The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > The Harley Nolden Memorial Institute for Firearms Research

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old May 9, 2015, 06:11 PM   #1
r5868
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 9, 2015
Posts: 10
Winchester 1892

I've a Winchester 1892 but the serial number is unreadable. Behind the hammer it has:
Model 1892
Winchester
Pat. Oct 14 1884



I know these details changed over time. Can anyone tell me approximately when it was made from these details?

Kerry

Last edited by r5868; May 9, 2015 at 07:43 PM.
r5868 is offline  
Old May 9, 2015, 06:43 PM   #2
Smoke & Recoil
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 23, 2008
Location: East shore of Lake Michigan.
Posts: 713
No way to tell from the upper tang information only. Try rubbing
white chalk over the serial number to fill the impressions and wipe
the extra off gently.

Also, what caliber is this rifle ?...pictures ?
__________________
Sent from my Tandy 1000
Smoke & Recoil is offline  
Old May 9, 2015, 06:49 PM   #3
Smoke & Recoil
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 23, 2008
Location: East shore of Lake Michigan.
Posts: 713
After thought......
If you can see the first digit, last digit and the total number of digits, that
would surly help date it.
__________________
Sent from my Tandy 1000
Smoke & Recoil is offline  
Old May 9, 2015, 07:11 PM   #4
r5868
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 9, 2015
Posts: 10
The rifle is 32.20. I tried polishing the area where the serial number should be but could not raise any hint of a number. I don't have the rifle at the moment as it is unregistered and is at the LGS. There is a number stamped on the side of the action - 3669
r5868 is offline  
Old May 9, 2015, 07:24 PM   #5
Smoke & Recoil
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 23, 2008
Location: East shore of Lake Michigan.
Posts: 713
To the best of my knowledge, Winchester never stamped a number
on the side of the model 1892 Winchester. The serial number will (would)
have been on the bottom of the receiver, just back from the forearm and
in front of the trigger guard/lever.

I suggest going back and get some pictures of this rifle for research puposes
and to help with PROPER pricing. Also, what price was the LGS asking ?
__________________
Sent from my Tandy 1000
Smoke & Recoil is offline  
Old May 9, 2015, 07:31 PM   #6
Smoke & Recoil
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 23, 2008
Location: East shore of Lake Michigan.
Posts: 713
Like this...........
https://www.google.com/search?q=1892...73%3B800%3B533
__________________
Sent from my Tandy 1000
Smoke & Recoil is offline  
Old May 9, 2015, 07:35 PM   #7
r5868
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 9, 2015
Posts: 10
I was given the rifle by a friend who doesn't have a licence and the rifle had just been stored under their house for years and never used. The serial number either had been removed or, over the years, been worn off. The number on it has been stamped on the right side at the top near the barrel. 3669 would make from the first year of production, 1892.
r5868 is offline  
Old May 9, 2015, 07:46 PM   #8
Smoke & Recoil
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 23, 2008
Location: East shore of Lake Michigan.
Posts: 713
I have a 5 digit serial numbered 1892 .25-20 Winchester, placing it in 1893. I
really dault the serial number would have "worn" off.

I have no idea where you live, but old Winchesters need not be licensed here
in the United State.

The history of your rifle living under the house is getting very interesting.
__________________
Sent from my Tandy 1000
Smoke & Recoil is offline  
Old May 9, 2015, 07:50 PM   #9
r5868
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 9, 2015
Posts: 10
Here in Australia, if you can still buy ammunition for a firearm over the counter, it must be registered. Even if it is over 100 years old which is the cut off not requiring a licence but as a collector. An original muzzleloader, pinfire or rimfire (not .22) over 100 years old can be owned by anyone without a licence.

The rifle was found in a cupboard on a boat that my friend bought many years ago and was moved to under their house when they sold the boat.
r5868 is offline  
Old May 9, 2015, 07:55 PM   #10
Smoke & Recoil
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 23, 2008
Location: East shore of Lake Michigan.
Posts: 713
Well, we have room here for Australians too, come on up and over...smile.

Really though, pictures would help.
__________________
Sent from my Tandy 1000
Smoke & Recoil is offline  
Old May 9, 2015, 08:01 PM   #11
r5868
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 9, 2015
Posts: 10
Have added a picture to the original post.
r5868 is offline  
Old May 9, 2015, 08:07 PM   #12
Smoke & Recoil
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 23, 2008
Location: East shore of Lake Michigan.
Posts: 713
Yes, we saw that picture, that is of the top tang which is a standard scripted
on an old Winchester. Pictures of the whole rifle, bottom, top, side and at the area of where Winchester normally stamped the serial number just behind
the forearm would be very helpful to us.
__________________
Sent from my Tandy 1000
Smoke & Recoil is offline  
Old May 9, 2015, 08:30 PM   #13
Smoke & Recoil
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 23, 2008
Location: East shore of Lake Michigan.
Posts: 713
You may find this site helpful too..........
http://www.gunvaluesboard.com/winchester/
__________________
Sent from my Tandy 1000
Smoke & Recoil is offline  
Old May 9, 2015, 09:04 PM   #14
James K
Member In Memoriam
 
Join Date: March 17, 1999
Posts: 24,383
Per Madis, the upper tang marking pictured is the earliest type and was discontinued at or about serial number 280xxx, which would be 1905.

There is some dispute about the accuracy of some of the information in Madis's books, so in a critical case, a letter may be more accurate, if also costly.

Jim
James K is offline  
Old May 9, 2015, 09:34 PM   #15
r5868
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 9, 2015
Posts: 10
It is the short magazine form that only comes as far as the fore wood.
r5868 is offline  
Old May 10, 2015, 05:16 AM   #16
eastbank
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 7, 2008
Location: pa.
Posts: 2,450
winchester sold replacement lower tangs with out serial numbers. no proof marks on the barrel would make it made before 1905-1906. here if made before 1898 the government does not look at it as a firearm, but some states still treat it as a firearm. eastbank.
eastbank is offline  
Old May 29, 2015, 01:47 AM   #17
r5868
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 9, 2015
Posts: 10
Finally got my permit for the rifle and picked it up from the Gun Shop. Stripped it and cleaned out all of the grease and gunk that was in the action. The action works smoothly and cycles rounds with no problems. I bought a packet of 20 rounds ($40 Aus) so immediately set myself up to reload. I've reloaded 50 and now just have to try it out at the riflerange.





r5868 is offline  
Old May 29, 2015, 01:43 PM   #18
James K
Member In Memoriam
 
Join Date: March 17, 1999
Posts: 24,383
It is common to see those rifles with a lot of exterior wear and signs of hard usage. It is not common to see one with much interior wear. Unlike the 1873, the 1892 will hold up very well.

Jim
James K is offline  
Old February 6, 2016, 02:38 PM   #19
2bit
Junior Member
 
Join Date: October 20, 2011
Posts: 8
Hello

That style of tang stamp actually went out of use during 1904 not 1908. The first digit of the serial number is a one which at the time Winchester used an "L" looking digit. The serial number is 6 digits long so that narrows it down to between late 1898 and mid 1902. The rifle has a carbine butt stock on a sporting rifle configuration.

Michael
2bit is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:47 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.06756 seconds with 8 queries