Make: Winchester

Model: 1892 Trapper Carbine

Serial Number: 994171

Year of Manufacture: ca. 1928

Caliber: .44-40 Winchester (.44 WCF)

Action Type: Tubular Magazine Fed Lever Action Rifle

Barrel Length: 15", Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade pinned in a slotted base at the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a folding ladder-style sight presenting a "V"-notch when folded down. There is a "U"-notched slider on the ladder arm which is graduated from 0-20. 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 banded forend, straight grip, straight comb and steel carbine-style buttplate. The stocks have scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. There is a small loss at the left-front edge of the forend. The LOP measures 12 3/4" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has gone to a patina with scattered surface erosion. Overall, the stocks are in Good condition.

Type of Finish: Blue

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright with sharp rifling. There is infrequent light erosion in the bore. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 7 or 8 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 5% of its metal finish. Finish remains only in some well protected areas and around raised features. Other surfaces have mostly worn to white or gone to a light patina. There are some scattered light nicks and scratches with infrequent minor erosion. 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 about Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. 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: Included is an October 22, 1981 dated letter, in triplicate, from the BATF exempting this rifle by serial number from the provisions of the NFA and granting it C&R status, signed by Assistant Director C. Michael Hoffman.

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 example is a particularly special piece, a "Trapper" or "Baby" carbine. The standard Carbine had a 20" barrel, but they were available by special order with shorter barrels and this one is 15". Only about one third of one percent of Carbine production had a shorter than standard barrel. The little rifles' significance would increase in 1934 when some very silly people known as "Congressmen" decided that a rifle could have a barrel that was too short. Thankfully, an even sillier group of people at the ATF have designated this particular rifle, by serial number, as exempt from the NFA, so it can be sold without doing too much silly paperwork. The original ATF letter (in triplicate) is included with the rifle. 

The rifle shows its age, but retains a strong bore and good mechanics. It will certainly be of interest to collectors and will make a wonderful addition to even an advanced Winchester collection. Please see our photos and good luck!