Home Forums Lever Action Central Cowboy Levers The NEW Winchester Model 73....

In the November 2013 American Rifleman reports on the NEW 1873 Winchester. The only caliber for now is the .357 mag/.38 Special. Seems they have kept the original as much as possible. They alter the cartridge carrier so that the empties don't bop the shooter in the face as the originals were prone to do although I never had that problem. They were able to keep the original safety so there is no cross bolt or tang safety.

I don't plan on buying one but has anybody bought and used one?

If they offered it with a 24" barrel and/or in .32-20 I might be tempted.

I said "might".

Paul

I think if the new Model 73 works they will add more calibers and probably barrel lengths. The article did hint at the possibility of 44-40.

Good looking gun. Too pricy but a good looking gun.

Yes, but it's a real Winchester, not a clone.

This is my "real Winchester". Made in USA, too.

Makes me queasy

Unfortunately all the Winchester lever actions are made at Miroku. Fontunately they usually do a pretty good job.

The only reason you might not call it a clone is because it is made for Winchester. I would call it a clone though.

The wood I have seen in pictures on the 73 looks pretty poor. How is it in person?

Yeah, they (Miroku) do a good job....and they should for the price. But something I don't get. Shooters bitched and complained about the quality of Winchesters made in New Haven Conn but now fawn over these oriental imports at almost 3X the price. A "Miro-chester" Model '94 MSRP $1200 vs one made in the USA (2007)with a MSRP of <$500??? I'll be GDed if I'll own a classic, no make that historic, Winchester rifle made in a country where the workers making 'em can't even own one.
Okay, I've had a couple toddies and got my dander up. Carry on.

Supposedly it's suppose to have Winchester on there some where. If not than it is a clone and we can't trust anybody any more.

Laughing, thought the same thing! You beat me to it!

It does. On the other side. Just kind of rubs me the wrong way that winchester decided to have an American classic made in Japan. They do good work but it still seems wrong.

I'm guessing that Connecticut and the unions drove Winchester out of business. Now Olin which owns the Winchester brand license the outfit out of Utah to make and sell Winchester.

Connecticut is the last place I'd want to manufacture guns.

The Herstal Group owns FN, Browning & USRAC, lots of stuff gets swapped between them.

Has anybody noticed that most of our former big gun companies are now own by private equity firms.

Apparently, Olin still owns the Winchester brand. Anybody can make a Model 1873 but only Olin can license you to put the Winchester name on it.

Yes, consolidation has gained a great deal of momentum the last few years. Personally I doubt it is a good thing.

I doubt it is a good thing either.

We have a lot of gun manufacturers here in Montana a few were located on the East coast and in gun control states. It didn't take those manufacturers long to locate some wheres else. Those smart manufacturers moved decades ago. The others should have been smart enough to fallow suit.

Miroku makes a nice looking 1873 clone, have made many fine guns for years. This to me is not a Winchester it's an import/clone. I don't think Winchester could bring back (and produce themselves) the 1873 at a price that anyone could afford. I have a Navy Arms 24 inch 45 Colt with an octagon barrel and a color case receiver that is very tight and shoots very well. The only problem I had with it was shooting 275 gr SAA boolits faster than normal which caused the mag tube to walk out some. I fixed this by rethreading the mag plug and making a larger diameter screw and making the indention in the bottom of the barrel flat bottomed where it seats so it wouldn't walk out. Has held up fine for many rounds so far.

Steve.........

The more I think about this Steve the more I think you are right. The only thing that makes this a Winchester is the trademark. The Winchester company itself no longer exist. Only item Olin owns is the Winchester trademark and Olin license manufactures to put the Winchester trademark on products.

Like I said they make some nice guns. I have no doubt it is a top notch rifle (most of the Miroku stuff is). It would all be the same though if Uberti made one that is the same quality (as the Miroku) and Winchester put their name on it, still wouldn't be a real Winchester as they say.

Steve............

Can't argue that.

Since 1989 All winchesters have been built by a foreign owned company and branded with the Winchester trademark. This isn't that different other than the location of the production facility. And I have owned one of these 1873 miroku made rifles. Quality of machining far surpasses that of the uberti made rifles.

I bet it is a sweet rifle and fit and finish would make your mouth water. Years ago I had Winchester 1892 in 44 mag and it was a Miroku gun. Wood to metal fit was like it had grown there and bluing was fantastic. And yes I did get rid of it, why, I have never figured that one out. I would buy one of the new 1873's in a heartbeat if they were a bit more affordable for me.

Steve..........

Weatherby used to have all their rifles made by that Japanese company and their ain't nothing cheap about their rifles so they probably do do a good job.

I've got one of these new Winchester 1873's. Can't get pictures to load, but everything Steve said about his 1892 is spot on. Very well built gun and fun to shoot. I got the case colored version and the wood is better than average. Of course, now they brought out a .44-40 and I'm badly tempted....

that wouldn't take much,going by my sample of one.easily one of the worst guns Ive had.

Made in anywhere but USA...

I blame:
1. the US Government - - including especially EPA
2. Unions and management alike
3. Eastern States and their pinko left leanings
4. Maximizing profit


When I invest, I want maximum return, I rarely ask, "Where is this money actually going?" so I'm to blame also. It isn't just Winchester. Go to Pittsburgh, the Iron City or even Detroit. They are more service centers now.

Remington screwed up IMHO when they temporarily imported Russian made guns and put their name on it. But Ilion New York factory still makes Rifles and Shotguns. Ruger stills makes theirs in Prescott. There are others.

Winchester, Why not open up a factory in Cody, WY?

Ruger wasn't always made in Arizona....the company started in Connecticut. Bill Ruger (ahead of the other manufactures as usual) moved from the East years ago.

If Winchester, Remington, Colt and Savage had done so in the 1960's instead of cheapening their products until they could no longer compete in quality AND price.....they might still be just as strong as in previous generations and not owned by corperations.

Who in their right mind would CHOOSE to do business in New York or Connecticut when places like Montana, Alabama and the Carolinas would welcome they with open arms and provide cheaper labor and low (if not NO) taxes.

Better yet, they should have all moved to business friendly Texas!

Have a Cimarron 1873 that has great fit/finish, shoots great, etc.. But it is not a Winchester. Would not be ashamed to put it up against the Mirikou built ones though.

My Japan made shotgun..(grand European ) trap...gives up nothing to an Italian or German made shotgun in fit finish engraving or wood quality...they make a great product...

I have looked at and fondled some of the Italian import '73s at the Beretta Gallery in Dallas that are absolutely beautiful and beautifully made.

Import? Yes. Nice? Yes.

Jack

As usual you don't know your azzhole from your elbow. Ruger still has a manufacturing facility in New Hampshire. It is non union and doesn't pay it's employees for shyt the last I knew. {I have applied for and been offered a job there and turned it down for lack of money} I doubt they'd be able to get cheaper labor in the West unless they hired illegals and kept them off the books. Remington is still union and pays it's employees comparatively well. Unfortunately, I do currently work for a non-union gun company in the NorthEast and I doubt like hell there would be folks from anywhere else lining up to work for any less than we do.

Is there a reason the employees at Ruger never unionized?

I saw and handled the Cimmaron 1873 and 1866 lines last Friday at the End of Trail Cowboy Action Shooting festival in Edgewood, NM. They are very slick, especially the three demonstrator 1873s that had action jobs and short stroke modifications. Of course, numerous CAS gunsmiths can do those modifications to a stock gun if desired.

In terms of cosmetics, they are awfully attractive and I saw nothing to criticize otherwise. Of course, Uberti makes them all, like other Cimmaron items, but I am told all these brands are made per specs set forth by the marketer, so Cimmaron products may be a little different from others.

I defer to others about issues like pressures and durability. From what I know about Miroku International, though, I expect top quality.

My gunsmith is a cowboy action shooting specialist and he told me yesterday that while the new Winchesters are beautifully made, they are unsuitable for CAS competition since they have included so many extra safety features.

Too bad, but as I wrote on 6/26, the Uberti clones from Cimmaron, EMF and Uberti are beauties too. He showed me a Uberti 1873 straight stock in .357 that was reserved for use as a prize and looked fully as nice as Cimmarons.

The extra safety measures are easily dealt with. The Miroku 73 once set up correctly is an outstanding rifle for CAS. Because of the better quality steel and machine work, the Miroku is MUCH more durable than the Uberti clones.

I got one of the Miroku 73s earlier in the year. Really enjoy shooting it but it's been tough finding the time. The most accurate lead bullet I've tried was some oddball swaged bullets sold by Hornady. Just my luck, they appear to be discontinued. Well, I did get those on sale back in 1997!

^^^^^^^ Nice looking rifle!!!!

Probably because Unions are for Idiots.

My company gave me one as a retirement gift. .45 long Colt, curly maple wood, color case hardened. Beautiful piece.

Unions get a bad name, not because of the line worker, but because of the criminal/political element in the business office. I am all for union workers getting as much compensation as they can. It is the union leadership that is corrupt.