Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 1892 Rifle

Serial Number: 562042

Year of Manufacture: 1909

Caliber: .38-40 WCF

Action Type: Lever Action, Tubular Magazine Fed

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 “38 W.C.F.”. The top of the barrel and chamber ring are marked with Winchester WP proofs. The top tang is marked “MODEL 1892 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK.REG.IN PAT.OFF”. The bottom of the receiver is marked “562042”.

Barrel Length: 24″ Nominal, 24 1/4″ Measured, Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed and screw set to the barrel. The rear sight is a Marbles inversible v/u-notch sight with fine elevation adjustment dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight has been replaced.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece smooth wood with straight grip, straight comb, crescent buttplate, and capped forend. The stocks have mild handling wear with a few more notable scrapes that have darkened on the buttstock. There is a deep scratch along the bottom of the forend that appears to have begun forming a crack but it does not run into the edges of the forend. The LOP measures 12 7/8" from the front of the trigger to the rear of the buttplate. Overall the stocks rate in Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blued, Case Color Hammer & Lever

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with defined rifling. There is light erosion throughout the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 6.5/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 15% of its metal finish. The case color has gone mostly mute. Most of the finish on the receiver has worn to white with extensive thinning along the length of the barrel. The action shows operational wear. There is intermittent oxidation. Most of the blue on the magtube remains. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in 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 used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1892 is one of the most beloved lever-action rifles ever produced, combining the elegance of 19th-century craftsmanship with the practicality of a lightweight, smooth-cycling action designed by none other than John Browning. This 1909 production rifle is chambered in .38-40 Winchester, a classic medium-power cartridge favored by hunters and ranchers alike for its flat trajectory and manageable recoil. The 24” round barrel gives this example the balance and handling characteristics that made the ‘92 a favorite in both working and sporting environments. Though finish has largely thinned to a patina and the rear sight has been replaced with a Marble’s adjustable unit, the rifle remains complete, mechanically sound, and ready to be appreciated by a new generation of collectors.

While the stocks show honest wear and a forend scratch that may indicate the start of a crack, the wood is structurally sound and consistent with a rifle that saw use but was never abused. The bore still retains defined rifling with light erosion and would likely group reasonably well with appropriate lead loads. For collectors, cowboy action shooters, or students of early 20th-century American firearms, this Winchester Model 1892 offers authenticity, history, and charm. Whether added to a working collection or used as a candidate for gentle restoration, this rifle is a genuine artifact of America’s lever-gun legacy.