38-40 winchester lever action - Page 2

Hawg Haggen · December 15, 2012, 08:34 PM

Bert H over at TFF is a historian for the Cody Museum and he can tell you what information is in the letter. He can probably give you a pretty good idea what its worth. http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/index.php

Win73 · December 16, 2012, 05:28 PM

Here is my '73 Winchester. It is also .38-40. It was passed down to me from my father. He paid $5 for it about 1930. That doesn't sound like a lot but for him at the time it was almost a weeks pay.

tsillik · December 16, 2012, 08:06 PM

I noticed on the trigger there is a real small pin looking thing, is something to do with the trigger? Terry

BillM · December 16, 2012, 08:32 PM

Quote:

I noticed on the trigger there is a real small pin looking thing, is something to do with the trigger? Terry

Picture? There is a little pin thingy behind the trigger that the lever
hits when closed---it's a safety device to keep you from firing without
the lever all the way closed. That--or something else?

tsillik · December 16, 2012, 08:39 PM

It is just to the right and behind the trigger,looks to be part of the trigger base. Terry

tsillik · December 16, 2012, 10:09 PM

Have been doing a little looking on other sites could this be something to do with a set trigger, you can push the trigger forward, also the hammer will go to full cock or half cock does this mean anything? Looked a little closer, the pin looks to be threaded at the bottom and with a real tiny slot in the top of it Terry

Win73 · December 16, 2012, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Picture? There is a little pin thingy behind the trigger that the lever
hits when closed---it's a safety device to keep you from firing without
the lever all the way closed. That--or something else?

It is a safety device to keep the gun from firing if the lever isn't all the way closed. There is a block behind the trigger. When you close the lever it pushes that pin up which pushes the block up so the trigger can be pulled. It is especially important with the '73 action for the lever to be fully closed. There is no breach block on the '73. It relies totally on the toggle link to hold the bolt in battery. The two pieces of the toggle link need to be in a straight line with each other to hold the bolt closed. The lever is attached to the center pivot point of the two toggle links and they are not alligned in a straight line and the bolt is not fully in battery if the lever is not fully closed.

In this picture you can see the pin.

In this picture you can see the block behind the trigger.

In this picture I am pushing in the pin with my finger. You can see the block has lifted out of the way so the trigger could be pulled.

This is just a better picture of my '73.

tsillik · December 17, 2012, 09:30 PM

Tried to take a few better pics. the one of the trigger shows the pin i was talking about, looks like a single set trigger, what does everyone think, it also has a 30 inch barrel terry

tsillik · December 17, 2012, 09:32 PM

Couple more

BillM · December 17, 2012, 11:24 PM

Well heck. A 30" special order with a single set trigger.

Just keeps getting better and better.

tsillik · December 17, 2012, 11:32 PM

Are these pretty rare optons for this rifle? Can't wait to get my "letter" from the museum Terry

**Mike Irwin** · December 18, 2012, 09:06 AM

How can you tell it's a single set trigger?

BillM · December 18, 2012, 07:18 PM

Quote:

How can you tell it's a single set trigger?

That little shiny thingy right behind the trigger in this picture:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/atta...8&d=1355794151

It's not there with a standard trigger, just a set trigger.

WIN1886 · December 18, 2012, 08:22 PM

I'm soooo jealous....I love old Winchester lever actions !

tsillik · December 18, 2012, 11:06 PM

So are these single set triggers pretty rare? Also all the metal is a consistant brown color, is this the way they age, color wise? Terry

Shotgun693 · December 19, 2012, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Also all the metal is a consistant brown color, is this the way they age, color wise?

On a using gun, yep pretty much. It does not take away from the value.

tsillik · December 25, 2012, 12:22 AM

Got my letter from the museum today, was made with the 30" oct. barrel, and single set trigger. Now i have to find somebody local to get the set trigger to work. Terry

December 15, 2012, 08:34 PM	#26
Hawg Haggen Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 10,243	Bert H over at TFF is a historian for the Cody Museum and he can tell you what information is in the letter. He can probably give you a pretty good idea what its worth. http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/index.php __________________ http://blackpowdertimes.com/index.php

December 16, 2012, 05:28 PM	#27
Win73 Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 368	Here is my '73 Winchester. It is also .38-40. It was passed down to me from my father. He paid $5 for it about 1930. That doesn't sound like a lot but for him at the time it was almost a weeks pay. __________________ (Luke 11:21 KJV) When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: (Luke 22:36 KJV) Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

December 16, 2012, 10:09 PM	#31
tsillik Member Join Date: January 23, 2011 Location: Carter Lake Ia. Posts: 52	Have been doing a little looking on other sites could this be something to do with a set trigger, you can push the trigger forward, also the hammer will go to full cock or half cock does this mean anything? Looked a little closer, the pin looks to be threaded at the bottom and with a real tiny slot in the top of it Terry Last edited by tsillik; December 16, 2012 at 10:55 PM.

December 18, 2012, 09:06 AM	#37
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 33,139	How can you tell it's a single set trigger? __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

December 18, 2012, 11:06 PM	#40
tsillik Member Join Date: January 23, 2011 Location: Carter Lake Ia. Posts: 52	So are these single set triggers pretty rare? Also all the metal is a consistant brown color, is this the way they age, color wise? Terry Last edited by tsillik; December 18, 2012 at 11:13 PM.

December 16, 2012, 08:06 PM	#28
tsillik Member Join Date: January 23, 2011 Location: Carter Lake Ia. Posts: 52	I noticed on the trigger there is a real small pin looking thing, is something to do with the trigger? Terry

December 16, 2012, 08:39 PM	#30
tsillik Member Join Date: January 23, 2011 Location: Carter Lake Ia. Posts: 52	It is just to the right and behind the trigger,looks to be part of the trigger base. Terry

December 17, 2012, 11:24 PM	#35
BillM Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Amity Oregon Posts: 211	Well heck. A 30" special order with a single set trigger. Just keeps getting better and better.

December 17, 2012, 11:32 PM	#36
tsillik Member Join Date: January 23, 2011 Location: Carter Lake Ia. Posts: 52	Are these pretty rare optons for this rifle? Can't wait to get my "letter" from the museum Terry

December 18, 2012, 08:22 PM	#39
WIN1886 Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 289	I'm soooo jealous....I love old Winchester lever actions !

December 25, 2012, 12:22 AM	#42
tsillik Member Join Date: January 23, 2011 Location: Carter Lake Ia. Posts: 52	Got my letter from the museum today, was made with the 30" oct. barrel, and single set trigger. Now i have to find somebody local to get the set trigger to work. Terry