Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine
Serial Number: 987837
Year of Manufacture: 1929 / C&R
Caliber: .44-40 Winchester Center Fire
Action Type: Lever Action, Full-Length Tubular Magazine Fed
Barrel Length: 20" Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade pinned to a raised block integral to the barrel. The rear sight is a ladder sight which presents a fixed v-notch when down and a sliding v-notch leaf when up marked out 2-9, dovetailed to the barrel. The tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight, none present.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece smooth walnut with a straight grip, straight comb, steel carbine style buttplate, and banded forend. There is a saddle ring on the left side of the receiver. There are scattered handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 12 3/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in about Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is very bright and the rifling is sharp. There is faint intermittent erosion. In this writer's opinion the bore rates 7/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 30% of its current metal finish. The balance of the finish shows modest handling and operational wear. Most of the remaining finish is held on the magtube and ends of the barrel. The receiver has mostly taken to a scattered patina with oxidation. There is thinning on the leading edges. The left side of the receiver has saddle ring rub wear. There are a few small spots of fine pitting. The screw heads show signs of light tooling, but still have strong and serviceable slots. The pins are unmarred. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good condition.
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: John M. Browning’s Winchester Model 1892 adapted the strong twin-locking-bolt mechanism of the Model 1886 to a smaller, lighter action chambered for the popular revolver cartridges of its era. Compact, smooth, and fast handling, it succeeded the Model 1873 as Winchester’s principal pistol-caliber repeater and was offered in rifle, carbine, and musket configurations. This 1929 Saddle Ring Carbine pairs the classic 20" round barrel and folding ladder sight with the authoritative .44 W.C.F. chambering. Produced late in the Model 1892’s commercial life and near the end of regular saddle-ring carbine production, it represents one of the most recognizable and desirable configurations of Browning’s compact lever action.
This carbine retains about 30% of its original blue finish, with most remaining coverage concentrated on the magazine tube and portions of the barrel. The receiver has developed an attractive working patina with oxidation, saddle-ring wear, and a few small areas of fine pitting. Its walnut stocks remain in Good condition with scattered handling marks and no chips or cracks. The very bright bore retains sharp rifling with faint intermittent erosion and rates 7/10, while the action functions properly with a crisp trigger and half-cock safety. Its original finish, late-production saddle-ring configuration, strong bore, and quintessential .44-40 chambering make this an appealing Winchester for the collector who values honest frontier character and sound mechanics.
