Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1892

Serial Number: 170289

Year of Manufacture: 1899

Caliber: .38-40 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle fed by Full Length Tubular Magazine

Barrel Length: 24 1/4? (24? nominal), Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed and screw set to the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight; the notch is fine-adjustable for elevation. The top tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a peep sight (none included).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a capped forend, straight grip, and crescent steel buttplate. The stocks have some light nicks and small scratches. There is discoloration at some edges where the wood meets metal. There is a small crack on the left side of the buttstock at the buttplate. The LOP measures 12 7/8? from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has some wear at the heel and toe with some surface erosion. Overall, the stocks are in Fine Condition.

Type of Finish: Blued & Case-hardened

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with some stubborn fouling tucked in the grooves. There is faint erosion. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates at 8/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 60% of its metal finish. The finish is generally strong on the barrel, but the receiver has thinned and taken on a mottled corrosion, patina, and some frost. The case color has muted save for the protected areas. There are a few scratches, scuffs, and nicks. There are infrequent spots of 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 .38 WCF was made in 1899 and is in Fine Condition. It features a 24” octagonal barrel, 60% of its original blued and case-hardened finish, elegantly refinished two-piece smooth walnut stocks (there’s a small crack on the left side of the buttstock at the buttplate), clear markings, strong mechanics, and a mostly bright bore with some stubborn fouling tucked in the grooves and faint erosion. The .38 WCF round is based on the .44-40 cartridge but necked down, giving it a little bit higher velocity. It was once a popular round for hunting small to medium game, as well as for defense. This rifle should be of interest to Winchester collectors, and may still prove to be a fun shooter.