1873's with different frames???

S

Straitshot

New member
Since childhood I have always had a love for the old west and now as an adult it hasn't faded. Just has become a bit more expensive.

Anyway, I have been in search for a rifle in 44-40 caliber for quite some time. I found plenty but just not the deal I was hoping for until this last weekend. I went to a gun show and came across what I thought was a deal I could not pass up.

I am making this post because after getting home with my new-to-me rifle I was comparing it to my other similar rifle (only in 45 Colt caliber) and I noticed a difference in the rifle frames.

Now both of these rifles are Uberti 1873 replicas (excellent rifles by the way). One I have had now for about 10 years and is a 1873 Deluxe Sporting Rifle imported by Cimarron (bottom rifle in photo). The one I just acquired the past weekend is an older 1873 Sporting Rifle imported by Navy Arms (upper rifle in photo). The gentleman I purchased it from told me it had been in his safe for about 15 years and to his knowledge had never been fired. I have antiquated them both because I shoot them and don't want them to look new. Besides I just think they have more character antiqued.

Look at the difference in the frames. The newer Cimarron has only one screw on the left side back by the butt stock. I think that is the screw that holds the lower tang in place. The older Navy Arms rifle has three screws. I am assuming this was perhaps an upgrade change that took place sometime during Uberti's production.

Has anyone else noticed this and do they might know the particulars to the difference?

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Howdy

I have an Uberti 1873 and it also has extra screws on the left side of the frame. Here is a photo with mine. I removed the side plate to photograph the interior, but you can plainly see the two extra screws.

uberti%201873%20action_zpsgch953wh.jpg


You are correct, the lower screw fastens the lower tang to the frame, there is an identical screw on the other side. You will also notice that the head of the screw in front is smaller than the head of the other screw. I'll bet yours are the same.

Unfortunately, I have never been able to figure out what the extra screws are for. They do nothing, they do not fasten anything to anything. I used to think they were for the staple of a saddle ring, but that makes no sense because the staple would not be threaded at both ends. Plus, there is no wear from a saddle ring slapping around.

There were three distinct models of the original Winchesters, and screw placement varied a bit with the different models. The Uberti 1873 is a replica of the 3rd Model 1873, and as such it should not have the extra screws.

Here is a photo of a rare and valuable Winchester and the screw locations seem to be similar to our Uberti 1873s. This particular rifle had a set trigger, and that might explain the extra screws, but I do not know that for a fact.

1873-720505-04_zpsuavyjcgy.jpg


I bought my Uberti 1873 used. It was made in 1988. You can determine when yours was made by checking the date code that should be stamped on the barrel. The date code is a couple of letters or digits in a box. Here is a link to a website for looking up the dates.

http://www.powderhombre.com/mbpproofmarks.pdf

I will snoop around and ask some or our more knowledgeable cowboy gunsmiths and see if any of them know why the extra screws are on our rifles.
 
Madis says the extra screws are simply to plug the holes for a saddle ring staple when Winchester used a carbine receiver to assemble a rifle.

Same deal for Uberti, apparently.
 
Howdy Again

Yup, that seems to be the story. Heard from a bunch of guys on the SASS Wire. Apparently the frames for 'our' 1873 rifles were originally meant to be built into Saddle Ring Carbines.

Here is an exploded view of the Uberti 1873 carbine. The 'optional' view in the lower left hand corner pretty much explains it. The holes were drilled for the staple for a saddle ring. The holes were through holes, with the staple fixed in place by a nut from the inside.

When these frames became rifle frames, the holes were threaded and filler screws installed. That's why the screws are two different sizes.

uberti%201973%20schematic_zpsm85niaxi.jpg
 
IIRC, the attachment was called a "staple", and was threaded at only one end. The threaded end was screwed into the front hole, which was threaded, the ring dropped on, then the staple bent and the other end inserted into the rear (unthreaded) hole and pressed down. When the staple was fully seated, the ring was firmly attached to the carbine. A sling over the shoulder ensured that the carbine would remain attached to the rider, even if he was thrown or the horse departed for greener pastures.

Jim
 
...the attached carbine could subsequently be used to take vengeance on said horse departing for greener pastures
 
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