Gun of the Week: Taylor's & Co. TC73

Lever-action rifles have seen a recent resurgence in popularity, with many manufacturers offering modernized takes on the classic lever-action concept. While others have added polymer furniture, M-Lok handguards and Picatinny rails, Taylor's & Co. took a different direction with its modernization. The company's TC73 has classic lines and a classic appearance, but unlike other lever-actions, this one has a few unique features. Watch our "Gun of the Week" episode above to see it in action.

"What's really neat about this one is that it's chambered in 9 mm. 9 mm? Why would you want 9 mm, you ask? Well, what's one of the most popular firearms out there today is handguns, striker fired handguns in 9 mm, so you've got a lot of 9 mm ammunition," American Rifleman Executive Editor Jay Grazio said. "Why not have a lever-action rifle that feeds the same ammo? One of the nice things, too, is, unlike .30-30 Winchester or .45-70 Government, 9 mm is accepted on all kinds of indoor public ranges."

The TC73 is equipped with an 18-inch carbon-steel barrel and has an under-barrel tubular magazine that holds 10 rounds of 9 mm Luger. Like the original Winchester 1873, the TC73 is loaded through a gate on the right side of the receiver.

"You look down at the end, that muzzle’s threaded," Grazio said. "You want to throw a suppressor on it? 9 mm is super easy to suppress, and there's plenty of options out there that work really well."

With an overall length of 37.5 inches and an unloaded weight of 8 pounds, the TC73 replicates the look and feel of the classic Model 1873 Winchester lever-action rifle while being chambered for one of today's most easily acceptable pistol cartridges.

"It's just a gorgeous, gorgeous rifle," Grazio said. "You can see the case color hardened metal, the rich walnut furniture. It's just a very esthetically pleasing rifle. It's got classic lines."

The Taylor's & Co. TC73 is made entirely in the USA, and the suggested retail price is $1,799. For more details, visit the Taylor's & Co. website here.