Winchester 1892 Used for the American Express Co Stagecoaches as Protector Rifles|Winchester Rifles|Forum|Winchester Collector

Hello Ralph,

First, if it is a 1912 production Model 1892, it is not an “antique”.  In order to qualify as an “antique” per Federal regulation, the date of manufacture must be something before January 1st, 1899.

While I am not 100% sure, it is my belief that stages coaches had gone the way of the Do-Do birds by the year 1912.

“As the railroad continued to push westward, stagecoach service became less and less in demand. With the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, transcontinental stage-coaching came to an end.

However, this was not the end of the stagecoach, as it continued to be utilized in areas without railroad service for several more decades. In the end, it was actually, the introduction of the automobile that led to the end of the stagecoach in the early 1900’s.”

I suspect that your Model 1892 may have seen service on the railway routes.

Bert

Ralph Lorenz said
Hi Bert,

Thank you for clarifying the Antique standards, I was not aware. Let’s say “Vintage” then. Regarding your statement about stage coaches, I guess my question shifts to what would American Express have used them for in the early 1900s? I shared some images via the link below and I welcome any additional feedback you have. This rifle has been in my family for 50+ years and we’ve always had lots of questions.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wkccxvir30az7nc/AACVGkmcb1Qhu0pR7AW_CfBXa?dl=

  

Ralph,

The term that best describes any Winchester manufactured in the years 1899 – 1973 is “Curio & Relic” or simply “C&R”.

I believe that it could have been used as a guard gun on a railway route, or an early form of a Brinks Armored truck.

Bert