Bill,
Thanks for the kind words. Wonderful additions of a couple of fantastic rifles to your collection. WOW!
Mike,
I’ll send you some additional reference material tomorrow for the rifles.
Thanks to all for the data on your rifles. I picked up 7 more during the lunch hour today. I am just a few over 800 now.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
I recently sent michael the info on my 92’s, and had a response the next day. I think its fantastic he is doing this, and that everybody here should help him by sending the info he is looking for. He had some interesting information for me, and I’m sure he would for you also. Lets all step up and help him out. The more info he has, the more accurate the results will be

I sent Michael data on five 1892’s I have. He quickly got back to me with an analysis of all five. We have identified a very odd one that has us both puzzled. Maybe its unusual or maybe not but it’s the chase to figure it out that is a lot of fun and very educational.
We really do need more work on the 1892’s, and it looks like Michael is doing it. While there is Renneberg’s fine book and the ARMAX ’95 study for the 1894’s (among other very good references) I haven’t found nearly as much on the 1892’s.
If you have any of them consider adding them to Michael’s data base. I know he had at least 1150 1892’s catalogued after mine were added and surely more by now.
Attaboy Michael!
Mike
twobit said
I do not have my files with me right now at the office but I believe there are at least 4 maybe a fifth. I’ll be glad to pass along what I have to you.Michael
I would like a copy of that information as well, as the Model 65s are nearly all in the 1-million+ serial range.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert & Kirk,
The data has been sent via PM to you both. It ended up I only had 3 in the plus million range.
Lowey,
I look forward to some more "southern" rifles. Send all you can and tell your friends please.
Thanks
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation

Hello Twobit; I just bought a 1892 Winchester 38-40. Serial # is 262603. It has a octagon barrel that is 20 inch. They tell me it has been cut off but it was certainly well done if that is true.
James [email protected]
Hello James,
Never believe "They". Especially for this rifle. The Cody Firearms Museum has the original hand written production ledgers for the first 379,999 Model 1892 rifles which were made. There are a couple of small gaps from 344200-345099, and 374850-376199 which are omitted. Whenever you are comtemplating a purchase of a rifle falls within this serial number range it is extremely wise to ‘check with Cody’ as to the original configuration of the rifle. I have seen many rifles that are not in the original factory configuration. This is even more critical when looking at a rifle that is not standard.
The rifle you purchased was a standard 24" octagon barrel when it left the factory. It has undoubtedly been cut down. Just because it looks good doesn’t imply that it must be right. There were many talented people who could have done the work. Even way back when. Don’t think some guy put it in a vise in the garage and used a hack saw.
As I mentioned in your earlier post on the forum 20 inch octagon barrel rifles are looking to be quite a minority of the production. As such, one that can be proven to be correct via Cody would justify a nice value premium. Your rifle on the other hand should suffer a significant deduction as a result of its non-original condition.
Could you send me some photos of the barrel address, caliber stamp, and upper tang stamp please? I’ll add it to the survey with a notation as to the shortened barrel.
Thanks
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation

Two-Bit, the man I bought it from didn’t claim it was anything other than what it is. He just said he’d had it for about 30 years. I wasn’t looking for a collectable as I can’t afford one. I thought it was a nice 1892 for my grandson collection, which I have increased to over 50 rifles and handguns. I was just curious if it could possibly be a silk purse when I knew it was really a sows ear. I’ll send you the photos I have that were sent to me by the seller.
James
Good morning Kirk,
Yes, I recal your rifle now. I have all the photos and the extra information you sent. Thanks. Does the number one look like the capital letter "L" on yur rifle? The 100,000 series serial number guns have lots that are marked that way. At least half of the 100 rifles surveyed thus far.
It is interesting that the barrel address on Carbines are different than those found on the rifles within the same SN range. The style found on your rifle, with the dash only on the bottom line, was only used on either the round barrel sporting rifle or carbines. The octagon barrel rifles have dashes before and after both lines of print. This stamp style also can be found occasionally for at least another 100,000 rifles after yours to SN 287849, on a carbine, even though the barrel address had changed twice by then on RB or OB sporting rifles.
The tang stamp on your rifle is one of the three variation with the same wording and only changing by the presence or lack of the periods after 1892 and 1884. The patent date was omitted from the bottom line and the words TRADE MARK inserted aroun SN 250000.
Thanks for the data on your rifle.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
Hello Don,
That is fantastic! Thanks so much for agreeing to help out. This little project keeps growing and I spend 3 or 4 hours a day working on it. Just a few thousand more rifles and it should be very helpful to everybody. As long as my flyrods don’t get too lonely I can work on it.
I have sent a PM and look forward to cataloging your collection.
Thanks
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
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