The Winchester Repeating Arms Model 1892 Part 1

Getting started with this article was tough. I kept drifting into the issue of “Made in Japan” versus “Made is USA” until I accepted this was of no consequence in regard to firearm performance. I’ve never heard a public outcry in reference to poor quality of Japanese manufactured firearms. In fact, the reputation has been just the opposite. So for me this is a “Save the dolphins – Kill the tuna” situation with no basis in logic as we routinely express appreciation for Japanese manufactured rifle scopes, quality digital cameras and a vast array of consumer electronics.

The anti-Japanese manufacturing chant mostly emanates from the ruins of the old New Haven Winchester plant and the ghosts of unyielding big labor and New Haven, Connecticut’s mayor. When a labor force and tax code can’t compete with a country that has the highest cost of living on the planet, Japan, they aren’t trying. I hope, someday, that we get a quality of leadership in this country that is commensurate with the huge potential of its citizens and resources. Until then…

B.C. Miroku of Japan, the current Winchester Model 1892 manufacturer, has been producing sporting firearms since 1893. After a particularly sticky historical interruption, Miroku returned in the 1960’s to service global firearm markets under their own brand name and as OEM supply to companies such as Browning, Charles Daly and Weatherby.

The first time around… 1892 – 1947

At the request of Winchester, the Model 1892 was designed by John Browning. It was to be a stronger, lighter replacement for the Winchester Model 1873. The Model 1892 was created as a scaled down Model 1886, intended for the 44-40 and similar short cartridges. With vertical locking lugs and a closed receiver bottom, the 1892 is a substantial lever action rifle.

Model 1892 firearms remained in production until 1941 1). Limited edition appearances of the new Model 1892 occurred in 1997 and in 2006. Full production resumed in 2011. The Winchester Model 1892 lever gun line up is back with us in several configurations.

The same Winchester model, but with different item numbers, is available in 44 Rem Mag, 357 Mag, 44-40 WCF. Other variations of the Model 1892 are the 1892 Button Magazine with four round capacity, 1892 Octagon Barrel Deluxe, 1892 Large Loop Carbine, and Model 1892 Short. For further details, stop by the Winchester site atwww.winchester.com.

Nothing beats the real deal…

Outside of the trace oil rainbow, the Model 1892 came out of the box as perfection. After looking at a few non-Winchester replica guns that are represented as state of the art production, it is gratifying to examine a product that has a genuine walnut stock where the forearm matches the buttstock in grain and color and the low luster satin finish doesn’t come off on my hands or face.

This gun’s polished bluing is uniform, deep and without blemish. The short stroke action cycles as though it were assembled on roller bearings. In short, this is the first time in a while I’ve opened a box to find what I should always find, a new firearm in pristine condition. When I drag this gun through the woods, it will be my marks on the gun and not the result of a poorly managed production operation and assembler #22 who couldn’t quite get the hang of operating an air driver.

Rebounding hammers and sliding safeties…

The Model 1892 has a rebounding hammer, a mechanism intended to prevent the hammer from making contact with the gun’s firing pin unless the trigger has been intentionally depressed. For relics like me, there is a missing familiar “click – click” when cocking the hammer. That has been replaced by just one click and either full cock or rebound hammer position, as seen below.

The normal rifle carry position is the hammer in the rebound position with the tang safety on. After chambering a round, the hammer can still be lowered from full cock to rebound position by following the detailed procedures outlined in the product user’s manual. The tang safety is smooth, but positive in actuation and a welcome alternative to a Frankenstein, cross bolt through the neck safety.

Sights… Enough already

The Winchester Model 1892 has a non-folding buckhorn rear sight with stepped blade elevator and brass bead blade front sight. Windage adjustment is made by drifting either of the  gun’s sights. This is a very basic metallic sight systems system, but totally in keeping with the  useful shooting range of the 45 Colt cartridge.

As indicated on the table, this is a 100 to 150 yard cartridge – rifle combination. For those with longer range ambitions, there are some very nifty Marble tang sights available for the Model 1892, such asBrownells #579-009-824WB. They are period correct for the original Winchester Model 1892, they have interchangeable sight apertures and precision micrometer adjustment.

The Model 1892 has a very strong action… Big picture to follow

Every once in a while I read a comment where someone suggests that the Model 1892 action is a weak version of the Model 1894. The Model 1892 is actually a scaled down version of the very robust Model 1886. The Model 1894 was designed to handle longish centerfire smokeless powder cartridges length in a lighter package than the 1886.  Both the Model 1886 and 1892 have a solid bottom receiver, not a hinged bottom receiver like the Model 1894.

Visible above, the square bolt of the Model 1892 has side rails that are held captive in slots in the gun’s steel receiver. Each receiver wall is 0.250″ thick. The bolt and its breech face are located and supported longitudinally and vertically; always in alignment with the gun’s bore centerline and always supported solidly when the breech is closed. The gun’s lever is toggled connected to left and right steel locking bolts that are keyed to the rifle’s receiver. Each locking bolt is positioned edge against the bolt for locking strength, each of the two bolts measuring 2.180″ high, 0.600″ deep and 0.220″ wide. That’s about 0.958 sq.in. of front locking bolt surface, nearly four times the surface area of a two lug bolt action gun.

SAAMI says…

The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute sets the maximum average pressure standard for the 45 Colt at 14,000 PSI. Winchester specifically states that only SAAMI standard factory ammunition is to be used in their firearms, not high pressure ammo that exceeds the SAAMI pressure standard and is popularly mislabeled as “45 Colt +P”. This does not suggest a weakness in the rifle’s action, but rather the absence of controlling +P SAAMI specification that defines an industry standard. Unofficial +P pressure levels vary from one manufacturer to the next.

Pictured, left, two 45 Colt cartridges. Far left is a 255 grain Buffalo Bore, standard pressure, SAAMI Spec cartridge. Buffalo Bore makes both standard and high pressure 45 Colt cartridges. Next to it, a Cor-Bon DPX 225 grain +P cartridge that significantly exceeds the SAAMI pressure specification, but is still one of the more mild high pressure cartridges. In terms of performance, fired from a rifle like the 20″ barrel Model 1892, the Buffalo Bore will produce 1,247 fps of muzzle velocity while the Cor-Bon load will generate 1582 fps.

The high pressure cartridge performance may seem much improved, but the Buffalo Bore round carries thirty gains of additional bullet weight. To conduct a proper assessment of the rifle’s performance, an additional five types of ammunition were selected for testing. They are on the way and the results will appear in Part II.

So far, and in general terms…

With limited live fire experience, I can say that the ’92 is fast and fun to shoot. The short stroke lever chambers and ejects with minimal effort and no hesitation. The sights are good, accuracy is good and recoil is non-existent. Makes me want to go out and buy a horse just so I can put that saddle ring to use. Looking forward to range testing and reporting back on performance. In the mean time, for further details stop in at https://www.winchesterguns.com.

The Winchester Repeating Arms Model 1892 Part 1
The Winchester Repeating Arms Model 1892 Part 2