M14 Forum

rangejunkie

I have a winchester lever gun that has an ocagon barrel, has .38 WCF on the barrel. It also has the old "C" metal plate buttstock. I can tell the gun is old, but was wondering if there was anyone that new how I might be able to either get some info on the gun or knows anthing about this model gun. Sorry I dont have pictures as the gun is with my father in a different state. It belonged to my grandfather who has left the gun along with a collection of model 87's to me. Any info or marking I should look for on it will be appreciated. Thanks.

Blademaker

Got pics? Sounds like it might be a model 1873, but would need to see it to be sure, I'm no winchester expert.

Seventh Fleet

The caliber of your rifle is 38-40 (38WCF), which is a pistol cartridge that Winchester chambered some of their rifles in. Your rifle could be anything from an 1873 to an 1892 carbine...

7th

dozier

Time to go pick them up and send some pics. I'm not a Whinny collector, but others here on the Forum are. They can aid in identification. dozier

rangejunkie

yeah I am really wanting to get them but my grandpa (has alztimers) lives with my folks and likes to look at the guns from time to time... so I cannot bring them to where I live. That Is why I do not have pictures... when I go back this month I will try to get some pictures. Sorry it took me so long to respond. Havent been able to get on in a little while with work and all.

Are you talking about model or year range. Sorry I really know nothing about lever action rifles...

Seventh Fleet

The range of years (which include several different models) that the 38-40 was chambered in Winchester rifles during the cowboy era. Colt also chambered their 1873 Single Action Army in this caliber as well. That way a guy could use the same rounds in his handgun as he used in his rifle. The same goes for 44/40, 32-20, etc...

7th

rangejunkie

so If I understand you correctly this rifle was likely produced in the 1800's or possible in the very early 1900's. Is that correct. I am leaving this week to go to my folks house and I will get pictures and the serial number. Is there anything in particular I should look for with the serial number.

Ok. So I have some new info on the rifle. It is a model 1892 Winchester, manufactured in Newhaven, Conn., serial # is 810334. I looked the serial number up on a site and it said that it was made in 1916. I dont know how accurate the site is but I was wondering if there is anything else yall could tell me about this rifle or during this period when the rifle was made. I will get pics up as soon as I get them. Thanks.

Seventh Fleet

The 1892 was a light handy carbine chambered in pistol calibers such as the 38-40, 32-20, 44-40 and 25-20.

I found this on the Winchester Model 1892...


Winchester returned to its roots with the Model 1892, which, like the first lever-action guns, was primarily chambered for shorter, lower-pressure handgun rounds. The Model 1892, however, incorporates a much stronger Browning action (based on the larger M1886) than the earlier Henry-derived arms of the 1860s and 1870s. 1,004,675 Model 1892 rifles were made by Winchester, and although the company phased them out in the 1930s, they are still being made under the Puma label by the Brazilian arms maker, Rossi, and by Chiappa Firearms, an Italian factory. 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 the high-powered .454 Casull round. The Winchester '92 was commonly used in Hollywood Western movies and TV shows, as a substitute for the Winchester '66 and '73 models, because they have a similar appearance, and were cheaper and easier to acquire.

7th

rangejunkie

thanks 7th. I am really trying to learn alot about the old guns that my grandpa has.
Now I just have to get some info on the colt derringers that he has and a couple of older shotguns.

Thanks