Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1892

Serial Number: 455114

Year of Manufacture: 1908

Caliber: .32-20 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)

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

Barrel Length: 24”, Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass blade dovetailed and screw set to the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The top tang is drilled and tapped, and the tang sight screw is missing.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a capped forend, straight grip and comb, and a crescent smooth steel buttplate. The stocks have scattered compression marks. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has taken a deep patina throughout. The stocks have been lacquered, some of which has dried on the buttplate. Overall, the stocks rate in about Fine Plus Condition as Refinished.

Type of Finish: Blued, with a Case-hardened lever, hammer, and buttplate.

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is minor erosion in the muzzle-end. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates at 8/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% of its metal finish. The barrel has generally strong finish with a few light scratches and scuffs. There are light scratches on the receiver, and there’s surface oxidation. There is some thinning on the edges of the receiver and barrel. Most of the finish loss is on top of the bolt. Most of the case color has muted but is visible in the protected areas. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. There is dried residue from the stock on the tangs, and the sides of the barrel where the wood meets the metal. Overall, this rifle is in Fine Condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety. 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 .32 WCF was made in 1908 and is in Fine Condition. It features a 24” octagonal barrel, 90% of its original blued and case-hardened finish, elegantly refinished two-piece smooth walnut stocks with a beautiful grain, clear markings, and a mostly bright bore with sharp rifling and minor erosion in the muzzle-end. The top tang is drilled and tapped, and the tang sight screw is missing. Introduced in 1882, .32-20 WCF was Winchester's pioneering small-game lever-action cartridge, well suited for hunting small game, varmints, and deer. This rifle has tremendous eye appeal, and would be a fine addition to a Winchester collection.