Winchester Lever Action Development: Model 1873

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  • Опубликовано: 11 окт 2024
  • With the Model of 1873, Winchester was able to address the major remaining weakness of the Henry and 1866 rifles - the cartridge. The 1873 was introduced in tandem with the .44Winchester Center Fire cartridge (known more commonly today as the .44-40). This cartridge kept the 200 grain bullet from the .44Henry Rimfire round, but used a brass case (as opposed to copper) and was able to increase the powder charge from 28 grains to 40, for a substantial increase in velocity.
    In addition, the Model 1873 used a lighter steel frame and introduced a sliding dust cover on the top of the action to help keep out dirt and debris. The centerfire nature of the cartridge made it possible to handled ammunition when a commercial source was not available (Winchester sold the reloading tools). The 1873 was available with a wide variety of options, including barrel and magazine lengths, buttstock and grips, sights, and fancy options like engraving. It would prove to be a massively popular weapon both in the United States and abroad, cementing Winchester’s position as the premier manufacturer of American repeating rifles.
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Комментарии • 516

  • @drmaudio
    @drmaudio 7 лет назад +687

    I'm reminded again what a valued possession that would be. While $35 would be around $700 today in terms of pure inflation, the median income in '73 was around $2.30/day, compared to around $220/day today. So relative to sacrifice of budget, it would be the equivalent of about a $3,000 rifle today. It's popularity despite it's cost is a reminder how much people valued their firearms.

    • @ghostrider6267
      @ghostrider6267 7 лет назад +20

      Gun Sense (drmaudio) that's great to know about!

    • @redneckwithajeep5001
      @redneckwithajeep5001 6 лет назад +42

      Your comment just made me realize it’s well worth buying a new one. I never took the income into it in the past. I might actually go out and buy a new Winchester now

    • @dapsapsrp
      @dapsapsrp 5 лет назад +28

      They were absolute necessary pieces of equipment to many people of the day especially to those who lived outside of big cities and had to rely on themselves and their gear to survive.

    • @charlie1571
      @charlie1571 5 лет назад +11

      With that cost it is reasonable to think theft was another way to procure this beautiful rifle or murder.

    • @Bourikii2992
      @Bourikii2992 4 года назад +46

      Except you also have to look at cost of living as well. Room and board for men was apparently like 6 dollars a month. Or 129 dollars today. Lol you can barely buy a tent for 1 today for that much money. Let alone room and board.
      So you didn't need to worry about rent or food because it be payed off in 2 days if you were making average pay. I spend an entire month paying for rent and utilities. Let alone groceries.

  • @d.a.2742
    @d.a.2742 3 года назад +100

    My Winchester 1873 44-40 Carbine just turned 130 years (1891)young in 2021 and still functions and fires beautifully....even have an original 1873( 1881) cleaning rod kit that fits nicely in the butt stock! Love it 😊

    • @davejones67
      @davejones67 2 года назад +1

      If you can find them!

    • @rodan2852
      @rodan2852 Месяц назад

      Its not finding the gun as much as finding the money

  • @mattrobinson5099
    @mattrobinson5099 3 года назад +33

    Today I learned there's a word for the sealing action of a brass case in the chamber, obturation. Thanks Ian!

  • @1337penguinman
    @1337penguinman 7 лет назад +315

    Winchester '73. The AR-15 of its day.

    • @DrSpoon-iu4hs
      @DrSpoon-iu4hs 6 лет назад +36

      1337penguinman but they didn’t have libtards trying to band it

    • @bikerbob2005
      @bikerbob2005 5 лет назад +6

      Few years later built this in 10 Gage . Level up

    • @professional_cynic98
      @professional_cynic98 5 лет назад +19

      Also it’s still probably the most beautiful rifle of its day

    • @coleparker
      @coleparker 4 года назад +13

      Shhh! don't say that too loud. Feinstein and others will try to have it banned.

    • @Ugly_German_Truths
      @Ugly_German_Truths 4 года назад +1

      Did you just call most westerners in the 19th century self entitled, clueless jackasses?

  • @mounirdarwiche6075
    @mounirdarwiche6075 Год назад +53

    The rifle arrived today and I dialed in the scope just a couple hours ago ruclips.net/user/postUgkxQt2uORDRfFOVSrO4idv4B90ThT6EOnEL . I haven’t shot with a scope in probably 25 years. The X on the left was my target. (the shot almost in the bullseye on the right X was my father in laws first shot after I made adjustments) The two shots circled are my first 2 shots. Then I brought it down - shot once. Then brought it over to the left. From there zeroed it in to dead center. This all was from 25 yards out. Follow instructions carefully when mounting the scope. So far I'm very happy with the purchase.

  • @Dregkar
    @Dregkar 7 лет назад +226

    I just love old rifles like that. Imagine all the people that owned it, took care of it, the stories it might have had and maybe even the people killed by it. Might be a bit morbid but it is really fascinating to me.

    • @_yellow
      @_yellow 7 лет назад +26

      Mellisco As they say about the walls of a house; "Imagine if those walls could speak"

    • @lavrentivs9891
      @lavrentivs9891 7 лет назад +12

      Just don't think of all the rifles who were neglected and left to rust =P

    • @ricashbringer9866
      @ricashbringer9866 5 лет назад +13

      Oliver Winchesters daughter went nuts and built a house she said she was told to build to house the souls of those killed by her father's guns. You can visit the house today. It was featured on " Believe It or Not."

    • @therideneverends1697
      @therideneverends1697 4 года назад +9

      if we are being realistic most guns are likely never so much as pointed at another person let alone fired.
      Likely carried around a farm, shot game, and mabey alot of empty cans

    • @stuarthart3370
      @stuarthart3370 2 года назад +1

      @@therideneverends1697 I was given a Winchester similar to the one in the video. I was staying in the top corner of Arkansas and was surrounded by woods and scrub for miles. I was eagerly anticipating some live meat rather than the usual hillbilly roadkill stew. My cousin who gave me the gun was pretty nonchalant about gun ownership as at around the age of 60 he'd had a gun since he was 6 years old, airgun of course. I thought of the old Winchester, with great affection, what an amazing piece of engineering!

  • @SeraphinaPZ
    @SeraphinaPZ 7 лет назад +363

    Comes in three handy-dandy sizes, "Sensible", "Compensating", and "MORE DAKKA".

    • @terminator572
      @terminator572 7 лет назад +17

      Sera kind of difficult to achieve proper DAKKA quantities with a lever action tho

    • @underdog1252
      @underdog1252 6 лет назад +38

      At the point in time when bullets can pass through the interdimensional walls. When firepower takes up the entirety and eternity of space and time, all beings stuck in a neverending life and death cycle as bullets recover and destroy their bodies in quick succession. No one is able to think about anything but the sheer force of the bullets rapidly flying literally everywhere in the materium turning the warp itself into nothing but a sea of automatic weaponry.. Then there will be enough dakka. Or, at least almost.

    • @kidbach
      @kidbach 5 лет назад +3

      shootier!

    • @thatlemonguy1107
      @thatlemonguy1107 5 лет назад +3

      Yo tf is dakka

    • @thegeneralissimo470
      @thegeneralissimo470 5 лет назад +11

      @@terminator572 You say that like it's a challenge for Orks to do that.

  • @b.hagedash7973
    @b.hagedash7973 7 лет назад +234

    ...And looking over the bullet ridden corpses of mamma bear and poppa, bear baby bear smiled uncertainly at Goldilocks, pushed his bowl of porridge away and didn't say a thing.

    • @gravitysnegative1962
      @gravitysnegative1962 7 лет назад +4

      B. Hagedash wow where is this from

    • @Jesses001
      @Jesses001 7 лет назад +15

      Rifle too big, too small, just right is where Hagedash got that from.

    • @Ugly_German_Truths
      @Ugly_German_Truths 4 года назад +2

      I do not think that in all his many thousands of videos Ian has EVER harmed a single animal willingly. He's not THAT sort of gun "enthusiast".
      also it would be "riddled" not ridden.

  • @docp6325
    @docp6325 4 года назад +48

    I just want to thank the random guy on youtube that recommended this channel some time back, I cam across the comment, searched this channel, and have yet to be disappointed. Quality, informative, and endless videos. I could watch this stuff all day.

    • @hunterkiller7352
      @hunterkiller7352 4 года назад +7

      The world of firearms is so damn interesting. It's got a bit to do with everything, chemistry, engineering, woodworking, politics, etc. Seeing what comes of the production of these tools is fascinating.

    • @liamcraddock9539
      @liamcraddock9539 3 года назад +4

      @@hunterkiller7352 Yes that's it. The amount of funny looks and "oh what you want to be a serial killer or something?" you get when you say you find firearms interesting (especially being in the UK, like me). But yeah I always have to explain that there are so many more elements to it and quite rarely are people interested in firearms for sinister reasons as opposed to reasons you listed

    • @RaiderCat12
      @RaiderCat12 Месяц назад +1

      @@liamcraddock9539 Painfully accurate. Kind of similar in my country. Here, although our gunmakers do just about everything, most gun people are just fudds or competition shooters. And most people just don’t care about firearms. And therefore, yeah- the “oh, you wanna be a mass murderer?” looks as you mentioned.

  • @HereticDuo
    @HereticDuo 5 лет назад +63

    From the producers of "Goldylocks and the 3 bears" comes the newest blockbuster,
    "Ian and the 3 winchesters"

    • @Ugly_German_Truths
      @Ugly_German_Truths 4 года назад

      Sure it wasn't from the Producers of Battleship?`The dialogue seemed somewhat familiar, although facial expression and body language were leagues above that movie...

  • @jimvandemoter6961
    @jimvandemoter6961 7 лет назад +27

    That full stock gun might be a little unwieldy, but It's the coolest of the three. I'd like to see a modern replica from somebody.

  • @MODNAR22
    @MODNAR22 7 лет назад +15

    Beautiful rifles. Without a doubt my favourite long gun ever made.

  • @azizcook1651
    @azizcook1651 3 года назад +19

    As someone who wants to become a gunsmith some day, I really like how he touches every detail of the history behind these weapons systems. Gonna make this guys channel my bible when I wanna learn more about a fire arm.

    • @Helm-w1q
      @Helm-w1q 11 месяцев назад

      Good luck on the gunsmithing career. From an old gunsmith.

    • @michaelgarcia4035
      @michaelgarcia4035 5 месяцев назад

      I cannot reccomend enough C&Rsenal and there gunsmith Mark Novak. They cover the history of firearms in waaaay more depth in roughly hour long videos, complete with xray animations made in house. Mark has his own youtube channel that covers techniques to resoration and preservation as well as some other areas in gunsmithing. He sometimes restores firearms for the main channel episodes.

  • @cocogutierrez509
    @cocogutierrez509 Год назад +4

    💥I`m from Argentina in Corrientes Province and all about these really rifles Winnchester`s models have made the real history of America......congratulations to you for the informations all about its..thank you. Jorge Fernando "Coco"GUTIERREZ

  • @CGRstudios1
    @CGRstudios1 7 лет назад +129

    Gun Jesus blesses us with his sacraments

  • @zoltanbodnar9721
    @zoltanbodnar9721 7 лет назад +77

    the last time I clicked so fast Ian was talking about the model 66

  • @legionitalia309
    @legionitalia309 7 лет назад +144

    "The battle of Little Big Horn, where I...er, I mean Custer got annihilated...."

    • @hericbagley8286
      @hericbagley8286 4 года назад +6

      I always wondered where the Sioux obtained the bulk of their lever actions and if French Canadian trader's weren't working the friction for political reasons as much as for profit

    • @pixelatedvolume8051
      @pixelatedvolume8051 4 года назад +16

      As I understand it there was never really a unified Sioux military force until immediately before Little Bighorn, so the rifles would have been bought individually or in small groups. Probably didn’t arouse suspicion like buying 1000+ at once would.

    • @samuelreed2994
      @samuelreed2994 3 года назад +1

      riiiight!

  • @Daemascus
    @Daemascus 7 лет назад +10

    Oooooh that musket length model, I think Im in love.

  • @thegoldencaulk2742
    @thegoldencaulk2742 7 лет назад +497

    So, is Ian... Gun-dielocks?

    • @RyanRyzzo
      @RyanRyzzo 7 лет назад +20

      BADUM DISHHHKLUBLISHQUEUulishdishtishssssh!
      Oops, dropped it....

    • @jonathanbecker6373
      @jonathanbecker6373 7 лет назад +1

      Thank you.

    • @ComputingCactus
      @ComputingCactus 7 лет назад +8

      Smooth as ex lax.

    • @GrOuNdZeRo7777
      @GrOuNdZeRo7777 7 лет назад +18

      Gun Jesus, Gun-dielock... At this point, What difference does it make?

    • @TheRogueWolf
      @TheRogueWolf 7 лет назад +2

      I'm glad you made the joke so that I didn't have to.

  • @wallyfirkins1664
    @wallyfirkins1664 3 года назад +4

    I just found this video. Thanks. I have just disassembled and cleaned the internal parts in preparation to shoot my 1889 made 38-40 model 1873. My rifle has a 30" barrel and while it has lost much of it's original finish, it will be a good shooter. I have just received black powder ammo from Buffalo Arms Co and a magazine spring and a screw for the magazine tube from Homestead Parts. The firearm was very crusty internally but it still has fair rifling. It was part of a collection my siblings and I inherited from my father. My father never attempted to clean or shoot any of the many old firearms he had and would never let one of us whipper snappers touch them. I think he must have know us better than we did ourselves. Anyway, it is ready to go to the range and I can't wait.

  • @TheAlmostbob
    @TheAlmostbob 7 лет назад +13

    Always puts a smile on my face when I remember that Ian's a lefty! Im not alone!

    • @LOVEMUFFIN_official
      @LOVEMUFFIN_official 3 года назад +2

      That was one of the main reasons that I switched to lever guns: no preference for handedness.

  • @RegretsnothinG7
    @RegretsnothinG7 7 лет назад +27

    The Goldilocks introduction was an interesting change...

  • @brianfuller7691
    @brianfuller7691 5 лет назад +11

    To put cost into context, a cowboy earned somewhere between $25 and $40( depending on experience ). A '73 was a significant rifle and purchase but was popular. It was expensive but well worth it. This was the model that really made the Winchester brand after the success with the Yellow Boy '66. Winchester would make more than 720 ,000 '73s.

  • @himlowodinmire1333
    @himlowodinmire1333 7 лет назад +49

    Ian, great video and content as always and finally a gun that I actually own! However one mistake that is easily made is that 38WCF or 38-40 isn't a .38 caliber but rather a .401 caliber. Keep up the great work!

    • @akodo1
      @akodo1 4 года назад +10

      Came here to post the same thing...but part of my brain is also saying "hey...the 44-40 is really 43 caliber" and then I started thinking "and 38 is really .36" so then what? Sometimes I just want to get in a time machine and smack those old time cartridge namers!

    • @Ugly_German_Truths
      @Ugly_German_Truths 4 года назад +5

      @@akodo1 There should be laws about such things having to actually hold up to a measuring gauge.

    • @markrhuett
      @markrhuett 3 года назад +3

      Why does it say 38 on the barrel?

    • @korbetthein3072
      @korbetthein3072 3 года назад +3

      @@markrhuett The inside diameter of the case mouth is .38, the outside is roughly
      .40. Other people have much longer and more detailed explanations than me.

    • @markrhuett
      @markrhuett 3 года назад +2

      @@korbetthein3072 That's a good explanation. Thank you.

  • @dayward1
    @dayward1 7 лет назад +5

    I didn't know about the .30WCF and the 30-.30. I haven't heard of the WCF .30 until now. Thanks for the knowledge Ian.

  • @copper-tc6un
    @copper-tc6un 3 года назад +8

    One improvement of the 1873 over the 1866, was a system to prevent the rifle firing before the bolt was fully locked in battery. A small gravity dropped pin in front of the 1873's cartridge elevator would fall down during the completion of the lever cycle, preventing the rifle from firing out of battery.

    • @Khrrck
      @Khrrck 2 года назад +1

      Since it's gravity operated, does that mean it would not work if held sideways, vertically or upside down?
      Can't really think of situations where you would do that sort of thing (shooting through a horizontal slit?), but it's an interesting thought.

    • @copper-tc6un
      @copper-tc6un 2 года назад +2

      @@Khrrck It won't work if the rifle is upside down. You'd have to be ripping really fast to get it to fail if you held it sideways, but the rifles lifter would probably kick the cartridge out before chambering it.

  • @troy9477
    @troy9477 7 лет назад +8

    Great condition on those. Nice to see the three variations together. Custer didn't just get himself annihilated (which would, frankly, be no great tragedy- he was a big prima donna, Patton took lessons from him), he got 1/3 or 1/2 his regiment annihilated with him. Always listen carefully to the intel from your scouts. I'm guessing the 38-40 nomenclature must have gotten backward somehow and they had to stick with the typo. Everyone knows it's a 40 cal bore. Anyway, great video as always. Enjoying the Winchester history series. Thank you

  • @dapsapsrp
    @dapsapsrp 5 лет назад +8

    The more firearms trends head in a tactical direction the more I desire one of these. They speak much more to craftsmanship than mere cookie cutter industrial manufacturing.

  • @HughesEnterprises
    @HughesEnterprises 7 лет назад +9

    Up until 1879-ish the dust cover was an optional upgrade for a few cents more. I have personally bought an original 1873 mfg in 1875 without the dust cover option in .44 WCF. Very unusual and interesting that somebody wanted to save $0.70 on their $40 rifle.

    • @trippcailean9594
      @trippcailean9594 7 лет назад

      well yeah. gotta save some money for ammo

    • @cs-rj8ru
      @cs-rj8ru 11 месяцев назад

      Maybe you're putting too much throught into it? Perhaps the Original owner walked into a local hardware store and it was what was available? Probably said, I'll take it.

  • @healyburnham393
    @healyburnham393 7 месяцев назад

    Ian, it ia always a pleasure to see your videos. Cousin Warren GAVE me a '73 in .38 WCF and my wife bought me a 1st generation Colt for a companion. Yes, I am doubly blessed!!

  • @HK_roller_delayed
    @HK_roller_delayed 7 лет назад +10

    Really enjoying this series! I can't wait for the episode on the 1892!

  • @unherolike
    @unherolike 5 лет назад +5

    My '73 is a 200K series putting it at a 1888 production date and the Action still is still smoother then anything Henry or Uberti make today.

    • @Master...deBater
      @Master...deBater 4 года назад

      Why do you feel the need to come on here and make us all feel bad???

  • @therugburnz
    @therugburnz 7 лет назад +2

    Thanx to Ian some of our history will not become forgotten weapons , merely interesting. Well merely is the wrong word. When Ian likes, chooses, describes and disassembles a weapon it will not soon be forgotten.
    Thanx Ian !

  • @georgesakellaropoulos8162
    @georgesakellaropoulos8162 4 года назад +4

    Dear Ian, the. 38-40 is actually chambered for a .401 in. diameter projectile, making it 40 caliber. Oops, looks like Himlow Odemire beat me to it. That's to be expected when you arrive to the party this late.

  • @TylerHulan
    @TylerHulan 5 лет назад +3

    Just bought an old Euroarms 1873 clone in .357 today. Looks like they did a pretty good job replicating it.

  • @Hidalguense
    @Hidalguense 7 лет назад +47

    nothing like a lever rifle

    • @dubsy1026
      @dubsy1026 7 лет назад

      hidalguense d corazon by those 4 words you mean? there is no real discernable meaninf

    • @philipshearer5286
      @philipshearer5286 5 лет назад +2

      @@dubsy1026 there is no gun which quite matches the elegance of a lever action rifle, it's not that hard

    • @notahotshot
      @notahotshot 4 года назад

      @@dubsy1026, five words, there are five words.

    • @dubsy1026
      @dubsy1026 4 года назад

      Apologies, I was probably feeling excessively quip-y at the time. It seems my enthusiasm got the better of me.

    • @jackdundon2261
      @jackdundon2261 4 года назад +1

      So did he say 4 words or was it 5? To tell you the truth, I was so engrossed I lost count too. You got to ask yourself, "do I go back or continue watching"?

  • @herpderp117
    @herpderp117 7 лет назад +6

    Loving this series Ian, keep it up man.

  • @aaronloveday4858
    @aaronloveday4858 3 года назад +6

    I know this is a old video and it really doesn’t matter but the 38-40 bullet was a 40 caliber bullet on 38 grains of powder. For what ever reason the nomenclature on the bullet is backwards of other calibers.

  • @quarthinos
    @quarthinos 7 лет назад +8

    Great video as always. I'm a bit disappointed you didn't go over how the dust cover worked, tho, since that seems to be the major mechanical difference from the 1866 :(

  • @badgerdan8114
    @badgerdan8114 7 лет назад +76

    These videos are making me even more excited for red dead 2

    • @FirstDagger
      @FirstDagger 7 лет назад +3

      Meh no PC version .... stupid Rockstar ...

    • @theOneRizzolliMick
      @theOneRizzolliMick 7 лет назад +8

      Actually... Red Dead Redemption 2 is Red Dead 3. Don't forget Red Dead Revolver (the 1st one).

    • @theOneRizzolliMick
      @theOneRizzolliMick 7 лет назад

      SubmarinerSix Well, I agree that no one remembers it, and that even Rockstar forgot about it...

    • @marshallperry2446
      @marshallperry2446 7 лет назад +2

      I would disagree, rockstar didn't forget, they just knew that the majority of their current audience had never even heard of it. It was a rather good game, not great, but one that you would enjoy. It just didn't enjoy the same popularity as many other westerns did at the time like Gun, so fewer people had seen it in the first place.

    • @whiplasher8
      @whiplasher8 7 лет назад +1

      Um Ian , the 38-40 is actually a .40 caliber round not a true 38 .

  • @m118lr
    @m118lr 3 года назад

    I have a 1901 production ‘73 with the 24” octagon bbl in .38 WCF (38-40). It’s in great shape..MY appraisal, and it will be handed down. LOVE it. Also have a ‘newer’ model ‘94 ((.30-30) produced mid-50’s, BOTH have pristine bores. Excellent vid, thanks...

  • @NEPAscallywag
    @NEPAscallywag 7 лет назад +144

    so $35 is around $600+ in todays value, it had a high volume of fire and was reliable and loved by its owners. it was the ar-15 of its day, Good thing dianne feinstein wasn't around back then.

    • @Mildcat743
      @Mildcat743 7 лет назад +58

      NEPAscallywag Have you seen her? She looks like she predates this rifle a few dozen years

    • @AZNwannabe06
      @AZNwannabe06 7 лет назад +35

      These hold more than 10 rounds though(!!!!1!), so she still wants it banned.
      Over 130 year old technology and it's still too advanced for backwards antigunners.

    • @deepwoodskentuckian
      @deepwoodskentuckian 6 лет назад

      Fun fact feinstein has been around sense queen Victoria!

    • @QurttoRco
      @QurttoRco 6 лет назад

      And what do you need a AR - 15 for ?

    • @QurttoRco
      @QurttoRco 6 лет назад

      Universal Kombat Like what ?

  • @kruqtion9615
    @kruqtion9615 7 лет назад +77

    I hope you do a 'Guns from Red Dead Redemption 2' video like the one you did with battlefield 1

    • @BrassCatcher
      @BrassCatcher 5 лет назад +9

      Adam Young researching it yourself would yield more useful info than a video with 15 different guns being the topic

    • @welshy4638
      @welshy4638 4 года назад +2

      Ian did the BF1 video's because he was an advisor for Dice on WW1 weapons.

    • @TedMan55
      @TedMan55 4 года назад +2

      Kruqtion The weapons in RDR2 are like the cars in GTA, they’re using fake names and are only close to the weapons they’re modeling. I’m pretty sure the Lancaster Repeater in game is the 1873 (“Lancaster” seems to be RDR2’s fake name for Winchester, considering the pump shotgun that seems to be an Winchester 1897 is also a Lancaster), and the Lichtfield Repeater is the 1860 Henry. The default repeater that’s all around camp and that you get first (I think called the Carbine Repeater) is an 1860 Spencer. The Evans is an Evans (I’m on PC, so not sure if console got the Evans).

    • @lordbear1095
      @lordbear1095 4 года назад

      @@TedMan55 the lancaster is a winchester 66

    • @TedMan55
      @TedMan55 4 года назад

      Lord Bear that’s what i see on the wiki, although given that the in game version is just inspired by the real thing, and that the 73 was mostly just a rechambering of a 66 for .44-40 and not significantly visually distinct, the artistic liberties in the game version probably overshadow any differences and makes it impossible to say what it actually is

  • @drewbarker8504
    @drewbarker8504 Год назад +1

    It’s so interesting to see the musket version.

  • @danieljob3184
    @danieljob3184 5 лет назад +1

    You can see a stock-cut version of the shorty used by Woody Strode (Once Upon a Time in the West) and Gina Torres (Firefly / Serenity).

  • @dalesubic345
    @dalesubic345 7 лет назад +6

    Ian. I really love lever guns. Your videos are always superb. Thank you for making so many outstanding videos. That is the military "outstanding" from a 27 year veteran.

  • @filanfyretracker
    @filanfyretracker 5 лет назад +3

    These were not cheap rifles though I checked the inflation and at 50 bucks for its higher end before fancy options is equal to 1165 today. Admittedly back then on the frontier the rifle was very literally what separated life from death(considering even without having to defend it made the food dead enough to be dinner) it was certainly worthwhile expense. Probably as important as your Horse.

  • @jeramyw
    @jeramyw 4 года назад +3

    7:24 38-40 is a 40 caliber projectile over 38 grains of black powder.

  • @doraran5158
    @doraran5158 7 лет назад +2

    Bullet is actually .401 diameter, not .38 nor .357.
    Also, older gun sources claimed the taper of case was to facilitate chambering and extraction. The .38-40's bullet also supposedly had some ballistic benefits. The rims on the .38-40 and .44-40 thicker reportedly to limit shearing on extraction. Early cases of 'balloon head' type and softer. Modern gun writers question why Winchester didn't just chamber it for .45 Colt. (Uberti does it now but cartridge metallurgy now far superior.)Supposedly the thinner rims of the .45 Colt had concerns with shearing. This is also reason the .45 Schofield was designed with wider rims, and shorter chambers, to prevent an accidental .45 Colt insertion, since concern of cartridge extractors shearing or skipping rims. Anyway, that was what early 1900's gun writers were writing

  • @grantpilcher8402
    @grantpilcher8402 Год назад +1

    My Winchester 1873 16 inch barrel just turned 150 years old

  • @pauljnolan1000
    @pauljnolan1000 7 лет назад +4

    Ian, you omitted perhaps the most striking fact about the Winchester '73. What was that, you ask? Winchester '73, a 1950 movie starring Jimmy Stewart was the first Hollywood film to permit a star to share in the profits! Stewart's agent was the legendary Lew Wasserman who negotiated a 50/50 split with the studio. The film was a hit and Stewart made buckets of money which was taxed as a capital gain, even further increasing Stewart's haul. The studios quickly realized their error, but the genie was out of the bottle. First rank stars, producers, and directors went from being exceptionally well-paid employees to wealthy people able to live off their capital for the rest of their lives. Can you imagine what James Cameron made from Titanic?
    I always enjoy your videos!

  • @riverstyxarmory9782
    @riverstyxarmory9782 7 лет назад +1

    this is a great video to watch while floating a stock for my class rifle. thank you Ian.

  • @alpagator1372
    @alpagator1372 7 лет назад +45

    Haha. Love that starting skit.

  • @markhawkins6276
    @markhawkins6276 7 лет назад +5

    Thanks for your review of the development of the Winchester lever actions. I hope you get to the later versions. What I would really like to know is if you can really add a set screw to the lever to make a rapid fire lever action? :)

  • @mostlymagical3220
    @mostlymagical3220 3 года назад +1

    I’ve got one of these in .32-20, and I have yet to shoot it, thanks for the video, Ian!

  • @geoff2027
    @geoff2027 4 года назад +1

    Just looking through an old Sears. Roebuck (1897) catalog that I have, the 24 inch standard version 1873 that they have listed sold for $10.94.

  • @plague1739
    @plague1739 3 года назад +1

    Lever action rifles possible some of my favorite guns

  • @Payneless
    @Payneless 7 лет назад +2

    I knew where the intro was going, but I really enjoyed it. Keep up the great work Ian!

  • @stacybrown3714
    @stacybrown3714 7 лет назад +1

    I am enjoying this journey of Winchester lever guns. Thanks Gun Jesus.

  • @exothermal.sprocket
    @exothermal.sprocket Год назад +1

    7:20 The .38-40 was indeed a necked down .44-40, but it is not a "38 caliber" as stated, it is a .4005 caliber (or 10mm). The naming convention on this cartridge is sort of backward compared to the usual convention, for weird reasons.

  • @LTCEZIO
    @LTCEZIO 3 года назад

    If all the RUclipsrs I was hoping you'd sell merchandise cause I would definitely buy some of it

  • @omartorres5688
    @omartorres5688 3 года назад +1

    My favorite of the Winchester series especially the octagonal barrel though I would really like to get a reproduction Musket version in either .44-40 or Smith and Wesson .44 magnum

  • @doctim111
    @doctim111 5 лет назад +2

    Yes, it's just right. Once the Browning mods were introduced the slickness went away.

  • @nomadpi1
    @nomadpi1 2 года назад

    Thanks. Pertinent survey info. My experience is the lever-action is the most comfortable German-Hand carry weapon available today. The Garand also fits this ease of carry.

  • @otanalezinek3221
    @otanalezinek3221 7 лет назад

    you are just right Ian.

  • @timburns4880
    @timburns4880 11 месяцев назад

    I was just re-watching the lever action series (on the new History of Weapons and War app) and I caught a small oops by Ian. He said that the ‘73 was chambered in .38-40…which it was…but he said that was a .44-40 necked down to .38 caliber. Ian….you know the .38-40 is actually a .40 caliber bullet. For some reason, the nomenclature was reversed for this round. Not a major mistake, I know, but the small details are what matters. Love the new app, btw!!!

  • @beau4687
    @beau4687 7 лет назад +2

    Waking up to an 1873 video by Ian, having my morning coffee and smoke just before I go to work at the gunshop. Life's good

  • @nodosa994
    @nodosa994 7 лет назад +2

    I just love weapons from the late 19th century.

  • @lukeyama7328
    @lukeyama7328 2 года назад +2

    I'd like to see the famous Chuck Connors winchester.

  • @SolarEmp1re
    @SolarEmp1re 7 лет назад

    That rifle length with the full stock is very appealing, I wish someone would make on of those.

  • @missingthe80s58
    @missingthe80s58 Год назад

    Once you know how charcoal bluing is applied and how insanely difficult it can be to remove, you'll never fail to spot it on old guns.
    The slow rust bluing on the barrel has reverted to brown as bluing does. The charcoal bluing however, on the hammer, kings gate and sight remain black.
    So it's actually pretty straightforward. You whiten the parts (400gr polish), you tie a wire to the parts, you degrease the parts and you bury them in a vat of hot charcoal.
    The 4-6" deep vat or pot is gently heated from below, the charcoal is allowed to smoke off any volatiles if it's fresh charcoal. If volatiles remain and the parts are added while the charcoal smokes, it'll try to color the surface with a blotched finish as case hardening does. Pro tip: Old man told me once charcoal is used for color case hardening, it's spent. Probably volatile gasses are what imparts color.
    The charcoal isn't heated to glowing. That's too hot. It's heated to the point it is just barely starting to develop ash where wind hits it. It will not glow red on its own.
    Bury the parts in so air currents don't get to them. Allow them to heat gently, they'll turn blue to blue gray. If they go gray, too hot. Better to let them slowly heat even if it takes longer, this is better as subtle amounts of air get to the char and steel and coat the steel in an oxide that is quite thick. Longer it sits, thicker the oxide gets, the more durable it becomes.
    After 5 minutes, check your parts. If they're where you want them, either remove and cool or, if a darker color is desired, wipe the parts in Jojoba oil immediately while still searing hot. The parts will darken. Small parts are less apt to take a dark tone as they cool so quickly and this leaves them lighter shades of blue black.
    Old charcoal blued parts that are rusted now, either suffered extreme salt exposure or the application was rushed and the oxide layer far far too thin.
    The result is going to be an assortment of shades of blue black which for anything predating a temperature controlled kiln is correct.
    If you want unauthentic uniform tones, you need a kiln, more importantly, a kiln with proper "carbonia" retort, pressed charcoal chunks and carbonia oil. Essentially "Carbonia" was the updated mechanical application of charcoal finish in an automated oven.

  • @zuttoaragi8349
    @zuttoaragi8349 3 года назад

    That cold open is cringey brilliance and I love it.

  • @peternewton2200
    @peternewton2200 5 лет назад +1

    That carbine just looks bad ass

  • @dekstehnrasta741
    @dekstehnrasta741 7 лет назад +2

    The 1873, my favorite rifle.

  • @rodan2852
    @rodan2852 Месяц назад

    The 44-40 cartridge sounds like it could be incredibly versatile in skilled hands, and a 15 shot magazine 🫢

  • @edwarddesoignie1396
    @edwarddesoignie1396 3 года назад

    One more since Ian mentioned the Little Big Horn fight. Part of the problem with the Springfields used by the 7th Cavalry was using ammunition with copper cases which caused problems for the troopers in that the case would get stuck disabling the rifle.

    • @duanesamuelson2256
      @duanesamuelson2256 2 года назад +1

      Case issues, sticking primarily but also ruptures where fairly common through the early 1900,s.
      It's why the early rifles cartridges often had rather extreme tapers by today's standards (look at the .375 H&H).
      That oversized claw extractor on the Mauser actually helped prevent tearing the case when one was stuck.

  • @joeguzman8783
    @joeguzman8783 7 лет назад +2

    out of all winchester models the 1873s are the most beutiful.

  • @GNP3WP3W
    @GNP3WP3W 3 года назад +1

    I’m pretty sure black powder weapons are exempt from the NFA. You can buy them online and have them delivered at your doorstep

    • @forkthepork
      @forkthepork 3 года назад

      Yes, but this will also fire modern ammo. So doubt you can mail order a new production one.

    • @BogeyTheBear
      @BogeyTheBear 3 года назад +1

      Not black powder, but 'external ignition' guns like percussion caplocks or flintlocks. It just so happens that every gun whose ignitor is not integral to the ammunition cartridge uses black powder as the propellant.

    • @forkthepork
      @forkthepork 3 года назад

      @@BogeyTheBear Right, but a cap and ball revolver can be ordered to your door, then switch out the cylinder to a centerfire one. I'm not aware of any such system for a rifle like this.

  • @douro20
    @douro20 7 лет назад +1

    You can still buy .44-40 black powder ammunition but it's quite expensive.

  • @mazkact
    @mazkact 7 лет назад +16

    Plethora ? Would ju say El Guapo has a plethora of Winchesters ?

    • @carnut015
      @carnut015 5 лет назад +3

      mazkact Do you even know what a plethora IS???

  • @Aravzil
    @Aravzil 7 лет назад

    Damn, I love the look of that stubby one. It looks so cool!

  • @timbaskett6299
    @timbaskett6299 2 года назад +1

    I have a Rossi 16in M92 carbine in .45 Colt, and actually prefer it for carry over my Winchester 94 20in .30-30. With the proper load I can match the .30-30 power level in a more compact package.

  • @johngraesser4911
    @johngraesser4911 4 года назад +1

    While researching what people thought about using modern Henry's for cowboy action shooting, the consensus seemed to be that if you wanted to be fast you needed an 1866 or 1873. I guess the toggle lock is a faster action. Score one for the old school way of building a gun. Since I am getting a henry anyway, I guess if I ever shoot cowboy I'll just expect to be slow.

    • @Master...deBater
      @Master...deBater 4 года назад +1

      They're all toggle link actions. The reason the 66s and 73s are faster is because of the king loading gate...and the new magazine design. So they're really only faster to reload. The one thing you will have to get used to is the "Henry shuffle"...in which you must move your forward hand out of the way of the magazine follower during rapid firing.

    • @johngraesser4911
      @johngraesser4911 4 года назад

      @@Master...deBater later winchesters use the locking blocks at the rear of the action, to lock, toggle locks use the toggle going past center to lock. Think of a knee hyperextending backwards. Now that I have my Henry, I see what the deal is, there is no way I could cycle the lever as fast as the top shooters do. Cowboy action matches that I have seen don't reload the pistols or rifle, they do reload the shotgun to make up for the double barrel lack of capacity.

    • @Master...deBater
      @Master...deBater 4 года назад

      @@johngraesser4911: Correct...it wasn't until 1886 that Winchester came out with a rear locking lug lever action. John Browning designed the 86 to be able to cycle the larger, more powerful BP cartridges (45-70) in a short light action. But the Henry, 66, 73, and 76 Winchesters were all toggle link designs.
      Yeah...for C-A matches Henrys aren't much slower as long as you don't inhibit the mag follower. But you'll definitely need some shooting gloves if you shoot BP...as the barrel will get very hot. I shoot a Uberti Win 66 so I don't have to deal with those issues. By the way...most of the top shooters have short stroke kits in their guns...which greatly increases speed.

  • @russbilzing5348
    @russbilzing5348 6 лет назад +2

    I may be mistaken, but I've always heard that the 38WCF (38-40) was a .40 caliber with 38 grains of black powder .

    • @duanesamuelson2256
      @duanesamuelson2256 2 года назад

      It was a standard designation. Bore first grains of black powder second.
      .45-70... .50-90 etc

  • @Punisher9419
    @Punisher9419 7 лет назад +1

    I'll take the very short one thank you very much.

  • @jeffreytam7684
    @jeffreytam7684 5 лет назад +1

    The OG intermediate cartridge

  • @weltvonalex
    @weltvonalex 7 лет назад

    Ian is the best, my favorite channel after the great war. Gun Jesus for the win!

  • @saleembarmania5295
    @saleembarmania5295 15 дней назад

    200 grain bullet at 1200fps is about the same as a hot 10mm auto. That's remarkably powerful for 1873.

  • @johnnysmith4576
    @johnnysmith4576 7 месяцев назад

    It would be cool to see the reloading kit they sold back then.

  • @anter176
    @anter176 7 лет назад +1

    Damn the fullstock rifle is snazzy

  • @BobSmith-dk8nw
    @BobSmith-dk8nw 4 года назад +1

    Two comments:
    First this was the title weapon of the Jimmy Stewart film Winchester '73
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester_%2773
    A movie reviewer once commented on Stewart's acting in the film. There's a scene
    ruclips.net/video/D40jDaEg8rA/видео.html
    @ one minute and 13 seconds on that video, where Stewart is in a fight with this guy and the intensity and emotion you see there - wasn't something you saw in Jimmy Stewart Films before WWII. Stewart flew B-24's and was credited with 20 combat missions - before they stopped counting them - when he was promoted to staff positions. Estimates of how many other missions he flew go as high as an additional 20. Beginning combat in November of 1942, he was in very near the start when the Luftwaffe was ascendant through to the end of the war in Europe. Starting as a private in 1941 Stewart rose to the rank of Colonel by 1945 and would eventually become a General in the Air Force, retiring after he reached the age of 60 in 1968.
    The next comment has to do with the American Indian Wars and the use of the Winchester by the Indians. It has been said - that all the participants in the American Indian Wars were killed by US Government Issued Ammunition (which I imagine is an exaggeration - but one with a point). When the Indians were moved onto Reservations - the US Bureau of Indian Affairs took responsibility for them. As such, they issued the Indians weapons and ammunition for hunting to supplement the food provided to them by the BIA. While the Indians already had a wide assortment of weapons - the Bureau of Indian Affairs - issued them with Winchesters.
    The thing is here - is that they were given a Hunters ammunition load - not a combat ammunition load. Indians were skilled hunters and it was estimated that - with one rifle assigned per family - 8 or so rounds would be sufficient to allow them to kill a number of animals with more ammo supplied in small increments over time. In contrast (without looking it up) I believe Custer's men got about 70 rounds each for their mission - with more being carried on pack animals.
    Because of this, after their fights with Crook on the Rosebud and Custer on the Little Big Horn - the Indians had largely depleted their ammunition and would have to return to the reservation if they were to be issued any more. Since forcing the Indians back onto their Reservations was the goal of the campaign - even though the Army suffered a tie and a loss - they did accomplish their mission. By simply following the Indians around, even if they couldn't actually catch them - they kept them from hunting as they had no time for it - nor did they have the leisure to gather in the edible plants they happened across. So - eventually, the Indians returned to their Reservations where they would be fed.
    .

  • @chocolatte6157
    @chocolatte6157 3 года назад +1

    Clever intro using the 3 bears children’s story.

  • @KurtOnoIR
    @KurtOnoIR 6 лет назад

    I was just watching mixup98 about the one that was left leaning on a tree up in Nevada there. Pretty sweet.

  • @gonshocks
    @gonshocks 7 лет назад +1

    I love the movie "Winchester 73".

  • @teryshaw7370
    @teryshaw7370 7 лет назад +1

    Why was the 38WCF marketed as 38 caliber when it is actually 40 caliber? Usually, when you have that sort of caliber obfuscation, it is to make the caliber seem larger, not smaller.

  • @Loot1377
    @Loot1377 5 лет назад

    You're awesome Ian

  • @GreatgoatonFire
    @GreatgoatonFire 7 лет назад +4

    Ian do you think you will ever be able to make a video about the H&K G-11 or just the idea of caseless firearms in general?
    I find it fascinating that there seems to be this huge leap forward in firearms technology since the 80's that no one is interested in actually making.

  • @jamespfp
    @jamespfp 5 лет назад +1

    "The Goldilocks Gun" -- Great intro Ian!

  • @dalesubic345
    @dalesubic345 7 лет назад +4

    The bottom one is some crappy walnut. The middle is, I do not know. The musket has some wonderful walnut wood. Very beautiful wood (hey I am talking about THE wood, not your wood).

    • @Taistelukalkkuna
      @Taistelukalkkuna 7 лет назад +3

      Good rifle deserves good wood.

    • @psiera4332
      @psiera4332 7 лет назад +1

      Taistelukalkkuna I agree, I got some good wood now. :)

  • @WhiteChevy4.8
    @WhiteChevy4.8 2 года назад +1

    Imagine if that guns could talk. What stories could they tell, mysteries could they solve, truths and lies they could depart.