Make: Winchester Repeating Arms

Model: 92 Saddle Ring Carbine

Serial Number: 931075

Year of Manufacture: 1924

Caliber: .25-20 Winchester Center Fire (WCF)

Action Type: Lever Action Carbine with a full length tubular magazine.

Barrel Length: 20” Round

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade pinned into a slotted base fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is aflip-up ladder sight dovetailed into the rear of the barrel. When the ladder sight is folded down, a “U”-notch is presented. When folded up, there is a “U”-notch on the top edge of the ladder’s slide. The right rear face of the ladder is marked with hash lines from “0” to “20”. The upper tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for an aperture sight (none present).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece smooth walnut with a banded forend, straight grip, straight comb, and carbine style curved steel buttplate. The stocks have been refinished, with some of that refinish residing on the edges of the buttplate. The wood to metal fit is good, and there are no cracks or chips. The stock has darkened significantly on the grip. There are a few minor nicks, scratches, and compressions. The LOP measures 12 7/8” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate shows light wear and has gone to a dark patina at the heel and toe. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good Condition as Refinished.

Type of Finish: Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is semi-bright and the rifling is well-defined. There is light erosion throughout the grooves. There is minor corrosion on the muzzle. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 8/10.

Overall Condition: This carbine retains about 70% of its metal finish. There is thinning and finish loss on the leading edges. Most of the metal has turned to a dark patina. The left side of the receiver shows a few small spots of surface frosting, freckled corrosion, and rings of thinning in the patina from the saddle ring, along with a few light marks. The screw heads are mostly sharp, with a few having light marks. The markings are clear. Overall, this carbine rates in about Very Good Condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The lever operates smoothly and the trigger is crisp. The hammer has a half-cock safety. We did not fire this carbine. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

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 92 Saddle Ring Carbine was made in 1924 and is in Very Good Condition. It features a 20” barrel, 70% of its original blued finish, with some distinct thinning in the patina on the left side of the receiver from saddle ring movement, consistent with being stored in a moving buggy, carriage, or saddle scabbard while on horseback, the original two-piece smooth walnut stocks that have been elegantly refinished (some of that refinish resides on the edges of the buttplate), and a semi-bright bore with well-defined rifling (there is light erosion throughout the grooves, and there is minor corrosion on the muzzle). The .25-20 is still a very viable small game, fur bearing, and trapping cartridge. This Model 92 Saddle Ring Carbine will make a great addition to a Winchester collection.