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I finally found a decent Model 1892 rifle with a half octagon barrel. The few I have seen prior have either been in poor condition or too nice for my budget.
The bore is nice and bright. SN is 100784, making it an antique. It can use a good cleaning and will be used at the range regularly. I think this one has seen little use over the years but appears to suffer from poor storage due to the surface rust in spots. Hopefully that will clean up a little.
I think it’s a very nice rifle. I wouldn’t spend a lot of time cleaning up the outside. The rifle has the right, untouched look. You don’t want to over clean it. Am I correct in assuming that is a full magazine? If so, half octagon, solid frame with full magazine are not very common. Good gun, congratulations. Should be a good shooter.
Hello Mark,
I saw that rifle listed by Joe Salter back in December of 2023. Definitely all original and untouched. Could you please post an image of the upper tang? If I have time later today I will address the distribution of 1/2 round barrel and magazine lengths based on what I have found in my survey. It’s going to require a bit of number crunching.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
Well, it’s raining here at the ranch so my work plans are on hold for a bit. Here is a breakdown of the distribution of Model 1892 sporting rifles with half round/octagon barrels:
I have sampled 372 rifles so far.
279 (75%) are solid frame. 40% have full length magazines. 55% are half magazines. 5% are 2/3 or 3/4 length magazines.
93 (25%) are takedown frame. 33% have full length magazines. 67% have half length magazines.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
Hi Michael,
Thanks for the oct/round barrel information. I was going to ask you for that. To be clear, you have cataloged a total of 372 model 1892 rifles with that option? How many rifles have you cataloged total?
It seems the model 1894 rifles with oct/round barrels are a much higher percentage…about 7% from what I’ve seen than the model 1892. I’ve got 4 of them myself.
When I get a chance I’ll email you more information and s pic of the upper tang. I thought I had one and of the overall rifle but cannot seem to find them.
Mark
[email protected] said
Hi Michael,Thanks for the oct/round barrel information. I was going to ask you for that. To be clear, you have cataloged a total of 372 model 1892 rifles with that option? How many rifles have you cataloged total?
It seems the model 1894 rifles with oct/round barrels are a much higher percentage…about 7% from what I’ve seen than the model 1892. I’ve got 4 of them myself.
When I get a chance I’ll email you more information and s pic of the upper tang. I thought I had one and of the overall rifle but cannot seem to find them.
Mark
Mark,
Per my research survey of the Model 1894 Rifles manufactured from May 1907 (s/n 354000) through December 1937 (s/n 1158855), the percentage of ½ Octagon barrels is 10% of the total Rifle production (4,330 documented thus far). The octagon barrels account for 49% of the total production.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
“will be used at the range regularly”, I assume you will be spending a lot of time at the reloading bench. Let us know your load development.
November 7, 2015
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Mark-
I hope the bore is good, the 38WCF is fun to shoot and easy to load and cast for. Toughest part is the inevitable tragic loss of at least a few pieces of brass to the sizing die.
Mike
Congratulations! I especially like the 1/2 octagon. I own a rather ‘plain Jane’ 1892 in 38 W.C.F., but it can put five cast bullets into a 2 & 1//2″ circle at 100 yards. I expect yours will do the same or better.
Yeah, I already spend a lot of time and money at the loading bench. I’ve honed my skills loading 44-40 for a rifle and two Colt clones and I understand that loading the 38-40 has similar issues. Hand loading is one of my favorite parts of the hobby.
I’ll keep good notes as to my loads’ velocity and accuracy.
I also have a plain Jane 1892 in 25-20 that has a dark, rough looking bore but will still shoot 3/4″ groups at 50 yards with jacketed bullets around 1200 FPS. Don’t ask about cast bullets though.
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