1873 1st vs. 2nd Model

[@billclifton8400]

I have the literal brother to that 2nd model. 30 inch barrel with set trigger and wouldn't you know I had to do the exact same thing and had to fix the set trigger when I got it. LOL Had to make a new fly for it as it was missing. Thanks for sharing I really enjoy all your videos.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Jesi at the Cody Records Office told me there was a big order for 30", set trigger 1873's at that time. I'd love to know who ordered them and why.

[@ricktaylor5744]

How many rounds does that 30" hold?

[@billclifton8400]

@thecinnabar8442 very interesting, I'd love to know as well.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Hi Rick. I don't recall with certainty, but I think they hold 19 rounds. Check out this early episode. It'll have the answer for you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJu8kn6qpbiXhcU

[@ricktaylor5744]

​@@thecinnabar8442 thank you Mark I watched that video the answer is 17 rounds.

[@alex7x57]

This video is great. I have a late 2nd model made in 1881 with a set trigger, and I've always wondered, but hadn't been able to find the answer through online research, if it had the correct lever as it has the boss for the trigger block. Glad to finally know that it's correct for the vintage.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@jeffgrier8488]

Thanks for showing us those great old rifles, and for taking us along to the range!

[@ageewilso]

I have a nastalgia for the past and old ways of craftmanship. Even looking at old boxes from that era, I believe we were at the height of understanding with metal work and wood furniture. love this channel. most infomative leveraction channel!

[@millcreekrange]

Enjoyed the video as always. You always do the 73’s justice. All this time I really thought that Winchester had set the 1st models, 2nd model and so on. Makes perfect sense now. My 73 from 79 is one of those with the thumb print oval on the dust cover as well as the screw in magazine plug and the 5 groove barrel. One day I’ll send it to you for a good look over. I do hope to have this 3rd model ready to ship out to you in the next couple of weeks. But you are definitely the 73 go to guy in my book. Thanks Mark for these videos. They help out a lot with these old guns. 👍

[@Former0311]

Happy to see you are still enjoying Wyoming.

[@rifleman1873]

I love the 1873s. Thanks for showing these.

[@thecinnabar8442]

You're very welcome!

[@billclifton8400]

Just more indication of gradual changes, my only 1st model (15000 sn range) is in between those shown here. It has the lever and receiver like the early one here but has the sights on the barrel like the late 1st model and 2nd model shown here. Mine also has a 26 inch barrel and set trigger but those were options and indicated on the factory letter.

[@Tom-ki3lq]

Thanks for the video and explaining the difference. My 32-20 is joy but nothing like a 44wcf

[@timricks1149]

Great video and information. Over the years I have owned several of the replicas from different manufacturers and even those are sometimes finicky about the bullets they like. I found one company that makes a 1-20 which I think is about a 10 Brin that I have had good luck with on targets. Still don’t know if that hardness is soft enough to expand on game at original 44wcf velocity of 1300 ft sec. I know the original bullet was pure lead and about a 5 to 6 I was in Cody about a year ago at the Museum before I found your channel. Next time I’m up that way will definitely have to come check out your shop

[@redtobertshateshandles]

It was great to see the handloads look more powerful than the factory. If you actually went hunting with a 44WCF then handloads would be the ticket.

[@jeffryrichardson9105]

Beautiful rifle’s great information. Miss the home range shooting! 👍🏽😊❤️🇺🇸

[@thecinnabar8442]

Keep an eye out,, Jeff. We''ll be posting some episodes from The Cinnabar soon.

[@scottscheuerman8714]

I have a new production Murku made 73 and it is one of the funest firearms I have for plinking with

[@davidwalter8576]

Mark, as always another great video for Winchester fanatics. I'd love to see a part two, comparing 2nd and 3rd generation 73s. I have an early gen 3 (164k range sn) and it would be interesting to hear about differences, if any, from the gen 2 etc.for a complete transitional history from its inception in 1873. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into these videos for us. It's truly appreciated.

[@ricktaylor5744]

Thanks Mark, it's great to see you and those old guns doing what they were made for. How many rounds does that 1873 with the 30" barrel hold?

[@timothymcknight9485]

Great video, Mark! You brought up an interesting observation for me. How soon after shooting these old gals, with blackpowder loads, do you clean them. Seems to me, immediately after getting home. I have a young friend, who bought an 1893 Marlin lever, in 38-55. He wants to load blackpowder cartridges, since this gun, made in 1894, is 150 years old. Any suggestions?

[@thecinnabar8442]

The sooner the better. I try to clean them as soon as I get home with them after shooting. The residue itself isn't particularly corrosive, but it draws moisture. Leaving the residue in the barrel over time will draw moisture into the bore The moisture in combination with the black powder residue with eat up the bore. A word of advice to your friend. Early 1893 Marlins in 38-55 are another rifle with a reputation for have oversized bores. It'd be a good idea to slug the bore to find out the groove diameter of the barrel before choosing a proper bullet diameter for his rifle.

[@timothymcknight9485]

Thanks, Mark, for the bullet advice. I plan to have him slug the bore, and we shall go from there!

[@chrischiampo7647]

Thanks Mark Those Rifles Are A Dream Of Mine To One Day Be an Owner of One 😀😇😊❤️

[@thecinnabar8442]

Wonderful old rifles. It was kind of hard to let them go, but I can't keep them all, darn it!

[@clutchcargo1239]

I enjoyed your video. Thanks for sharing!

[@thecinnabar8442]

You're very welcome!

[@michaelnault5905]

I think I read the very first one's were sans an attachment screw on the side access plate. The plates were being lost as a result, and Winchester added the screw.

[@thecinnabar8442]

As far as I know, they had side plate screws from the beginning of production.

[@flintrichards945]

Very nice 1873’s your information on the cast bullets is right most commercial bullets are just to hard and the bevel base is not good for these old guns.

[@thecinnabar8442]

Exactly! It's hard to find commercially made cast bullets that work well with black powder loads. It's a good incentive to start casting for those who don't already.

[@flintrichards945]

@@thecinnabar8442 Yes that’s what I do I’ve been casting since I was 13 years old and that was a long time ago I really enjoy getting a custom mold from accurate mold in Utah they make great molds you can get a custom-made mold to fit what you needs are.

[@ofreen]

What's funny is they actually use "hard cast" as a selling point as if it was beneficial. Too hard is detrimental for accuracy in most firearms, especially revolvers. The only time it is good is for those trying to get jacketed bullet velocity in rifles. Even then, bullet fit has to be correct to get decent performance.

[@dandesch]

Hello sir, from Quebec , very interesting

[@thecinnabar8442]

Thanks a bunch for watching!

[@billfisher6708]

Wow! Awesome!

[@ofreen]

Beautiful rifles. Thanks.

[@thecinnabar8442]

You're very welcome!

[@robr1656]

Great video. Thanks.

[@thecinnabar8442]

You're very welcome!

[@usualsuspect5173]

Great video... Have you ever compared the ballistics and accuracy of the 44-40 and the 38-40?

[@billy56081]

Love seeing the old guns fired.

[@thecinnabar8442]

It's great fun for me too!! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@randyphillips559]

I have 30,268 which shows all the same features as you early 2nd model. I should take her hunting this fall!

[@thecinnabar8442]

When I asked Jesi at the Cody Records Office to look up the factory record for that early second model, she told me there was a big run of identically optioned 1873's made at that time, with 30" barrels and set triggers. Too bad they don't have a record of who ordered them. It'd be very interesting information. It'd be an enjoyable rifle to hunt with. Bullet selection and load development would be very important in order to get it shooting accurately.

[@mikereinhardt4807]

I have a third generation 1873 in 32 cal. My question is, do the 32 cal have the same oversized bore issue as the 44 cals do? Thanks for another great video as always...

[@Gunner-73]

I have a new 1873, probably couldn't afford a historic 73. Great video, appreciate the information. Got any idea where can I find a new or good used 32 Winchester Special barrel, 26 inch Octagonal. for an 1894 made in 1902 ?

[@thecinnabar8442]

Sorry, I don't. It's hard to find good used barrels. Most take-off barrels were taken off because they have problems. You may want to consider a new barrel or having one relined.

[@oldhorse4171]

was there a model 73 with no sliding dust cover?

[@thecinnabar8442]

Yes, there was a timeframe when Winchester was in a patent infringement fight over the use of dust covers. During that time they produced a fairly limited number of "open top" 1873's and 1876's.

[@roadking99jokerst60]

Hello Cody, from Omaha

[@thecinnabar8442]

Hello Omaha! Thanks for watching our channel

[@timmaynard986]

Can you talk about 1894 flat band thank you

[@thecinnabar8442]

What is it that you want to know about them?

[@redtobertshateshandles]

I would like to see the changes Winchester made to the lever cut post 64. My 70s model 94 is fairly unused and takes a manly effort to cycle including cocking the hammer. Of course you would expect the finish to be worse. Internals I think would be similar or worse on the older rifles. "What you can't see......"

[@patrickshannon4854]

At what range were you shooting?

[@DeathMond.]

Woohoo

[@henrysara7716]

Thy Mark.

[@leveractioncowboy1924]

Nice video. Interesting to learn more of the details about first vrs second models. Just out of curiosity, when you say the hard casts are "bad for the old guns" is it more just because you don't get the good bump up to fill the bore l, or is the harder lead actually bad for the rifling?

[@thecinnabar8442]

Any lead bullets that don't fully engage the rifling tend to shave off lead and cause leading in the barrel which can be very hard to remove. It has a negative impact on accuracy and for the barrel.