Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1892

Serial Number: 485071

Year of Manufacture: 1909

Caliber: .25-20 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with a Full-Length Tubular Magazine

Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. PATENTED OCTOBER 14. 1884”. The left shoulder of the barrel is marked “25-20 W.C.F.”. The top rear of the barrel and top front of the receiver are marked with Winchester ovalled “WP” proofs. The top tang markings are obscured by the tang sight base. The bottom of the receiver is marked with the serial number “485071”.

Barrel Length: 24”, Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Marble Sheard beaded blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the barrel; the notch is fine adjustable for elevation. The tang is mounted with a Marble tang sight.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a capped forend, straight grip and comb, andcrescent steel buttplate. The bottom of the forend and the belly have been installed with aftermarket sling plates and rings. The stocks have some light nicks, scuffs, and scratches. There are no chips. There is a thin crack in the grain on the left side of the wrist at the receiver. The LOP measures 12 7/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has gone to a patina with surface erosion at the heel and toe. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good Condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is minor erosion throughout the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 7/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 65% of its metal finish. There is thinning on the leading edges with scattered scratches. There is oxidation throughout, and most of the receiver has turned to patina. 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 Very Good 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 previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1892 was introduced as the successor to the iconic “Winchester ’73”, and replaced the toggle link action of the Model 1873 with a breechblock locked with two rectangular locking bolts, making the action much stronger. It was designed by gunmaking genius John Moses Browning, and was essentially a scaled-down version of his Model 1886 rifle, the first he designed for Winchester. The Model 1892 was small and light, and ideal for the classic .44-40 WCF round and similar pistol caliber cartridges. The Model 1892 rifle was popular with ranchers, and later was the lever action of choice for many Western movies and TV shows. John Wayne famously used both M-1892 rifles and carbines in many of his iconic cowboy roles.

This Winchester Model 1892 Lever Action Rifle in .25 WCF was made in 1909 and is in Very Good Condition. It features a 24” octagonal barrel, 65% of its original blued finish, elegant two-piece smooth walnut stocks (there’s a thin crack in the grain on the left side of the wrist at the receiver), a Marble Sheard beaded blade front sight, a Marble tang sight, clear markings, strong mechanics, and a bright bore with sharp rifling and minor erosion. The bottom of the forend and the belly have been installed with aftermarket sling plates and rings. The .25-20 WCF round is still a very viable small game, fur bearing, and trapping cartridge. All told, this is a fine old ’92 lever rifle.