Winchester Model 1892 92 24″ Octagon .32-20 WCF Lever Rifle, 1893 Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,225.00
LSB# LSB260505JM006
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1892 Rifle
Serial Number: 20471
Year of Manufacture: 1893
Caliber: 32 WCF, 32-20
Action Type: Lever Action, Tubular Magazine Fed
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN. CONN.U.S.A.”. The top of the barrel is marked “32 W.C.F.” The top tang is marked “MODEL 1892 / -WINCHESTER- / PAT Oct 14, 1884”. The bottom of the receiver is marked “20471”.
Barrel Length: 24″, Octagon
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a v-notch elevator semi-buckhorn sight dovetailed to the barrel. The upper tang is drilled and tapped for a peep sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are a two piece smooth walnut, straight grip, straight comb, capped forend, with crescent style buttplate. The LOP is 13″ from the trigger to the buttplate. The stock has been refinished. There are sanding marks and scratches throughout. There are compression dents and gouges. There is worn and chipped finish. There is some light cracking at the wrist. Overall this stock is in Fair to Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is dark and the rifling is faint. There is extensive pitting and corrosion throughout the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 4/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about none of its metal finish. The majority of the finish has gone to brown patina and corrosion staining. The case color has gone to brown patina and corrosion staining. The screw heads are tool marked but serviceable. The markings are faint but legible. Overall, this rifle is in Fair condition as Antique.
Mechanics: Due to bore condition we do not recommend firing this rifle. 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 is widely regarded as one of John M. Browning’s finest lever-action designs, combining the proven handling characteristics of the earlier Model 1873 with a much stronger and more compact action. Introduced in 1892, it quickly became a favorite for pistol-caliber cartridges such as the .32-20 W.C.F., offering ranchers, hunters, and sportsmen a light, reliable rifle well suited for small game and general utility. Early antique-production rifles like this 1893 example are especially desirable to Winchester collectors, representing the first years of production of one of the company’s most successful lever-action designs. Original configuration rifles with octagon barrels remain particularly attractive, even when showing the honest wear expected from well over a century of service.
This early Model 1892 retains its desirable 24″ octagon barrel chambered in .32-20 W.C.F. and remains mechanically functional with a properly operating action and crisp trigger. The rifle shows extensive use throughout, with the original finish having largely worn to an even brown patina with scattered corrosion staining, while the markings remain faint but legible. The walnut stocks have been refinished and display sanding marks, scratches, dents, gouges, chipped finish, and light cracking at the wrist. The bore is heavily worn, dark, and extensively pitted with faint rifling, resulting in a 4/10 rating, and because of its condition we do not recommend firing the rifle. Despite its well-used state, this antique Winchester remains an authentic early-production Browning-designed lever action with strong collector appeal as a representative frontier-era rifle. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! Please see our photos and good luck on your bids! MF