Are there any classic Winchester lever action rifle experts on here?

[no woryz]

Just bought one off Cabelas, it’s in Minnesota… guy says it’s a 1892 16.5” barrel in .357… dont have serial # yet… can’t find anything online showing the octagon, but plate & gold accents …wondering if it’s a different model #… I’ll have to wait I guess til it gets here…

 

[ctc1066]

I'm no expert but did a little digging. Winchester did/does make an 1892 Deluxe octagon barrel in .357 in several models but none I have seen or found with your combination of .357, 16 1/2 " octagon barrel except in a Trapper Takedown. The gold accents on yours make me wonder if it is a limited edition for some event or anniversary.

 

[no woryz]

I'm no expert but did a little digging. Winchester did/does make an 1892 Deluxe octagon barrel in .357 in several models but none I have seen or found with your combination of .357, 16 1/2 " octagon barrel except in a Trapper Takedown. The gold accents on yours make me wonder if it is a limited edition for some event or anniversary.

It’s on the way, sent me a partial serial that doesn’t seem right… I reached out to Winchester and they’re going to research the known data…

 

[Duckyou]

You don’t want the octagon barrel if you plan on carrying and shooting it.

It was likely “custom” made combining 2 models.

 

[ctc1066]

It’s on the way, sent me a partial serial that doesn’t seem right… I reached out to Winchester and they’re going to research the known data…

Will be looking forward to seeing pics once you receive it.

 

[ctc1066]

There are so many unicorns when it comes to the 92 and the 94. The early years when special orders were easy and the choices were many. Then you have the ones that didn't quite fit the mold for given years. I have an early 1982 Winchester 94 Trapper that was fortunate enough to miss the transition to AE that year yet seems to have the slightly better steel receiver and better wood.

 

[ammodave]

I had a Win92 trapper takedown with a 16" barrel. Seemed muzzle heavy to me

 

[no woryz]

I had a Win92 trapper takedown with a 16" barrel. Seemed muzzle heavy to me

yes, it was a beauty... I almost bought it...

 

[no woryz]

There are so many unicorns when it comes to the 92 and the 94. The early years when special orders were easy and the choices were many. Then you have the ones that didn't quite fit the mold for given years. I have an early 1982 Winchester 94 Trapper that was fortunate enough to miss the transition to AE that year yet seems to have the slightly better steel receiver and better wood.

that's what this one is starting to look like... I'll know more when it arrives and the full serial # is confirmed... the guys at winchester are waiting for more on it too, it doesn't fit any standard molds he says...

 

[Roaster's Gallery]

Got any images of the roll stamps? Is there any chance it is a Winchester clone?

 

[no woryz]

Got any images of the roll stamps? Is there any chance it is a Winchester clone?

Anything’s possible…if it is I’m sure it will be made right… it should be on its way now to area… no close up images just the photos from sale posting

 

[ctc1066]

I had a Win92 trapper takedown with a 16" barrel. Seemed muzzle heavy to

that's what this one is starting to look like... I'll know more when it arrives and the full serial # is confirmed... the guys at winchester are waiting for more on it too, it doesn't fit any standard molds he

Anything’s possible…if it is I’m sure it will be made right… it should be on its way now to area… no close up images just the photos from sale posting

It just struck me. You were told it is a 16 1/2 inch barrel. 92 as well as 94 Trapper barrels are 16 inches. Now, up until the 40's roughly, Winchester took special orders and would produce a 16 1/2 or almost any length you wanted. If this is a newer one it may have been cut down by a gunsmith. As we know, after market cut downs frequently go a frction over 16 inches to make sure they don't bump into SBR restrictions.

 

[no woryz]

It just struck me. You were told it is a 16 1/2 inch barrel. 92 as well as 94 Trapper barrels are 16 inches. Now, up until the 40's roughly, Winchester took special orders and would produce a 16 1/2 or almost any length you wanted. If this is a newer one it may have been cut down by a gunsmith. As we know, after market cut downs frequently go a frction over 16 inches to make sure they don't bump into SBR restrictions.

I’m leaning toward wrong serial # or mis identified as an 1892…. Guy says it’s an estate sale bring in… definitely leaning to much older but in excellent condition… no tang etc… the gold fore end cap I read designates it’s a “short rifle” by Winchester standards but that’s anything under 20” I think,,,

 

[no woryz]

OK update to this thread… well it was indeed an 1892 that was manufactured in 1899 and it is in a caliber that wasn’t invented until the late 1930s. It appears that there has been a practice of converting old shot out or damaged 1892s into a modern caliber. This presents a lot of problems as the quality of the gunsmith is a huge factor in the safety of that firearm. It has zero collector value so you’d have to want to buy it knowing what it is and I didn’t want that so I bought a different one instead.. I wanted a shooter , so I bought a 1873 from Winchester for 2/3 the price that was made in 2015 when they re-introduced the rifle model… It’s getting processed now and I hope it will be here in a few days. Here’s a photo of the 1873 sporting deluxe in 357.

 

[ctc1066]

OK update to this thread… well it was indeed an 1892 that was manufactured in 1899 and it is in a caliber that wasn’t invented until the late 1930s. It appears that there has been a practice of converting old shot out or damaged 1892s into a modern caliber. This presents a lot of problems as the quality of the gunsmith is a huge factor in the safety of that firearm. It has zero collector value so you’d have to want to buy it knowing what it is and I didn’t want that so I bought a different one instead.. I wanted a shooter , so I bought a 1873 from Winchester for 2/3 the price that was made in 2015 when they re-introduced the rifle model… It’s getting processed now and I hope it will be here in a few days. Here’s a photo of the 1873 sporting deluxe in 357.

The 1873 looks great! Did you return the 1892?

 

[no woryz]

The 1873 looks great! Did you return the 1892?

I paused it 2 days ago & then cancelled yesterday… luckily the guy was busy & it hadn’t shipped… guy was great, he honestly didn’t know about the FrankenChester 1892…I do wonder what he’s going to do with it now….

 

[ctc1066]

I paused it 2 days ago & then cancelled yesterday… luckily the guy was busy & it hadn’t shipped… guy was great, he honestly didn’t know about the FrankenChester 1892…I do wonder what he’s going to do with it now….

FrankenChester, good name for it. Glad it worked out well for you.

 

[no woryz]

FrankenChester, good name for it. Glad it worked out well for you.

I learned a ton of info over the past week about the Winchesters… now I can be a bit more cautious…

 

[Sixgun]

That case color looks great. Jealous.

 

[no woryz]

So the 1873 arrived in Spanish fort Tuesday and I picked it up Thursday… way beyond my expectations… it’s flawless, appears never has been shot but can’t confirm that and was listed way below value so was an absolute steal… in a few days I almost way overpaid for the FrankenChester to getting this rifle… did get 3 cash offers before I could even get out the door with it… very lucky on this one… it’s a Miroku and I wanted an original classic Winchester but this is a great well made rifle…