Winchester Model 1892 92 24″ Round .44-40 WCF Lever Rifle, MFD 1896 Antique
SOLD FOR: $1825
LSB#: 210721TS41
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1892 Rifle
Serial Number: 143938
Year of Manufacture: 1896
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester (.44-40 W.C.F.)
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.-” in front of the rear sight and at the receiver with “44 W.C.F.”. The underside of the receiver is marked “143938” at the front. The upper tang is marked “MODEL 1892 / -WINCHESTER- / PAT. OCT. 14. 1884.”.
Barrel Length: 24 1/4″ (24″ nominal), Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a german-silver blade in a slotted base dovetailed and screw-set to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The sight had a notch fine-adjustable for elevation, but the sight cracked down the middle and the notch has fallen out. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight including an after-market hole drilled in the top tang markings. No tang sight is present.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. The stocks have scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is a more notable ding on the bottom-left of the forend, two on the left of the buttstock and another on the right near the heel. There is a small loss at the toe. 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 mostly worn to white with discoloration from oxidation, a few spots of erosion, some scratches, and a cluster of nicks at the toe. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good-plus condition as refinished Antique.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is gray and the rifling is well defined. There is scattered light erosion and some light pitting in the bore.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 15% of its metal finish. Finish remains in protected areas such as the bottom of the barrel, top of the magazine tube, around the edges of the sights and forend, the radiused edges at the front and rear of the frame flats and around the hammer Other surfaces have mostly worn to white or gone to a light patina. There are some scattered nicks and scratches with light tool marks around most screw heads and some more notable horizontal marks on the frame flats. The action shows 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: This is a Winchester Model 1892 Rifle made in 1896 and chambered in .44-40 Winchester. This rifle is in about Very Good condition as Antique with about 15% of its original finish remaining. The bore shows wear and erosion, but the mechanics are strong. This vintage rifle has seen some honest wear over the last 125 years but is in very good mechanical condition. The .44-40 Win. cartridge was a very popular cartridge in its day which would put food on the table, protect livestock and defend hearth and home. This rifle should be of interest to the Winchester collectors and with its strong mechanics, it could be restored and taken back out in the field. Please see our photos and good luck!