1873 .38WCF basket case

[Catpop]

I bought this rifle in the 1980s as a rusted up piece of junk with no buttstock from a farmer. I stripped it down, made this butt stock and hung it on the wall in my gunshop. There is stayed 30 years until now when I finally decided to start a quest to see if I could find all the parts. Well I did and here it is. It still needs some parts and another 10 hours or so to finish finishing the buttstock, but it's shootable.
I've been about to wet my pants to prove the barrel and this am the monsoons abated long enough to slip down to the backyard range for a go at it.
9/16" group at 25 yards with iron sights ain't bad, not to mention I'm a right handed shooter learning to shoot left handed at 65 yo. I'm as tickled as a kid at Christmas.
Mark another basket case off the list.

Well

 

[Scooter22]

Nice job. Better find something else to hang on the wall.

 

[tark]

That is incredible! So is the group. Sometimes the guns you cherish most are the ones you resurrect from the dead. Fine work.

 

[joem1945]

Very nice job on the restore. Looks like a good small game gun.

 

[ljnowell]

Great story, great gun! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Onmilo]

.38/40s were very popular here in downstate Illinois at the time.
Still fairly common to find one for sale.
Nice piece of walnut you have on yours.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Nice piece of functional, and accurate, history there. Fine job on that butt stock, good looking wood.

 

[RainDodger]

Nice looking wood! What a great story! I hope you have someone to pass it on to so it doesn't get lost again!

 

[Cooleemeeedd]

Basket Case Restored!

Wonderful! You done good!! .34/40 (.38 WCF) is my favorite "cowboy" caliber. I should never have sold my 1892 Winchester in this caliber. For $75 (1970) it was a steal. I now have a repro 1873 and a repro Colt Bisley as a set and really enjoy shooting them.

 

[bannockburn]

Catpop

Nice restoration, especially with the stock and that amazing group! Time to find another wall hanger!

 

[Catpop]

Update

Got to long range today. Here's results, (only 3 shots each, sorry short on ammo among other things), iron sights, front rest

Remington factory 180 gr JHP
50 yards 2 3/4" group
100 yds 3 3/4" group
My friend also tried his skill at 100 yds with the Remington ammo bettered me with a 2 1/4" group

Blackhills factory 180 gr fpl
50 yards 1" group
100 yds 1 3/4" group

Gun definitely likes the Blackhills load better.

I can't wait to get me some dies and really get down to it.

SORRY PIC DID NOT LOAD, I'LL TRY LATER.

 

[Catpop]

Pictures

Sorry could not get loaded earlier.