Purchase Inspection of an antique 1892|Restoration, Repair and Maintenance|Forum|Winchester Collector

I’d be very cautious buying an older gun off an internet site, especially if not familiar with the model. I’ve made enough mistakes buying guns I could pick up and examine closely. Disassembly of the 1892 is not a task to be approached casually, it’s not generally necessary except when a part needs to be repaired or replaced. If the rifle you’re looking at needs repair my advice would be to keep looking. Quite honestly, though, I’ve learned more about Winchesters and other guns from my mistakes than I have from my better buying decisions. 

Mike

rwt said
Thank you, Gentlemen, for your thoughtful and generous responses.

Is there a good book that shows the various markings that Winchester used on the barrel, receiver and tang at different points in time?.

Thank you again!!

  

  rwt,

 You are on the right track when you mention book. There is no cheaper why to learn about collectable Winchesters than buy and read books. The information and pictures contained gives you a general knowledge of the models you might be interested in. Books containing good pictures and descriptions of the markings of the various model changes help you spot non original guns quickly. Some models are not covered completely in one book and most books covering several models are not complete enough to be useful by themselves. You need to start with a few and add as your interest changes.

 The older Winchesters like the Henry, 1873, 1876, ect have good complete books but when you get in 1900-1930 range only a few models have complete books. If you are looking at 1892’s try Arthur Pirkle’s book “Winchester Lever Action Repeating Firearms Volume 2 The Models of 1886 and 1892”.

 You have the Winchester Forum. T/R

  rwt,

 Colts are simple, believe John Kopec and buy his books. The big Madis book covers a lot of models. I bought it when I started and still use it except for manufacture dates. His research is out dated by new more accurate but the general information is good. The newer books have expanded the details and are usually more model specific. Good examples are Jim Gordon’s “Winchester’s New Model of 1873” two volume set and Charlie Pate’s “The Colt Model 1860 Army Revolver”. These two books are so well done and complete that being out dated won’t happen in my lifetime. If your interest is in a specific model hopefully someone has written a book of that quality. With the price of guns, expensive books are cheap. The more you know about the model the more you enjoy the gun. T/R

Contact Randy.  If he doesn’t have one he may be able to find one for you.

https://rdgunbooks.com/shop/ols/products/winchester-models-1886-1892-vol-2

If Michael is helping you, you are in great hands. 

Since I have been tooling up to make 1892 replacement parts and Winchester replacement barrels.   I have done a ton of research.  Pirkle’s books are great for describing parts even locations.  His dimensions are sometimes off (some by a great deal when you are dealing thousands of an inch)   It is a great resource but not the final word.   I compared everything in his book to actual parts then made drawings for CNC.  

Madis has his good points but like others have said leaves some inconsistencies and gaps.  There is even some myth, hearsay, and legend….. the roll stamps and tang markings are a mess.  Thank the good Lord for Bert and Michael!!! 

I am waiting anxiously for Michael to come out with a 1892 book!!!!  

just my 2 cents worth.  

Sam 

rwt said
Just received the Madis book and read the 1892 section.

Michael has his hands full trying to wrestle that beast. The number of special features, options and a long production run all contribute to make this a difficult model to fully understand and detail.

 I ha en’t pulled out Madis in a while but I do recall that it is lacking in details compared to whta I have learned as a result of the survey with almost 19,000 sampled rifles in it.  Things get a lot clearer with that much information.

Michael