Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1892 Rifle

Serial Number: 180641

Year of Manufacture: 1900 C&R

Caliber: .38-40 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 “38 W.C.F.”. The underside of the receiver is marked “180641” at the front. The upper tang is marked “MODEL 1892. / -WINCHESTER- / PAT. OCT. 14. 1884.”.

Barrel Length: 24” Octagon

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed and screw set to the barrel. The rear sight is an elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The notch has ground out and the sight now presents a flush wide U shape. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a peep sight (none included).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are 2-piece smooth walnut with capped forend, straight grip and steel crescent buttplate. The LOP measures 12 3/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. There is a crack in the left side of the forend at the cap. Overall, the stocks are in Excellent condition.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is defined where not interrupted by erosion. There is light to mild erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 5/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about none of its metal finish. Most of the finish has worn to white and taken to a mottled patina. There is evidence of heavy cleaning and spots having been treated with cold blue. There is general erosion throughout. There are heavy tool marks on the barrel.There are heavy handling marks scattered about the metal. The screw heads are tool marked. The markings are faded but legible. The top front right corner of the bolt is slightly bent. Overall, this rifle is in Poor condition.

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 is one of the most beloved lever-action rifles ever produced, and this example, made in 1900 and chambered in .38-40 WCF, represents a classic configuration with a 24” octagonal barrel and crescent steel buttplate. Designed by John M. Browning, the ’92 action is renowned for its strength and smoothness, and the rifle became a staple of ranchers, lawmen, and homesteaders throughout the American West. The .38-40 cartridge, originally introduced for Winchester’s Model 1873, remained popular into the 20th century for its mild recoil and versatile performance on medium game and varmints. While this rifle has lost most of its original finish and bears the signs of hard use, it still functions and carries the soul of a working frontier firearm.