Winchester 1873 Parts question

[coyote nose]

Yet another project. I am rebuilding a Winchester 73 in 44 WCF. Need new toggles and some other major parts (lever, sideplates). My plan is to use original parts (ebay and gunbroker) on the outside but I want good quality parts on the inside. Am a tool and die maker and am making some of the parts, but dont want to mess with the toggles. Here is the question. Dixie gun works says Uberti toggles can be made to fit original winchesters. Also, read in a gunsmith book that Uberti sells overlength toggles to allow custom fitting to worn (ie: stretched frame) guns. Has anybody on this forum fitted Uberti toggles to Winchester frames? Is it good or is it Mickey Mouse? Does the original lever still function if you fit Uberti toggles, or are all their slots/holes/etc metric and thus you have to fit a Uberti lever to the toggles?

[Grizzly Adams]

I have not done this personally, but I know a gunsmith who did it. In addition, I have discussed this with another gunsmith who not only uses the Uberti links, but have even modified original 1873s to use the "short stroke links" many CAS competitors use.

As I understand it, there are two major differences between the Uberti and the original Winnie links:

1. The Uberti links use larger diameter pins. Therefore, the original frame has to have the pin holes enlarged to except the oversize pins.

2. The left side Winnie link has a small pin on the front inside that is required to activate the firing pin retractor. (Uberti does not use the firing pin retractor link - their's is spring loaded.) In order to use the Uberti link, it must have a pin installed.

I would recommend that you contact Jim Bowie at the Cowboy and Indian Store, and discuss this with him.

http://www.cowboysandindianstore.com/

Another, and perhaps easier options is to purchase a set of replacement links from this fellow.

Here's one fella that lists them - there are others out there.

http://www.chasjonesgunparts.citymax.co ... 533742.htm

Another place is Buckingham's. He has no web site, but is listing in Shotgun News etc. He ain't cheap, and he has his own style!

Hope some of this is of use to you.

[Nate Kiowa Jones]

Yet another project. I am rebuilding a Winchester 73 in 44 WCF. Need new toggles and some other major parts (lever, sideplates). My plan is to use original parts (ebay and gunbroker) on the outside but I want good quality parts on the inside. Am a tool and die maker and am making some of the parts, but dont want to mess with the toggles. Here is the question. Dixie gun works says Uberti toggles can be made to fit original winchesters. Also, read in a gunsmith book that Uberti sells overlength toggles to allow custom fitting to worn (ie: stretched frame) guns. Has anybody on this forum fitted Uberti toggles to Winchester frames? Is it good or is it Mickey Mouse? Does the original lever still function if you fit Uberti toggles, or are all their slots/holes/etc metric and thus you have to fit a Uberti lever to the toggles?

I have done countless shortstroke conversion on the uberti guns so I have those uberti toggle links. The late model Uberti guns have larger pins but the earlier Uberti's had smaller pins. I'm just not sure if the pin hole are as small as the original. I have both though. if you will measure those pins I'll see what i got.

[ole pizen slinger]

Dear Sir:
"Buffalo Arms" sells links for 73 Winchesters and are priced at $105 per pair. Just go to their site and click on firearms parts and toggle until you see the links. Best of Luck to you.
ole pizen slinger