Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1892

Serial Number: 262045

Year of Manufacture: 1904

Caliber: .38-40 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” in front of the rear sight, and “38 W.C.F.” at the rear near the receiver. The top tang is marked “MODEL 1892 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK”. The bottom of the receiver is marked with the serial number “262045”.

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

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a Lyman 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 elevation adjustable. The top tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight (none included).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a capped forend, straight grip and comb, and crescent steel buttplate. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs, and scratches. The LOP measures 12 7/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has mostly worn to white with some scattered oxidation and surface erosion. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good Condition.

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

Finish Originality: Original

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

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 80% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows operational wear. There is some vibrant case color in the protected areas of the hammer and lever, though the edges and handling areas have gone mostly mute. The receiver retains a good amount of its blue on the flats, while the top and bottom have gradually worn to white at the front, but the bluing gets stronger gradually toward the rear. The top tang has mostly worn to white. There is some light intermittent oxidation and faint patina in the worn areas. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly 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: This rifle comes with a Winchester factory letter from the Cody Firearms Museum confirming this was produced as a “Rifle, 38 caliber, Barrel Shape: Octagon, Plain trigger, Received in warehouse on October 29, 1904, Shipped from warehouse on April 12, 1906, order number 51514.”

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 1904 and is in Fine Condition. It features a 24” octagonal barrel, 80% of its original blued and case-hardened finish, with some pockets of vibrant case coloring on the hammer and lever, elegant two-piece smooth walnut stocks, clear markings, strong mechanics, and a bright bore with sharp rifling and some minor erosion, mainly towards the muzzle-end in the grooves, and comes with a Winchester factory letter from the Cody Firearms Museum confirming its configuration. 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 is a wonderful old ’92 lever rifle.