Winchester 1892 92 24″ Round .44-40 WCF Lever Rifle & Letter, 1894 Antique
SOLD FOR: $2497.67
LSB#: 220321MA001
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1892 Rifle
Serial Number: 23707
Year of Manufacture: 1894
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester (.44-40 Winchester Center Fire)
Action Type: Lever Action, Tubular Magazine Fed, Takedown
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “-MANUFACTURED BY THE- / -WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A.-” in front of the rear sight and at the receiver with “44 W.C.F.”. The underside of the receiver is marked “23707” at the front. The upper tang is marked “MODEL 1892. / -WINCHESTER- / PAT. OCT. 14. 1884.”.
Barrel Length: 24″, Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is german silver blade slotted to a base dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch semi-buckhorn leaf and elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel with the notch fine-adjustable for elevation. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a peep sight (none included).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip and steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have scattered light nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. There is a more notable scrape on the bottom of the forend toward the rear and more notable dings in the wrist just behind the bottom tang and to the right of the top tang. There are some minor losses at the edges, mostly around the rear edge of the buttstock where it meets the plate. There are no cracks. The LOP measures 12 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a mottled light patina with some nicks in the face and light erosion at the heel and toe. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition as Antique.
Type of Finish: Blued, Case Color Hammer & Lever
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with sharp rifling. There is minor erosion scattered through the bore with a few spots of light pitting.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 20% of its metal finish. The balance has mostly gone to a light patina with scattered surface oxidation, but there is blue peeking out here and there. The strongest finish is in the top of the bolt, followed by the receiver flats, and with some in other protected areas such as around the rear sight and the top of the magazine tube. There are scattered light scratches, most notable in a patch on the left receiver flat. There is a little bit of case color still visible on the lever and hammer, but mostly they have muted or gone to a light patina. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good condition as Antique.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety position. The trigger is crisp. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None. Included is a Cody Firearms Museum factory records letter. The letter indicates that this rifle had its serial number applied January 13, 1894 and shipped March 10, 1894 on order number 10743. The rifle shipped in it current configuration.
Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1892 rifle and carbine replaced the toggle link action of Winchester’s Model 1873 with a breechblock locked with two rectangular locking bolts that made it much stronger and suitable for the higher pressures of smokeless powder. It was designed by John Browning, and was sort of a scaled-down Model 1886 rifle, the first he designed for Winchester. The Model 1892 rifle was popular with ranchers and later was the rifle of choice for western movies and TV shows, John Wayne used both M1892 rifles and carbines in many of his western movies. The M1892 rifles again became popular in the 1980s with the advent of Cowboy Action shooting, as they were smooth and dependable.
This is a fairly early Model 1892 rifle with a 24” round barrel, made in 1894 and chambered in .44-40 Win. The rifle is in Very Good condition as Antique with honest wear, a nice bore for its age, strong mechanics, and some of its original finish remaining. All Winchester Model 1892 rifles of this vintage are collectable and it takes quite a bit of effort to collect one in every caliber and sub model. The included factory records letter will only enhance the rifle’s value. Please see our photos and good luck!