Model 1892 Research Survey|Winchester Research Surveys|Forum|Winchester Collector

Hello to all,Especially those with a Winchester Model 1892/92 rifle. I have been working on a survey of this line of rifle for more than 4 years now and have cataloged almost 7500 rifles to date. Much of this effort is the result of scouring on line auctions and dealers sites but has also included a couple of museum collections and thankfully the input from collectors and folks who own one or more. Some have wanted to know “what it is worth?” and other what is it?

There are wonderful reference books covering the 1873 by Gordon, the 1894/94 by Renneberg and the slide action rim fire rifle by Schwing. But there is little comprehensive and accurate information to assist those collecting the Model 1892. So, like those before me, and those presently working on other Winchester rifles I am trying to collect as much information on as many of these rifles as possible. Your gun does not need to be fancy, unique, high condition, or anything out of the ordinary. It just needs to be a Model 1892/92 and have a legible serial number on it in order to be part of this effort.

I would like you to read through the following information and you can either tell me how your rifle matches the individual photos or send me a series of photos via email that show the overall configuration and ones that show the barrel address, caliber stamp, upper tang stamp and the serial number. Either way is fine with me. I would prefer that you individually email me instead of through this forum thread. I believe it will be simpler to keep each person and rifle better organized instead of having to sift back through the questions and answers. My email address is: [email protected]

Grab your rifle(s) and let’s get started.
1. Full serial number. Partials do not allow me to be certain that I have not already logged the gun into the work. If the gun is in the 100,000 range do the 1’s look like an “L” or inverted “T”?

2. What is the configuration of the gun? Sporting rifle, saddle ring carbine, carbine, or musket?

3. What is the shape and length of the barrel? On sporting rifles is it round, octagon, or half round?

4. What is the style of the butt stock? Crescent rifle, carbine, or shotgun? With or without a pistol grip? Any checkering done to the wood?

5. On sporting rifles is the frame a solid or take down style?
Solid Frame:

Takedown Frame:

6. What is the caliber of the gun and is it marked on the top or left side of the barrel? If you have a saddle ring carbine in 25-20 is the caliber stamp done in two lines?

7. Compare your rifle’s barrel address to the series of photos and which one does it match exactly? Is the stamp on the top, left side, or right side of the barrel?
Type 1

Type 1B

Type 1C

Type 1D

Type 2

Type 3

Type 4

8. Compare your rifle’s upper tang stamp to the following series of photos and which one does it match exactly?
If you have a Type 1, if there is no period at the end of 1884 on bottom line it is a 1B
If there is no period at the end of either the upper or lower line it is a Type 1A

Type 1

Type 2

Type 2A If you have a Type 2A is the “MOD 1892” stamped perpendicular to the length of the tang just under the hammer? Please note which you have.

Type 2A Alt

Type 3

Type 4  Look especially close at the bottom line for the inclusion of “& FGN” for the type 4 style.

Type 5

Type 6

Type 7

9. On early guns does the hammer have the `widow’s peak’ indentation on the upper edge?

10. What front and rear sight are on the rifle? Photos might be easier here.  Please send them to my email.

11. On saddle ring carbines in the +940,000 range please check closely as to the position of the rear sight dovetail relative to
the Model designation on the left side of the barrel. Which photo below does it match?
Position A

Position B

12. How are the Winchester Proof stamps located on the rifle?
In Line Proofs

Forward Proofs Only found on some saddle ring carbines

Top Proofs

Bottom Proofs.  Rarely found on Carbines