Make: Winchester

Model: 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine

Serial Number: 796202

Year of Manufacture: 1915

Caliber: .32-20 WCF

Action Type: Lever Action Rifle with Side Loading Gate fed by Tubular Magazine

Barrel Length: 20”, Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade pinned to a slotted base fixed to the barrel in front of the front band. The rear sight is a "V"-notch dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The sights are not original to the gun, the rear sight is loose in its dovetail. The top tang is drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (none present).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a banded forend, straight grip, straight comb, and steel carbine-style buttplate. There is a short crack at the rear of the bottom tang and a small loss at the top-front corner of the wrist on the left. The stocks have scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches, most are finished over. The LOP measures 12 3/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate shows treatment with cold blue and scattered surface erosion. Overall, the stocks rate in Good condition as refinished.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Refinished, the magazine tube is not original to the gun.

Bore Condition: The bore is light gray with well defined rifling. There is scattered light erosion and minor pitting in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 6 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 10% of its current metal finish. The new magazine tube retains strong finish. Other surfaces have gone to a mottled patina. There are scattered tool marks on the barrel, most notable around the rear sight dovetail. The bottom of the barrel has a notch just in front of the forend, indicating the original magazine was half-length. The saddle ring is missing from the receiver staple. There is scattered erosion. There are scattered nicks and scratches. The magazine appears to be bent slightly (see Mechanics). The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with usable slots. The markings range from clear to worn, but legible. Overall, this rifle is in Fair-Good condition as refinished and not parts-original.

Mechanics: The lever appears bent slightly, coming into contact with the bottom tang before the locking lugs are all the way up. Otherwise, the action functions correctly. We did not fire this firearm. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: This is a Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine made in 1915, before production of the model began to drop off during the Great Depression. The rifle is chambered in .32-20 Winchester and has a 20″ round barrel. This rifle is in Fair-Good condition, having had a new magazine and sights installed, refinished, and with odd tool marks on the barrel. The lever appears to be bent slightly, preventing the locking lugs from going all the way up when the action is closed. The 1892 is a classic Winchester lever gun, making appearances in a wild array of Western movies and television shows as well as seeing extensive use all across America as a hunting and utility rifle. This rifle should be of interest to the Winchester collectors and would be a good candidate for restoration. Please see our photos and good luck!