To my fellow collectors,
I am sure that this is a crazy project to take on but, "sombody has to do it"! I have decided to take on a survey of the entire production run of the Model 1892 rifle in an effort to document the production changes inherent to the model. In this effort I will be scouring the internet, going to more gun shows than my wife will think is sane, and trying to employ as many of you all (or y’all here in Texas) as I can to help me out. I have prepared a couple of documents which have the identified variations I am cataloging and a Q&A page to help define what I am looking for.
Wether you have just one 1892 rifle or 3 dozen of them I will welcome all information received. I assure that all data collected will be confidential and only used for the purpose of this research. Eventually, down the road I will produce an easily readable compilation of the variations and serial number ranges of each with hopefully some significantly more accurate DOM dates.
For those interested in helping, which is ALL of you, please email me and I will forward the information on to you to help you out. Right now I have looked at 300 rifles to date and will hopefully end up well into the thousands "as time goes by". Every rifle will count and hopefully this work will benefit us all in our collecting efforts. I welcome your input and suggestions.
Thanks
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
These kind of surveys are very valuable. They can turn up interesting information that has not yet been discovered or published. I’m doing a similar one for the Winchester Model 53’s and hope to write up a very interesting article soon. This Model 1892 survey is a much bigger project. The late production run Model 92’s have very little information published, and little is known about them. I wish you well on this project.

I just appeared as a new member, but have been around here since 2008 and around Winchester accumulating much longer than that. My old computer imploded, lost everything, so I am starting over.
I have a number of 1892’s and will be happy to add their data to your study. I just PM’d you. Thanks for effort on this project.
Mike
Twobit,
If you happen to run across any 1892 takedown rifles let me know. So far I have data on nearly 400 of them–started this about 7 years ago as a pet project and it has grown from there. I intend to write a research article at some point in time, just havent figured out the magic number of rifles to have in the survey total before beginning.
By the way, any of you out there that have 1892 takedown rifles, I would appreciate you forwarding the information on yours–caliber, barrel shape, mag length, barrel length, buttplate type, wood grade, pg or straight grip, and any additional special order features. Full serial numbers are nice, all but the last one or two digits would do if you feel uncomfortable with providing that information. On a side note, I have found 5 or 6 sets of rifles having consecutive serials, maybe Ive seen your rifles’ mate…
I sent you a pm with my information. Would be glad to help you out in any way I can.
Chris
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
To all of you that have so enthusiastically agreed to join in the effort can I make one little addition to the spreadsheet which I have sent already? In Column "Q" could you add the distance from the front receiver edge or takedown ring to the left most side of the letter "M" in Manufactured? This will probably not come into play for type 4 Barrel addresses. The differences in placement are most noticeable in type 3 addreses relative to the junction of the end cap and forend wood. So far I have noted three different placements. This may develope into a location code of LS-A, LS-B, and T-A, T-B etc eventually, but for now inch measurements will suffice.
Thanks
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
Thanks 44FT. PM sent your way with my contact info (or you can find it in the last couple WACA mag. classifieds under "Wanted".
Twobit, I sent you some more stuff too
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
I just want to say thank you to those who have replied and have sent me data on their rifles. Each rifle will help me. I do appreciate the effort that it takes to set aside some time to characterize your collection.
Chris. FANTASTIC effort!! Twenty rifles, a half dozen photos of each and an excellent spreadsheet and some worthwhile input. I owe you a cold beer or two for sure.
Thanks all. Keep them coming.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
David,
Glad that you received the info. I have added over 60 rifles since I first posted this. The furthest are from Austria and Switzerland! I may have to come up with an award for the furthest rifle from Houston. I have data on SN #1 and have one rifle with SN over 1,000,000!
David,
If you have a Type 1 upper tang rifle there is another variation to note. Besides 1 and 1A there is a range of tangs with a stamp that has no period after the 1884 but does still have the period after the 1882. Call it 1B.
Thanks to all
Keep them coming.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
Michael,
Thanks for the feedback you provided regarding the configuration information I sent you on my rifles. It is very interesting to see how their configuration, by serial number, fits within the serial number ranges that you’ve documented so far. It is nice to get feedback of this nature and I hope you continue to receive information that will paint a clearer picture as to what Winchester was doing throughout the serial number ranges of Model 1892/92 production.
From what I’ve experienced it appears that you are providing valuable feedback to survey respondents while guarding confidentiality! Good luck with your undertaking; it’s nice to have a fresh set of eyes looking at the nuances of this neat little Winchester; which happens to be my favorite!!! 😀
Hope you enjoy pestering the Redfish while I enjoy perusing fine Colts and Winchesters at the Colorado Gun Collectors Association show in Denver; as well as our research trip to Leadville.
Bill
Mark,
Just want to say thanks for the data on your eleven rifles. You are in second place for most rifles added! I sent an email on how they fit and a few clarifications I need. That put me at 406 rifles and rolling along.
I found a shop in Indiana I am going to visit on my way to driving to Michigan later next month. Thanks everyone for the data. Keep them coming.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
Bert,
Thanks for the tip on the SRC rifle. From what data I have so far it appears that the barrel proof stamp on all of the early proofed SRC rifles is located above the rear sight. Due to the rear sight location there is not room for the proof stamp to be located above the caliber stamp as in the early sporting rifles. I have rifles from SN range 310000 to 416000. All of these are .32, .38, or .44 caliber SRC’s.
The only .25-20 caliber rifle is SN 419698 and the barrel proof is located immediately above the caliber stamp since the early .25-20 caliber stamp was done in two lines due to insufficient space for the linear style of caliber stamp. When Winchester moved all caliber stamps to the left side of the barrel, proof stamps were then marked immediately above the receiver.
If anybody has SRC rifles in this range I would love to add them to the survey. In addition, I have a 3400 rifle gap for the earliest proof marked rifle between 306800 and 310200. Any addition to this gap would be greatly appreciated also.
Thanks
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
I sent Michael some info and a few pictures of some 92s to use in his survey. He quickly responded with some interesting observations about the barrel address and proof marks on one of the guns.
I sure do appreciate his efforts, it is a lot of time consuming work. I would like to encourage anyone who has a 92 or knowledge of one to send Michael pictures and/or information for use in his survey. I believe the survey results will prove to be very valuable to 92 collectors.
Bill

I have two well used and Model 1892 .25-20 carbines. One has "gum" wood and a dark bore, but it is highly accurate. That one is my ranch "beater" and it spends months in the jeep. The serial number on that is 76088.
The other gun is in better shape, has nice walnut and a perfect bore. It has the same marks as the other in the photos. The serial number is 867139.
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