Winchester Model 1892 92 Takedown .25-20 W.C.F. Lever Rifle 24″ 1921 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,581.00
LSB#: LSB260415WO016
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1892
Serial Number: 927052
Year of Manufacture: 1921 / C&R
Caliber: .25-20 Winchester Center Fire
Action Type: Takedown Lever Action, Full-Length Tubular Magazine Fed
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. PATENTED OCTOBER 14. 1884.” and “25-20 W.C.F.”. The top tang is marked “MODEL 92 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK REG.U.S.PAT OFF&FGN.”. The bottom of the receiver is marked “927052”. The top of the barrel and receiver are marked with WP proofs. There is a patent date on the takedown lever.
Barrel Length: 24″ Round, Nominal. 24 ¼” Measured.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a patented blade dovetailed and screw set to the barrel. The rear sight is a semi-buckhorn square-notch elevator sight, dovetailed to the barrel. The tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight (none present).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip, straight comb and metal crescent buttplate. The stocks have been sanded and refinished. There are a few minor handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 12 7/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in about Fair condition as refinished and not original to the gun.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is defined. There is light erosion. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 6 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 99% of its current metal finish. The balance of the finish is strong and complete. Part of the new bluing has taken to a plum color, especially on the mag tube. There is erosion and pitting under the new finish, mostly notable on the receiver, lever, forend cap, buttplate, and hammer. The screw heads show signs of light tooling, but still have strong and serviceable slots. The pins are unmarred. The markings are legible, though a little muddied. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions properly. 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 was John Moses Browning’s elegant refinement of the lever-action repeater — a lighter, slicker, and mechanically superior successor to the Model 1873 that shed the older rifle’s outmoded toggle-link action in favor of a vertical locking bolt design that would define lever-action engineering for decades to come. Introduced at a retail price accessible to working hunters and ranchers, the 1892 became one of Winchester’s most commercially successful rifles, with production ultimately exceeding one million units across a run that stretched from 1892 through 1941. The takedown configuration — available at a modest premium — allowed the rifle to be separated at the receiver for compact transport and storage, a feature that appealed strongly to travelers, trappers, and outdoorsmen navigating an increasingly mobile America.
Serial number 927052 places this rifle solidly in the post-WWI production era, and it presents today as a refinished but mechanically sound and fully functional example of one of Winchester’s most celebrated platforms. The metal has been reblued, with portions of the magazine tube taking on a characteristic plum tone, and underlying erosion and pitting is evident beneath the new finish on the receiver, lever, and several smaller components — all honestly disclosed and reflected in the Good overall rating. The bore rates a serviceable 6/10 with defined rifling and light erosion, adequate for the field and consistent with a century-old working rifle. What this rifle offers is the increasingly rare takedown configuration in the desirable .25-20 chambering, with a crisp trigger, smooth action, and the fundamental structural integrity of Winchester’s finest pre-war production — a solid foundation for the collector who values configuration and mechanical character over cosmetic originality. Please see our photos and good luck on your bid! – L.S.