Repeating Firearms" Volume 1 by Arthur Pirkle has majority of the dimensions you require.

I did build an 1873 in .22lr but I cheated on the extractor so it would need some rework to get it to function reliably.. I use a scratch built Marlin 1892 repeating .22 levergun in 3 matches.. And this year I will use my scratchbuilt Marlin 1889 levergun in .25-20 for another 1/2 scale silhouette match... There is a lot of satisfaction in using firearms that you yourself have machined from solid steel. I have other homebuilt guns that I compete with plus some others that I resurrected from the scrap bin.... It is a combination of hobbies... Super easy and fast to just buy a firearm - and I do buy a new gun 'bout every other month- but the greater fun is in doing the work yourself.
Eric37
Levergunner
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Dec 31, 2018 11:48 am

Re: Winchester 1873 dimensions?

Post by Eric37 »

Yes I do Sixgun, I've found a lot of info about building different firearms and I'd like to try doing one myself. Thanks for the book suggestion Alphawolf!
Post Reply