Original Item: Only One Available. This is something that we have never had before! The Winchester Model 1892, known as "John Wayne's favorite gun", was designed by John Browning to be a smaller and lighter version of the Model 1886. As part of this, it was available in a rarely seen "Takedown" version, which would easily fit into a smaller case for transportation. The design features a magazine tube that unscrews from the front, and then the barrel can be removed. The barrel is held in the receiver by interrupted threads, so it only needs to be turned 90 degrees to be unlocked. Really a design ahead of its time!

This excellent example of a Winchester Model 1892 Takedown Rifle is in the popular .38-40 caliber (Marked 38 W.C.F above the chamber) with a desirable 24 inch octagonal barrel and full-length magazine tube. Features the classic front sight with a nickel blade and the iconic "buckhorn" adjustable rear sight. Serial number 43295 denotes year of manufacture as 1894, the third year of production.

This rifle comes with an original factory letter from the Winchester Museum at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming, which has been laminated in plastic. This would later become the "Buffalo Bill Center of the West" at the Cody Firearms Museum, which now houses the original Winchester factory records. The letter is printed on WINCHESTER REPEATING Fire Arms letterhead, and dated August 25, 1987, and is signed by Curatorial Secretary Gael. L. Oswalt with a raised seal.

It indicates that serial number 43295 is a Rifle in 38 caliber with an Octagon barrel and a Plain Trigger, and that it is a Takedown rifle. The order for this rifle was received in the warehouse October 10, 1895, and shipped on September 12, 1896, which is definitely a substantial period of time. Winchester records also indicate that the rifle was originally made in 1894, so we assume that the take down rifles were made to order from pre-existing parts, otherwise we cannot explain the time it took for the rifle to ship. The letter also indicates that the rifle was Returned and repaired on November 6, 1903, and there is unfortunately no other information available, so we do not know what exactly the reason for the return, or what was done. Definitely some interesting history!

The rifle is really in lovely condition, with the address marking on top of the barrel still fully legible:

The receiver tang still has the correct Winchester markings fully intact and easily legible:

MODEL 1892.
- WINCHESTER -
PAT. OCT. 14.1884.

The take down magazine is marked with -- PAT. JUNE 6. 1893 --, as is correct. The original walnut stocks are in excellent condition, with a lovely dark red brown color and great finish. they show only minor wear, and both the fore stock and butt stock have some lovely curl to the grain. This is especially true with the fore stock, which is almost "burl" walnut in places. The butt stock features a crescent butt plate without a storage compartment.

The metal work still retains much of the original bluing throughout the rifle, except on the muzzle of the barrel and end of the magazine, which look to have been in contact with a case or something similar, which caused some light oxidation and loss of the finish. There is a bit of this on the butt plate as well, and there is some wear around the receiver, but overall this is a great looking rifle.

The action is in fully functional condition and cycles well, with no sticking. The rifle takedown feature works correctly as well. Please note that the action must be open to remove the barrel. The bore on this rifle is in very good condition, showing a bright finish with clear lands and grooves. There is just a bit of wear and evidence of cleaning to remove oxidation and fouling. We would rate this bore a 9 out of 10.

A fantastic example of a rare Takedown Winchester Model 1892, complete with an original factory letter and ready to display!

Specifications-

Year of Manufacture: 1894
Caliber: .38-40 Winchester
Cartridge Type: Centerfire Cartridge
Barrel Length: 24 Inches
Overall Length: 41 3/4 Inches
Action type: Lever Action Repeater
Feed System: 14-round tube magazine

The Winchester Model 1892 was a lever-action repeating rifle designed by John Browning as a smaller, lighter version of his large-frame Model 1886, and which replaced the Model 1873 as the company's lever-action for pistol-caliber rounds such as the .44-40.

When asked by Winchester to design an improved pistol caliber lever action, John Browning said he would have the prototype completed in under a month or it would be free. Within 2 weeks, Browning had a functioning prototype of the 92. Calibers for the rifle vary and some are custom-chambered. The original rounds were the .32-20, .38-40, and .44-40 Winchester centerfire rounds, followed in 1895 by the new .25-20. A few Model 92's chambered for .218 Bee were produced in 1936-38.

The Winchester Models 53 (1924) and 65 (1933) were relabeled Model 1892's. Admiral Robert E. Peary carried an 1892 on his trips to the North Pole. and Secretary of War Patrick Hurley was presented with the one millionth rifle on December 13, 1932.

1,007,608 Model 1892 rifles were made by Winchester, and although the company phased them out by 1945, they are still being made under the Puma label by the Brazilian arms maker, Rossi, by Chiappa Firearms, an Italian factory, and by Browning in Japan. In its modern form, using updated materials and production techniques, the Model 1892's action is strong enough to chamber high pressure handgun rounds, such as .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .454 Casull. Despite being designed for smaller cartridges, the 1892's dual forward locking-block action is actually stronger than Browning's rear-locked Model 1894.

The '92 goes to Hollywood
Although the Model 1892 made its debut after the closing of the American frontier, and the true "Guns that Won the West" were the earlier Models 1866 and 1873, nonetheless the '92 became an indelible icon of Western mythology through its use in hundreds of motion pictures and television shows, standing in for its older siblings. John Wayne famously carried Model 92s in dozens of films and owned several personally, some with the distinctive oversized "loop" lever. Other notable screen 92s were those of Chuck Connors in The Rifleman TV series, and Steve McQueen's "Mare's Leg" in Wanted: Dead or Alive.

Hollywood studios purchased the '92 in quantity because it was in regular production (until World War II) but looked sufficiently like Old West Winchesters to substitute for valuable antiques, and because in calibers .44-40 and .38-40 it could fire, together with the Colt Single Action Army "Peacemaker" revolver, the standard Five-in-One blank cartridge. This latter practice mirrored the real cowboys, who found it convenient to carry a rifle and a revolver chambered with the same ammunition.

NOTE: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are not able to ship to the United Kingdom. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.

Note: This gun is NOT considered obsolete calibre, so we are not able to ship to the United Kingdom.

IMA considers all of our antique guns as non-firing, inoperable and/or inert. Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 921(a)(16) defines antique firearms as all guns made prior to 1899. This law exempts antique firearms from any form of gun control or special engineering because they are not legally considered firearms. No FFL, C&R or any license is required to possess, transport, sell or trade Antique guns. All rifles and muskets sold by IMA that were manufactured prior to 1899 are considered Antiques by the US BATF (United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms). Therefore, all of IMA's Antique guns may be shipped to all US States and most nations around the world.

These antique guns are not sold in "live" condition, and are not tested for the the ability to feed or load any type of cartridge. They are sold as collector's items or as "wall hangers" not for use, and we make no guarantees regarding functionality aside from what is stated in the description. Any attempt at restoring an antique gun to be operational is strongly discouraged and is done so at the risk of the customer. By purchasing an antique gun from IMA you thereby release IMA, its employees and corporate officers from any and all liability associated with use of our Antique guns.

Pre-1899 Manufacture, no licenses required, allowed to ship to almost any deliverable address across the globe. Please note that for international shipping, these MUST be shipped using UPS WW Services. International customers should always consult their country's antique gun laws prior to ordering.