The Winchester Model 1873: then & now; it might not be the strongest lever action rifle ever made, but 700,000 customers can't be wrong

Guns Magazine, Jan, 2005 by Mike Venturino

Winchester ,liked to bill the Model 1873 as "gun that won the West." Of course that's nonsense. The Sharps Model 1874 single shot made the "West safe for Winchesters!

Regardless, the Model 1873 is one of the more significant firearms in American history. Its production life spanned five decades and nearly three quarters of a million were produced. That translates into enormous popularity; especially considering that the population of this country was a mere fraction of what it is today. Here's something else to consider. When the much stronger and lighter Model 1892 Winchester was introduced chambering the same exact cartridges (plus a couple of others) it would have been reasonable to think that the older Model 1873's days were numbered, But Winchester manufactured the two lever guns concurrently for almost 30 years and they priced identically in the 1899 catalog. That was $19.50 for standard rifles and $17.50 for standard carbines.

A little known fact is that the Model 1873 darn near was the Model 1874. That's because according to the late George Madis' The Winchester Book the factory only shipped 18 of them by the end of 1873. But they certainly did get into full swing. In the decades of the 1880s and 1890s production almost always exceeded 20,000 per calendar year. Some years topped 39,000 and in 1891 more than 40,000 were made. As late as 1910 over 25.000 were made in a single year. If you know anyone working for a major firearm manufacturer today ask him what he would think about selling 40,000 of one model in a year.

Here's another little known fact. According to archaeology done at the Little Bighorn Battlefield in recent years, historians know that no less than four Model 1873 Winchesters made it to that battle in June, 1876. They must have been in Sioux or Cheyenne hands as there is no record of them being carried by anyone in the 7th Cavalry. But it does prove that his model spread around the country rather quickly.

The Model 1873's story did not end completely when Winchester dropped it in 1923. Fast forward 50 years and the Italians entered the picture. By the early 1970s the replica market was in full swing and the late Val Forgett, founder of Navy Arms. prevailed on A. Uberti & Company to start reproducing Winchester lever guns. He told me personally that the first one made was the Model 1866, but within a few years the Model 1873 started to be imported over here. Nowadays. Model 1873s are sold by numerous importers such as Cimarron Arms, EMF. Dixie Gun Works, Navy Arms, and so forth. One and all they are made in the Uberti factory located in northern Italy. And in my opinion they possess the finest quality of all the replica guns imported today. Production figures of Uberti Model 1873s made during the last three plus decades are not available to me, but it is safe to say that they are a significant fraction of the total produced by Winchester.

When Winchester introduced the Model 1873 it was a first in several ways. It was their first firearm to take centerfire, reloadable cartridges, and it was their first firearm to use ferrous metal for the receiver. Through the 1870s Model 1873 frames were machined of iron, but then the switch was made to steel in the 1880s. The reason stronger materials than brass (actually it was an alloy called "gun-metal") were needed was that Winchester wanted more power from their lever guns. Winchester's previous rifle was only chambered for the .44 Henry Rimfire cartridge. It carried a 200-grain bullet over 28-grains of black powder. For the sake of perspective consider this. A Model 1866 Winchester firing that round gave muzzle velocity of about 1,100 fps and muzzle energy about equal to a stoutly loaded .357 Magnum revolver with 4 barrel.

By making the frames of iron and going to centerfire ignition Winchester not only enabled the cartridge to be reloadable, but it was able to carry 40 grains of black powder under a 200-grain bullet. That raised muzzle speeds to about 1.300 fps. Again for the sake of perspective, that made the new .44 cartridge about equal to some of today s lower end .44 Magnum handgun loads. Winchester never marked any of their guns ".44-40" but that is how we know the round today. Winchester always inscribed them ".44 WCF."

Winchester produced the Model 1873 in three basic versions. There were rifles. which had 24" round or octagon barrels. straight grip stocks, and steel-capped crescent butts. Carbines had 20 lightweight, round barrels, straight grip stocks, and a steel capped and slightly curved butt. Then there were muskets. These had 30" round barrels and, interestingly, used the exact same buttstock as carbines. Of course, there were near endless custom options offered in those days. They included but were not limited to extra long or extra short barrels, extra heavy or extra light barrels, set triggers, pistol grip stocks, shotgun butts, color case-hardened actions, and you get the picture.

It is also worth saying here that the modern Italian made Model 1873s are also being made in musket, rifle, and carbine versions. For some reason the carbines have 19" barrels and the rifles [24.sup.1][H.sub.4]" barrels. There is even a Sporting Rifle version with pistol grip and checkering. Actions can be color casehardened or blued.