Winchester 1892 92 24″ Octagonal .44-40 WCF Lever Rifle, 1894 Antique
SOLD FOR: $2325
LSB#: 210930TP50
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1892 Rifle
Serial Number: 51138
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 “51138” at the front. The upper tang is marked “MODEL 1892. / -WINCHESTER- / PAT. OCT. 14. 1884.”.
Barrel Length: 24″, Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is german silver blade slotted to a base dovetailed and screw-set 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 nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches with most notable wear in the belly. There is discoloration where the wood meets the metal. There are grain-line cracks at the rear edges where the stock meets the buttplate. The LOP measures 12 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a light patina with scattered solid erosion. 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 gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light-moderate erosion in the bore with some minor pitting.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 15% of its metal finish. Most exposed surfaces have gone to a light-moderate patina with finish remaining only in protected areas. There is scattered light surface erosion and oxidation. There are scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The hammer and lever’s case color still shows figuring in some areas. The action has operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to 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.
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 Model 1892 rifle with a 24” octagonal barrel, made in 1894 and chambered in .44-40 Win. The rifle is in Very Good condition as Antique with honest wear, 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. Please see our photos and good luck!