Winchester '73 .32-20....TRADED FOR '76

1988rrc · Post by **1988rrc** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 5:47 pm

its not a favorite cartridge of mine, but i ran into this rifle for sale at a local gun shop.
reference this link for metal condition 'only' for the rifle i have seen.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =118230570

The price in the gun shop has been dropped from $700.00 to $550.00.
here are the bad parts of this deal:
long ago someone has etched there name in the butt stock, the front sight blade is missing and the rear sight looks to be a bad (not correct) replacement sight.
the mechanism seem OK, metal is good condition and it functions correctly. the serial number ends with an 'A'. forgot, its also missing the dust cover.

I'm not sure of the price range for the .32-20 cal. rifles; what do you think??? buy or pass by?

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 5:51 pm

My local dealer has one in much the same condition as you say. Heis asking 3K !

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 6:22 pm

I have seen one here in the UK in worse condition for about £1200.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:42 am

1988rrc wrote:its not a favorite cartridge of mine, but i ran into this rifle for sale at a local gun shop.
reference this link for metal condition 'only' for the rifle i have seen.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =118230570

The price in the gun shop has been dropped from $700.00 to $550.00.
here are the bad parts of this deal:
long ago someone has etched there name in the butt stock, the front sight blade is missing and the rear sight looks to be a bad (not correct) replacement sight.
the mechanism seem OK, metal is good condition and it functions correctly. the serial number ends with an 'A'. forgot, its also missing the dust cover.

I'm not sure of the price range for the .32-20 cal. rifles; what do you think??? buy or pass by?

That sounds like a pretty good deal to me. If it were in my local gunshop, I'd have bought it. The sights can be replaced with proper ones. As for dust cover, the earliest ones didn't have any. If it is supposed to have one, original ones can be had. The 32-20 is one of my favourite cartridges.

Grizzly Adams · Post by **Grizzly Adams** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 12:19 pm

If the metal is the same - or even close to the rifle in the link, $550 is a bargain indeed!

Replacement dust covers and sights are no problem to find, and appear almost daily on flea-bay. There are also serviceable replacements being reproduced.

The open top model that Kirk referred to, without the dust cover, was a first model that was actually produced for the Spanish market, although a few of those receivers where used in domestic production. All first models were 44WCF. However, Winchester never threw anything away, so if you find one of those, in any condition or caliber, I recommend you buy it!

The 32-20 was not introduced until 1882, making most of them 3rd models. That said, a few second model 32-20 were produced and those would have the rail for the sliding dust cover mounted to the top of the frame with screws. If that rail is missing, it could be a problem to find a replacement. That said, it is most likely a third model, with the rail an integral part of the receiver.

1988rrc · Post by **1988rrc** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:45 am

now that i bought it, i need a few replacement parts; any good suggestions on old parts for this .32-20? (besides eBay)

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:59 am

Gunbroker.com and Auctionarms.com are good sources for guys parting out guns.

gunpartscorp.com sometimes has Winchester stuff.

good deal by the way. I have my Grandfather's '73 / .32-20. Neat old rifles!

jb

rangerider7 · Post by **rangerider7** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 1:04 pm

How's the bore?

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 2:19 pm

Where's the pictures?????

1988rrc · Post by **1988rrc** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:46 pm

The bore is dark, but cleaning up nicely & the rifling is coming to life...still working on the bore, with lots of black 'stuff' still coming out. it is completely disassembled now for cleaning, repair & replacements. i will do the pictures when it is completed.

PS......ser # is 126XXXA
xxx=don't remember the other numbers.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:02 am

Congratulations - sounds like you picked up a sweet deal and fun project gun. Be sure to take some "before" pictures as well - always neat to see the transformation (salvation) of a beautiful old lever!

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:03 am

1988, if you find another '73 in 38 WCF and in decent shape for around that price let me know. I'd like to pick one up if it isn't beat to death and quasi shootable (minor problems kind of like yours).

Retro · Post by **Retro** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 2:20 pm

I got one for... let's say the equivalent of three flats of beer. Serial number makes it an 83 model. It doesn't have the magazine tube and all the bits that go with it though.

Yes I know, this is useless without pics

Will see if I can post some tomorrow.

Edit : serial is 1173xxA, as far as I can tell.

So... anyone have a spare magazine tube assembly lying around?

R

okdee · Post by **okdee** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 11:29 pm

Heck of a find!

I gave an old 76 Winchester some new life, also. It is pretty fun and a good learning experience.

I got a number of my replacement parts from ebay and then an outfit in texas, Chas Jones. He does a pretty fair job of recreating the quality of parts. chasjonesgunparts.com
He does not have a phone number listed for the business.

Great luck in your journey!

Oklahoma Dee

Kansas Ed · Post by **Kansas Ed** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 12:09 am

Hey Retro...you know that sight's almost as valuable as the rifle?

Ed

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 9:50 am

Kansas Ed wrote:Hey Retro...you know that sight's almost as valuable as the rifle?

Ed

I was about to post that.

If you're looking to get rid of that '73 I know someone who'd probably taken it.

1988rrc · Post by **1988rrc** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:05 pm

1988rrc · Post by **1988rrc** » Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:13 pm

sorry for the duplicate, i just figured out how to show the pictures in the message in lieu of a link.

okdee · Post by **okdee** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 7:16 am

Well Done!

Oklahoma Dee

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 7:34 am

Now all you have to do is scour the history books for someone famous who had those initials, and all of a sudden they take on a whole new meaning...!

Streetstar · Post by **Streetstar** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:06 am

What a buy

The buttstock is absolutely the reason the shop had it marked so low, but it still looks to be worth 3 times what you paid for it

I wonder if it would be possible to "age" a replacement buttstock for this rifle to roughly match the fore end.

Either way , outstanding rifle !

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:52 am

That is super nice. Congratulations! Finding out who HCW is would be a fun little mystery.

1988rrc · Post by **1988rrc** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 3:15 pm

Well i traded the '73 (plus other stuff) last night for a 1876 i have been eying for over 3 years. The '76 is a second model, .45-60, 26" barrel, ser #22560, set trigger, Lyman front sight, XX wood with checkering (saw the xx marks under the but stock last night). It needs an replacement rear sight, extractor, swivel sling hardware & nose cap screws. It seems to be clean, no buggered screw heads. only issue is the metal finish has been removed some how and the stocks seem to of been refinished and or sanded some (not much checkering left on the wood).

I hope i made out ok with the trade; its a start on the '76 guns. I like the '76 a lot more than the '73.

Which rear sight should go back on this rifle? Im thinking of removing the shinny finish on the stock, what do you all (that know more about these than i do) think should be done with this one?

Here are some photos.

Post by **Hobie** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 3:47 pm

Neat!

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 5:37 pm

That is SUPER neat... deserving of it's own post! I like the wood as is; but if too shiney for you... just knock off the glare with some 6-0 steel wool.

I believe the same rear sight as the '73 would be appropriate: Winchester Repro 73, 76 and 86 Serrated Adj Sight.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 6:44 pm

Excellent! The .45-60 is my favourite '76 cartridge and easy to load for. I'm planning to purchase one in three weeks if all goes well. I've already ordered dies for $49 from Track of the Wolf. I'm planning to get some cases from Rocky Mountain Cartridges. I had one a couple years ago and sure do miss not having a '76 in .45-60.

1988rrc · Post by **1988rrc** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 6:51 pm

will a '73 extractor interchange with the '76 extractor?

Winchester '73 .32-20....TRADED FOR '76

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