Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1892

Serial Number: 702174

Year of Manufacture: 1913

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

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

Markings: The left shoulder of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A. PATENTED OCTOBER 14.1884.”, and “-MODEL 92-WINCHESTER-32 W.C.F.- / -TRADE MARK-”. The top rear of the barrel and the top front of the receiver have ovalled “WP” proof marks. The top tang is marked “MODEL 1892 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK REG. IN U.S.PAT.OFF”. The bottom of the receiver is marked with the serial number “702174”.

Barrel Length: 24”, Octagonal. The barrel is a Winchester factory original from the 1920s, as distinguished by the “Model 92” marking, which likely post-dates the receiver by about a decade. We suspect that Winchester installed this barrel at a later date.

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a “U”-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight dovetailed to the barrel; the notch is fine elevation adjustable. The top of the bolt has a bolt peep sight.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a capped forend, straight grip and comb, and a crescent steel buttplate. The stocks have some light nicks, scuffs, and scratches. There are no chips or cracks. They have been sanded and refinished. The stocks fit a little shy to the metal. The LOP measures 12 7/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has gone to a light patina with surface erosion at the heel and toe. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good Condition as Refinished.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates at 10/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% of its metal finish. There is minor thinning on the leading edges with a few scattered scratches. There is scattered oxidation. 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 Fine 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 .32 WCF was made in 1913 and is in Fine Condition. It features a 24” octagonal barrel, 90% of its crisp, original blued finish, elegantly refinished two-piece smooth walnut stocks with a slightly shy fit to the metal, a peep sight on the top of the bolt, clear markings, strong mechanics, and a bright bore with sharp rifling and no erosion. The barrel is a Winchester factory original from the 1920s, as distinguished by the “Model 92” marking, which likely post-dates the receiver by about a decade. We suspect that Winchester installed this barrel at a later date. 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 would be a fine addition to a Winchester collection.