Make: Winchester Repeating Arms
Model: 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine
Serial Number: 664805
Year of Manufacture: 1912 / C&R
Caliber: .44 W.C.F.
Action Type: Lever action with full-length tubular magazine.
Barrel Length: 20", Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade pinned to a base integral to the barrel. The rear sight is a folding carbine style ladder sight, dovetailed to the barrel. The upper tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for a tang sight, none present.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece smooth wood with banded forend, straight grip, straight comb, with a steel carbine buttplate. There is modest handling wear. There are scratches, nicks, and compressions. There are brass rivets decorating each side of the buttstock. There were rivets that were removed from the forend and then finished over. The stocks have been refinished. There is a crack in the bottom of the forend at the front. There is excessive dried finish, especially on the forend. The LOP is 12 3/4" from the front of the trigger to the rear of the buttplate. The plate has intermittent corrosion and wear at the heel and toe. Overall, the stocks rate in Fair condition as custom 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. There is a squib ring about an inch from the muzzle. In this writer's opinion the bore rates 6/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 40% of its original finish. Most of the finish on the receiver has worn to white and taken to a mottled patina. The barrel, magtube, and rear of the receiver hold most of the remaining finish with intermittent thinning. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are lightly tooled but serviceable. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates 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 was John M. Browning’s compact adaptation of the Model 1886 action, developed to replace the Model 1873 while retaining Winchester’s established revolver-length cartridges. Light, quick-handling, and mechanically strong, the Model 1892 was offered in rifle, carbine, and musket configurations, with the 20-inch saddle ring carbine in .44 W.C.F. representing one of its most recognizable and traditionally desirable forms.
This 1912-production carbine retains about 40% of its original blue finish, with the receiver largely worn to gray metal and mottled patina while the barrel and magazine tube retain stronger finish. The custom-refinished stocks show considerable wear, decorative brass rivets, evidence of removed forend rivets, excessive dried finish, and a crack at the front of the forend. The bore remains bright with sharp rifling, though the squib ring near the muzzle materially affects its condition rating and warrants professional inspection before firing. The action functions correctly, and the classic .44 W.C.F. chambering, saddle ring configuration, and honest service wear give this Winchester considerable Old West character.
