Winchester Model 1892 92 24″ Round .44-40 WCF Lever Rifle 1896 Antique
SOLD FOR: $1,400.00
LSB# LSB251112TA046
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1892 Rifle
Serial Number: 122110
Year of Manufacture: 1896, Antique
Caliber: 44-40
Action Type: Lever Action, Tubular Magazine Fed
Barrel Length: 24″ Nominal, 24 1/4″ Measured, Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Beach Combination sight dovetailed into the barrel. The rear sight is a U-notch elevator semi-buckhorn sight dovetailed to the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock set for this rifle is a two piece smooth walnut, capped forend, straight grip, straight comb, and rifle style crescent buttplate. The stocks have been refinished. There are scratches, compression dents and handling wear throughout. There are patches of weathered finish loss. There is a notable gouge on the right side of the forend. There are no cracks. Overall these stocks rate in Fair condition for a refinish.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is semi bright with defined rifling. There is no erosion throughout the bore. There is scattered pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 7/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its metal finish. There is pitting and scratching that has been blued over. Many of the lines and markings have been blurred. There is thinning bluing near the muzzle and other leading edges. There is a spot of bluing loss by the mag tube hanger. There are scattered handling marks, scratches, and corrosion freckling throughout. The screw heads range from sharp to heavily tool marked with usable slots. The markings are faint to obscured from polish. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition for a refinish.
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 is one of John Moses Browning’s most elegant and enduring lever action designs, scaled for pistol-length cartridges and prized for its smooth cycling and trim handling. Manufactured in 1896, this example dates to the close of the 19th century, when Winchester was supplying sporting rifles to hunters, ranchers, and settlers across the American West. The rifle configuration with a long 24 inch octagonal barrel reflects a style favored for balance, sight radius, and accuracy, distinguishing it from the more common carbine variants.
Chambered in .44-40 Winchester Center Fire, the rifle is paired with one of the most iconic cartridges of the frontier era. Originally developed for use in both revolvers and rifles, the .44-40 offered mild recoil, practical accuracy, and broad availability, making it a staple of late 19th century sporting and utility use. The presence of a Beach Combination front sight adds an interesting period accessory, while the semi-buckhorn rear sight with elevator maintains a traditional sighting arrangement. The bore is semi-bright with defined rifling and scattered pitting, no erosion noted, and rates 7 out of 10.
Overall condition reflects substantial restoration work. The rifle retains approximately 95 percent of its current metal finish, though pitting, scratches, and corrosion have been polished and blued over, resulting in softened edges and blurred markings. Bluing shows thinning at the muzzle and other leading edges, with additional localized finish loss near the magazine tube hanger. The walnut stocks have been refinished and show handling wear, compression dents, weathered finish loss, and a notable gouge on the forend, placing them in Fair condition for a refinish. Mechanically, the action functions correctly with a crisp trigger and half-cock safety. Taken together, this Winchester Model 1892 presents as a well-used, refinished example that retains strong period character despite visible wear and restoration, offering a tangible connection to the closing years of the American frontier. Please see our photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck with your bids! MF/MA
