So I just bought an original 1873...

[ACfixer]

Nice one OP!

[TRAP55]

Post a pic of the bottom of the brass lifter, and one of the bolt face, serial number too and I can confirm or correct the DOM on it.
Real common for the cartridge rim support on the bolt face to be broken off, resulting in a jam-o-matic. When the bottom of the lifter is all dinged up, that's from trying to clear a jam, the wrong way.
Flip it belly up and you'll see two small screw heads between the lever and lifter. They retain the springs for the lever and the lifter, and are the adjustments for the tension on both too.
Out of adjustment, you get jams, and broken cartridge supports, and more jams. The lifter lever is steel, the lifter is brass, the steel wears the brass, without grease in the track, it wears real fast. That's why it has adjustment.
When every thing is in working order, the 73 action is still one, that has to be full cycled like you mean it. Short stroke it, it'll jam. They eject empties up, back, and over your head. They eject loaded rounds up, back, and right in the forehead...hard! Don't ask how I know that. Any questions, give me a holler.

[prophei]

Post a pic of the bottom of the brass lifter, and one of the bolt face, serial number too and I can confirm or correct the DOM on it.
Real common for the cartridge rim support on the bolt face to be broken off, resulting in a jam-o-matic. When the bottom of the lifter is all dinged up, that's from trying to clear a jam, the wrong way.
Flip it belly up and you'll see two small screw heads between the lever and lifter. They retain the springs for the lever and the lifter, and are the adjustments for the tension on both too.
Out of adjustment, you get jams, and broken cartridge supports, and more jams. The lifter lever is steel, the lifter is brass, the steel wears the brass, without grease in the track, it wears real fast. That's why it has adjustment.
When every thing is in working order, the 73 action is still one, that has to be full cycled like you mean it. Short stroke it, it'll jam. They eject empties up, back, and over your head. They eject loaded rounds up, back, and right in the forehead...hard! Don't ask how I know that. Any questions, give me a holler.

Thanks for all the info! I am a complete novice with these kinds of firearms, so I have a lot to learn. I have included some pics of what you asked...

[TRAP55]

Made mid 1891, with 38,901 made that year.
Looks good inside! I never have figured out what they used to bang on the bottom of that lifter with, but they'll all have the same marks.
Any luck finding ammo or brass?
The Lyman tang and folding Beech sights could well be a factory installed option, a Cody Letter will tell, and your serial number will letter.

[prophei]

Made mid 1891, with 38,901 made that year.
Looks good inside! I never have figured out what they used to bang on the bottom of that lifter with, but they'll all have the same marks.
Any luck finding ammo or brass?
The Lyman tang and folding Beech sights could well be a factory installed option, a Cody Letter will tell, and your serial number will letter.

Glad to hear it is looking good
What is a Cody Letter? Not sure how to check about those sights.
I am definitely a novice with these!

-m

[bonesurf]

https://centerofthewest.org/explore/firearms/firearms-records/

[prophei]

Any luck finding ammo or brass?

Oh thanks! So $75 and I get all the info? I'll have to study that site more.

As far as ammo, somebody here on this site responded to me that he had ammo. I got an email and we chatted back and forth, with my agreeing to buy 12 boxes of 20rd for a total of $400. I apple paid, and then he comes back with a weird story about needing more for shipping, even though the agreement was that he cover it.

It suddenly went from feeling really good to really bad.

I come back here and see that user has now been blocked. The guy claims he sent the money to a sick relative and needs to wait until he gets paid to send me the ammo. I am pretty much screwed. I got played. I have sent messages to this site in hopes of getting some data, but have had no responses. It became a big mess. I have some friends tracking his data, and have some details, but I will probably never see that money again unless he's being honest and this is the most fraudulent looking honest person on the planet. I'm not feeling good about it.

Other than that, I bought a little online. I have a reno address, and was going to shoot out there, so I have a legitimate place to send it without needing an FFL. Now I am down $400 I really didn't have to spend, and got nothing for it. I am considering learning how to reload, but that is a whole new mess of stuff to have to learn and pay for. Options are looking slim though. Would have been easier to buy a system with that $400 I now lack. Oh well.

Sorry for boring you with the details!

[bonesurf]

well that story totally sucks. reloading honestly is the way to go for 32-20. the ammo is WAY too tough to come by.

[NapalmCheese]

20gr ffg

That's what I'd do! Well probably 3F, but, whatever.

Black is easy to load, has simple tools, hard to screw up, and real black cleans up with soap and water, and is easy on the gun.

Just find or make bullets lubed with a black powder lube (SPG or something).

[golfish]

Oh thanks! So $75 and I get all the info? I'll have to study that site more.

As far as ammo, somebody here on this site responded to me that he had ammo. I got an email and we chatted back and forth, with my agreeing to buy 12 boxes of 20rd for a total of $400. I apple paid, and then he comes back with a weird story about needing more for shipping, even though the agreement was that he cover it.

It suddenly went from feeling really good to really bad.

I come back here and see that user has now been blocked. The guy claims he sent the money to a sick relative and needs to wait until he gets paid to send me the ammo. I am pretty much screwed. I got played. I have sent messages to this site in hopes of getting some data, but have had no responses. It became a big mess. I have some friends tracking his data, and have some details, but I will probably never see that money again unless he's being honest and this is the most fraudulent looking honest person on the planet. I'm not feeling good about it.

Other than that, I bought a little online. I have a reno address, and was going to shoot out there, so I have a legitimate place to send it without needing an FFL. Now I am down $400 I really didn't have to spend, and got nothing for it. I am considering learning how to reload, but that is a whole new mess of stuff to have to learn and pay for. Options are looking slim though. Would have been easier to buy a system with that $400 I now lack. Oh well.

Sorry for boring you with the details!

Wow!! Lots and lots of these same stories going around here. It's been much worse in the last couple years.

You might do your fellow calgunners a favor and out the person so nobody else gets ripped off.

I'm sorry OP, I wanted to add more and just plan forgot. It sucks that this happened to you. I hope it works out and you get your ammo. You got such a nice gun there and then some a hole comes along and does this. It just pisses me off.

[TRAP55]

It just pisses me off.

golfish, me too! CalGuns needs a ball bat crew, and make a few examples, with pics posted on the forum.
prophei, after I last posted, I took a look for a dozen or so rounds I picked up in a trade, found the bag I thought they were in, but it was .32acp, No clue what I did with those rounds, but I think they may have gone to Idaho for a friends '73. Would have told you to come and get em. Reloading, get a Lee Loader, cheap, easy, bench not required. If you've never reloaded before, best tool made to learn the basics.

[prophei]

You might do your fellow calgunners a favor and out the person so nobody else gets ripped off.

I would like to, but was going to wait until I got a reply from a moderator. I also am holding out the slim hope that this person makes good before the end of the month, which is the time span they gave. If the impossible happens, and they do, I am hesitant to smear them on the internet.

If anyone else is approached by someone in a way that resonates with my situation, I am happy to give more details in a PM to make sure it isn't the same person. I absolutely don't want anyone else getting screwed.

I am a huge believer in having integrity, and having this happen here is quite a gut-punch!

[prophei]

Reloading, get a Lee Loader, cheap, easy, bench not required. If you've never reloaded before, best tool made to learn the basics.

Thanks for the suggestion!

[bigbossman]

I would like to, but was going to wait until I got a reply from a moderator. I also am holding out the slim hope that this person makes good before the end of the month, which is the time span they gave. If the impossible happens, and they do, I am hesitant to smear them on the internet.

If anyone else is approached by someone in a way that resonates with my situation, I am happy to give more details in a PM to make sure it isn't the same person. I absolutely don't want anyone else getting screwed.

I am a huge believer in having integrity, and having this happen here is quite a gut-punch!

If you put a post in the "wanted" forum, then you're probably SOL. Almost all replies to posts there are from scammers.

Do a Google search on either the user name or phone number and see if you don't get hits from the same fellow on other forums. My bet is that you will........ especially if they are a low-count poster.

[prophei]

If you put a post in the "wanted" forum, then you're probably SOL. Almost all replies to posts there are from scammers.

Lesson learned, I had no idea.

Do a Google search on either the user name or phone number and see if you don't get hits from the same fellow on other forums. My bet is that you will........ especially if they are a low-count poster.

One of the first things I did, but hit nothing. I did have a hacker friend do some investigations though, so I have some name/address information associated with the tel number. I was hoping for the admins here to give me their IP address. That would help a lot.