Where are used Uberti 1873 rifles hiding?

[Claven2]

You know, it's the strangest thing. Whenever I'm looking for a used rifle, if I'm patient, one always shows up at a sponsoring dealer, the local gun store, or on the Equipment Exchange. Virtually without fail for current production rifles, less so for vintage collectibles.

Now the odd thing is that I NEVER see used Uberti 1873 rifles for sale anywhere in Canada. They are EVERYWHERE stateside, but not up here. And among the "new" ones, they all seem to be 20" short rifles or carbines.

Are they that good that ppl hang onto them, or is it that the resale value is low enough that they aren't worth selling? New ones can be had in the $1100-2400 range depending on model and features.

Just curious (?)

I just bought a used (looks to be really old but like new) Navy Arms (Uberti) 1866 in 44-40 off the EE as a stop-gap, but it's not the gun I wanted and not the calibre I wanted (1873 24" in 45LC), but it's the only one I could find and will do for now.

 

[Kirk1701]

A friend of mine has one in 38-40. It shoots like a laser beam—sub 1" groups at 100 yards from the bench. I would assume people don't unload them because they shoot so well.

 

[Shooting Bastard]

People love their pistol caliber levers...

 

[Mark-II]

We have a Uberti (AFAIK) Henry replica that has bounced around the extended family for as long as I can remember. Might be my turn to get it someday soon

Fun gun, but not as nice as a '73 (no forestock).

 

[Bittermansbro]

You know Claven, you're right. I concur with one of the earlier respondents that people do love them and prolly keep them. I love mine so much I had it engraved and re-case hardened, stripped the funny floor wax Uberti finish and oiled it. It shoots like the dickens too, which is nice cause it gets worked hard.

 

[Claven2]

Yes, well, you can rest assured that if I buy an Uberti 1873 (or even an 1866) and the wood has that ugly browning-like plastic finish, it will be the first mod I make to the gun to get rid of that crap and apply a proper oiled and beeswaxed finish.

I've been toying with the idea of buying a beater original (hence my ad in the EE looking for one) and rebuilding to as-new, but I'd be limiting myself in doing so as originals don't take any of the modern race parts like short stroke kits or whisper springs and coil hammer spring kits. But I would get style points...

Problem is, the last few restorable originals I had a line on sold before I could contact the seller and the rifles being offered to me through the WTB ad are beat to hell and back, parts missing or replaced with ill-fitting incorrect bits, but are priced like they're made of gold. I'm not in a huge hurry, so I've been politely passing on those.

 

[Killer Kanuck]

I know a local fella that stumbled into a used 45 Colt Uberti 1873 a few years ago - with a 30" barrel. Hell of a lot of gun on the front end of that little beauty.

 

[Claven2]

PS: Oskar does great work, doesn't he? Who did your hand engraving?

 

[Sharps '63]

"You pays you money - you takes you choice"

I've got a '66 carbine in 44-40 and love it, especially with BP. In .45 Colt, you have a lot of case smudging even with smokeless; with BP, it's even worse. Only solution is to anneal your brass.
But, at least the '73 comes apart easily to clean.

 

[fingers284]

You know Claven, you're right. I concur with one of the earlier respondents that people do love them and prolly keep them. I love mine so much I had it engraved and re-case hardened, stripped the funny floor wax Uberti finish and oiled it. It shoots like the dickens too, which is nice cause it gets worked hard.

Now Bro wadja go and put all that chickenscratch on an otherwise flawless specimen frrr. You goin to let me shoot it and beat it around in my cart when next we meet.

You know I'm envious dontcha. Be proud of it Bro its a beautiful piece. Did you get the inerds worked over as well.

 

[Bittermansbro]

PS: Oskar does great work, doesn't he? Who did your hand engraving?

Yes Oskar did ab-sol-ute-ly AWESOME work. Nothing like a proper case-harden done by a good guy. I was highly impressed with his turnover from when he received it to when I got it back.

Now Bro wadja go and put all that chickenscratch on an otherwise flawless specimen frrr. You goin to let me shoot it and beat it around in my cart when next we meet. You know I'm envious dontcha. Be proud of it Bro its a beautiful piece. Did you get the inerds worked over as well.

Its pretty organized for chicken scratch, I recommend it for anyone I left the innards just the way they were, it already works well and shoots well and I have worn it in over the years, so its already pretty good!