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March 31, 2025
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Hello
I have an 1892 44-40 Carbine (#99958) mfg in August 1898. It hung on the wall for decades at my Dad’s old house as decoration. He probably bought it in the 1950s at an army surplus store. He never fired it. I inherited it when he died. I had it for years until I took a look at it. I posted earlier under another topic that I was surprised that the gun seemed to work well and the rifling was clear in the barrel. My thing is a concern about firing this gun with modern ammunition. I have two questions:
1. When the lever is open and fully extended there is about an inch of play in the lever, going backwards and forwards, where the lever and breech bolt assembly move with minimal effort. Does this sound right? When the lever, and the breech bolt, are closed everything is solid and locked in place. No movement what so ever.
2. Should I be worried about headspace issues with this gun? As far as I know, all the parts are original including the Breech bolt assembly and the extractor. As I said, everything locks up perfectly when the lever is closed and the firing pin hits dead center on the snap caps.
Obviously, I’m concerned about a 127 year old gun blowing up in my face at the range. I did a thorough tear-down and cleaning, replaced all the springs and the gun appears to be in good working order. I’m just being supper safe.
Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance
March 20, 2009
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vociferous1 said
Hello
I have an 1892 44-40 Carbine (#99958) mfg in August 1898. It hung on the wall for decades at my Dad’s old house as decoration. He probably bought it in the 1950s at an army surplus store. He never fired it. I inherited it when he died. I had it for years until I took a look at it. I posted earlier under another topic that I was surprised that the gun seemed to work well and the rifling was clear in the barrel. My thing is a concern about firing this gun with modern ammunition. I have two questions:
1. When the lever is open and fully extended there is about an inch of play in the lever, going backwards and forwards, where the lever and breech bolt assembly move with minimal effort. Does this sound right? When the lever, and the breech bolt, are closed everything is solid and locked in place. No movement what so ever.
2. Should I be worried about headspace issues with this gun? As far as I know, all the parts are original including the Breech bolt assembly and the extractor. As I said, everything locks up perfectly when the lever is closed and the firing pin hits dead center on the snap caps.
Obviously, I’m concerned about a 127 year old gun blowing up in my face at the range. I did a thorough tear-down and cleaning, replaced all the springs and the gun appears to be in good working order. I’m just being supper safe.
Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Hello vociferous1
Are you sure about that serial number? SN 99958 was originally manufactured as a round barreled sporting rifle with a shotgun butt stock. Please post or send me several photos of the rifle including all areas of stamped writing. [email protected]
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
March 31, 2025
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Michael,
Yes. The # is 99958. Not easy to see due to pitting on the metal. It does not come through in photographs. But, as you can see, it is a carbine with the short magazine tube. I have the letter from the Cody Museum for its authenticity. Not sure where you’re getting your info.
But do you have anything that could help me with my questions? Anything might help.
Art
March 31, 2025
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Sorry. Here’s the photo
March 20, 2009
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vociferous1 said
Sorry. Here’s the photo
Send them to my email. [email protected] Include one of the upper tang of the receiver also please.
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
May 2, 2009
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Art,
A quick and dirty way to check it at least with the 73’s is to get an empty shell or you can use a full one and check that it seats fully into the chamber by hand first. Then close the action then compare how much force it takes to close it the last little bit where the bolt would be pressing on the rim of the shell verses an empty chamber. With a 73 there is a noticeable force applied to the shell rim. If it’s pinching the rim you don’t have a head space issue. If it loose then you will have to get a gunsmith to measure it and determine if its ok.
The other way to tell if you have a head space issue but requires it to be fired is after you fire it you look at the primer to see if it backing out or being extruded beyond the rim face. There was an article I read many years ago by a guy that test the affects of oil in the chamber. He was able to fire a 92 with the locking bars removed and the bolt face backed off the rim and the only issue was the primer backing out but with oil in the chamber the shell would back out. Now if this was a bigger cartridge with more powder it my not work.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
March 31, 2025
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Thanks Bob. I’ll try that tomorrow. I may be concerned about nothing but I want to be as sure as I can be.
Art
March 31, 2025
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twobit said
vociferous1 said
Sorry. Here’s the photo
Send them to my email. [email protected] Include one of the upper tang of the receiver also please.
Michael – Here are a few photos. As I said, it’s almost impossible to see the serial number in photos. Why the interest?
Art
April 15, 2005
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Your Model 1892 is a Sporting Rifle… not a Carbine.
This is what a Model 1892 Carbine looks like;
On the CFM letter you have, what does it have listed for the “Type”?
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 20, 2009
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Bert H. said
Your Model 1892 is a Sporting Rifle… not a Carbine.
This is what a Model 1892 Carbine looks like;
On the CFM letter you have, what does it have listed for the “Type”?
Bert
The barrel and magazine have clearly been cut down from their original length.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
March 31, 2025
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Bert H. said
Your Model 1892 is a Sporting Rifle… not a Carbine.
This is what a Model 1892 Carbine looks like;
On the CFM letter you have, what does it have listed for the “Type”?
Bert
Ok. I’ll find it and post it.
March 31, 2025
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Well, of course, I can’t find the CFM letter anywhere. I always assumed it was a carbine with a shorter mag tube because of the barrel length (20″ from barrel end to bolt). I see now that the sporting riles typically had barrels of 24″. But I also see that sporting rifles did come in 20″ barrel lengths. The screw holding the short magazine tube to the barrel is definitely machined which to me would suggest factory made.
The exterior of the rifle is beat to crap but the internal parts are in good shape with clear rifling and no rust. I want to shoot it for my Dad who died almost 20 years ago. He always wanted to take the rifle out and shoot it but never got around to it. Bert, you already answered a question for me regarding modern ammunition, so I’m good with smokeless Black Hills cowboy rounds 200 grain. I’m just leery shooting such an old gun.
Thanks for taking an interest in my project.
November 7, 2015
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Sounds like the perfect wall hanger. Lots of character, memories and a fun gun to shoot. It’s not terribly valuable so it will be safe to display under most circumstances.
Mike
