Navy Arms 45 Colt lever action - Uberti? 1873?

[BullRunBear]

I recently got a Navy Arms 45 Colt lever action. No model designation but it says 'made in Italy' on the barrel. All blue finish, top eject, 16 and a fraction inch round barrel (Trapper version?), saddle ring on the left side, a small brass door that slides aside on the butt, a Marbles tang peep sight, and uses a brass riser.

The rifle is in good condition, easily 95%. The operation and trigger are smooth. It's at least 10 years old and could be much older. I haven't shot it yet but hoped to pair it with my usual 255 SWC over 8 grains Unique reloads I use in revolvers. I got it just for fun shooting at paper and steel targets, not hunting. It's to be a range toy and I figured for under 300 bucks it was a good deal.

I assume it's made by Uberti and it looks like an 1873 Winchester, although there's nothing on the gun that says so. It doesn't exactly match current offerings from Navy Arms or Uberti.

The only Ubertis I've used are cap and ball revolvers. Anyone have experience with these rifles? Accuracy, preferred loads? Thanks for any help.

Jeff

 

[whughett]

Is there a date code on it.

 

[BullRunBear]

I don't see a date code, just a serial number: 53xxx.
Jeff

 

[MI2600]

I have a Navy Arms, 20", SS, 45LC, '92 replica, that is a Rossi.

 

[dh1633pm]

A picture is worth a 1K words. I have a Uberti 1873 Replica. Smooth as silk. Good shooter. Workmanship was really nice.

 

[Tommygunn]

Possibly an early Uberti. I have a Navy Arms version, almost like yours according to description but in .44-40. These are nice well made copies of the original Winchester 1873. Originals were never made in .45 Colt as the rims on old cartridges in 45 were not considered stout enough to withstand mechanical extraction in rifles, especially when they got hot & dirty.
I recall seeing Uberti lever actions in the 1980s with a paucity of markings compared to modern production.
The sliding trap door in your carbine's buttstock is a feature of early Ubertis, and are intended for collapsible cleaning rods, repros of which are available. This trapdoor in yours marks it as an early gun, as I believe contemporary Ubertis omit this feature.

As stated, a date code, a two letter symbol in a rectangle, will allow us to provide a date of manufacture.


You have a very nice rifle, use it in good health!


Oh! -- pictures! Please!!!

 

[CraigC]

It would have to be a Uberti.

 

[BullRunBear]

Guys, Thanks so much for the replies. Just what I was hoping. I'm curious how my usual 45 Colt reloads with 8 grs of Unique will do in the rifle. Also, a range session with the 45 Ruger Vaquero and this rifle using BP cartridges would be a lot of fun. I'm one of those 'strange' people who doesn't mind cleaning BP guns and cases after a range trip.

Jeff

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Your load sounds like it should be fine in the rifle. If you have not already checked to see how they cycle, I strongly recommend loading a couple dummies to the same overall length (OAL) as your regular rounds and checking, before you load the whole magazine with live rounds. The 1860 Henry, and 1866 and 1873 Winchesters are sensitive to cartridge OAL. It your rounds are too long or too short they can jam.

Also, I think your rifle will feed SWCs OK but that's something else you'll want to verify.

Enjoy your new gun!

 

[eastbank]

a very good deal.