Winchester Model 1892 - .357 Magnum

[Baldrik78]

So I went up to my great aunt's this past holiday, to visit family and take advantage of some open spaces to do some shooting. While I'm there, she pulls this out of the closet and tells me I'm welcome to shoot it -it hasn't seen daylight in ages. In the same rifle case was what I think is a Model 19 .357 magnum with a 6" barrel. See here - http://www.bayoushooter.com/forums/showthread.php?119824-Model-19-357-magnum&p=1327605#post1327605

I only have the vaguest of ideas of what I have in my hands. I can read the model number and caliber and it most certainly works with .38 and .357 magnum. I have no idea how old it is or what it's worth. It was picked up in a trade by my great aunt's father-in-law, who I was either not alive or old enough to have met.

So, here's some pics.

 

[Gator 45/70]

Nice !!!

I believe they are still being made, Value wise is what someone will pay for it...

It does look to only being lightly used from your picture's.

 

[Cleburne]

Very nice Model 92. Wood looks to be replacement, but I'm no expert on vintage Winchesters.

 

[Baldrik78]

It's got a few little rust spots on the receiver and barrel, but it functions very well. I've got an 18" steel plate hung at about 70 yards out there and I missed it twice in 60 shots, no rest and I'm mediocre at best with long guns. I think I shot better with the lever gun than I did with my AR.

 

[Baldrik78]

Just FYI, I don't actually own these guns, so they are not for sale. Sorry guys

 

[hunter5567]

Its a Winchester that has been rechambered to 357 magnum. Winchester never made the 92 in 357 magnum back then but lots were reworked and rechambered to 357 magnum or 44 magnum. The original Winchester 92's were chambered in 218 Bee, 25-20, 32-20, 38-40, and 44-40. Rossi 92's were chambered in 357 magnum, 44 magnum, 44-40, and 45 Colt. Browning had the B92 in 357 magnum and 44 magnum. Winchester does have the 92 in 357 magnum made in Japan by Miroku which is the same company that made the Browning B92 but these are new production with a tang safety on them.
Still its a darn nice rifle. I have a Browning B92 in 44 magnum which were made to original Winchester 92 specs.

 

[Baldrik78]

Ok, so googling the SN says the receiver is from 1903. So it's been rechambered to .357 and probably reblued, since the blueing looks so nice. Is there anyway to tell what it was originally chambered in?

 

[BillnLA]

Is there anything stamped on top of the barrel just in front of the receiver? That is where the caliber is "normally" stamped. Of course, if it has been rebarrelled, then it may not say. The elevator for the rear sight may be covering the marking.

 

[Baldrik78]

It says .357 Magnum on the barrel. I can't get that to show well in a cell phone pic, but it is there, just to the left side of the rear sight.

 

[Baldrik78]

I called Winchester today and they confirmed the serial number to be from 1903. They couldn't provide any other useful information on it, other than it had certainly been rebarreled and that is most likely started life as a 32-20 or a 38-40. They said I could call the Cody(?) Archive and possibly get a bit more information, but they charge somewhere in the area of $70 to do a look up.

 

[BillnLA]

Yup. The Cody Museum in Wyoming can provide you with a certificate that has the exact configuration of the rifle as well as the date it was built and originally shipped. Some might say the guns "birth certificate". But it does cost about that much to get one. I considered getting one for my Winchester 1892, it is chambered in 38-40 and is the octagon barrel sporting rifle configuration. Mine was mf'd in 1906. Good luck in your search