Model 1892 Deluxe Trapper Takedown Case Hardened

The historical information presented within this article came from four credible reference books and Winchester.

Americas’ Premier Gunmakers – Browning
K.D. Kirkland

The History of Winchester Firearms 1866-1992
Thomas Henshaw

The History of Browning Firearms
David Miller

Winchester, And American Legend
R.L. Wilson

The respective authors spent months and years, sifting through original records and historical documents, interviewing company personnel and associated experts, etc., publishing information that the rest of us can use to create the appearance of substantial knowledge. That said, interpretations, observations and live fire results are uniquely my own.

The first time around… 1892 – 1947. At the request of Winchester, John Browning designed the Model 1892 with the objective of creating a stronger, lighter replacement for the Winchester Model 1873. Based on Browning’s earlier Model 1886 design, the Model 1892 was scaled down for use with shorter cartridges. Where the Model 1886 accommodated the 2.850″ 45-90 WCF, The Model 1892 was designed to accommodate the 44-40 WCF’s 1.592″ length. Common to both models are vertical locking bolts, a breech bolt that interlocks with the locking bolts on a perpendicular plane and to the receiver on a longitudinal plane and a solid bottom receiver.

The Model 1892 remained in production until 1941, but was available in variations of the Model 1892 like the Models 53 and 65 through 1947. In an aggregate of models, over a million rifles were produced in both one piece and take down configurations, with barrel lengths from 14″ to 36″ and with a magazine capacity between 5 and 17 rounds. A small number of Model 1892s were produced with barrel lengths between 14″ and 18″, popularly labeled as “Trapper” models. The original Model 1892 was not chambered for the 45 Colt, only the 44-40 WCF, 38-40 WCF, 32-20 WCF, 25-20 WCF, and 218 Bee.

Limited edition appearances of the new Model 1892 occurred in 1997 and in 2006, resurrected for distributor and show specials. Full production resumed in 2011. Some of the early limited production runs came from the Winchester facility in Connecticut, like my 90’s vintage 45 Colt Winchester Ranger that was sold through the western U.S. Big 5 retail chain. However, in 1995 Winchester Model 1892 production began at the Miroku firearms company in Kochi, Japan. In 2006, after the Connecticut Winchester facility closed, Miruku became the sole producer of Winchester lever action firearms for special runs and then continuous production.

 Chambers, then and now…

The Model 1892 Carbine is currently offered in 357 Magnum, 44-40 WCF, 44 Magnum and 45 Colt. The original was offered only in .44-40, .38-40, .32-20, and .25-20, with very limited production during the 30s in .218 Bee. While the 44 Remington Magnum cartridge did not arrive until eight years after the Model 1892 was discontinued, I thought the absence of the 357 Magnum and 45 Colt during the original production run was curious. The 357 Magnum was introduced in 1935 and the 45 Colt cartridge had been in service since 1873.

A review of the cartridge characteristics on the table suggests that the materials used in original production were intended for low pressure black powder cartridges and not for cartridges at the 357 Magnum’s pressure level. The original 45 Colt was probably considered an anemic cartridge that would add to what the 44-40 WCF already covered and the 45 Colt would promote the name “Colt” rather than the name “Winchester”. The new cartridges at higher pressure load levels outperformed any of the originals.

Model 1892 Deluxe Trapper Takedown Case Hardened

The Model 1892 Deluxe Trapper Takedown Case Hardened was introduced at the 2018 Shot Show. For folks who appreciate historical lever action rifles, it would be difficult not to appreciate

Two areas that differentiate the Deluxe Trapper from other Model 1892s; cut checkering 20 LPI and color case hardened steel. Personally, I really like a case hardened finish. Done correctly, as is the case with this rifle, it picks up just about every visible color of the rainbow, but in muted tones that compliment the overall appearance of the firearm. Yes, I do know the colors of the rainbow, ROYGBIV…red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

Whatever isn’t case hardened is very cleanly finished polished, deeply blued steel, whicg includes the heavy hex barrel, magazine tube, bolt, and trigger. Case hardened pieces include forearm cap, receiver, lever, and crescent buttplate.

The Grade III/IV black walnut stock has a synthetic oil finish to provide excellent protection from the elements and to retain that quality firearm look.

The Winchester Model 1892 is an open top action, but I have to say, unlike some other similar designs, I was never bopped on the head with ejecting empties. I would know as there is very little natural padding up there. When I was young, I had so much hair on my head it could catch empties when ejected during a range session and hold onto them until I could shake them out into the reloading tumbler. Those were the days, my friend…

The view down the barrel is a good one, from semi-buckhorn sight adjustable for elevation to the front brass bead post sight. The Model 1892 Deluxe also has provisions for mounting a peep sight for more critical or more distant applications.

For transport or back packing, the Model 1892 Deluxe Trapper is easily taken down. The lever at the front of the magazine tube is flipped up and the tube is unscrewed five turns. Then the barrel is turned in the receiver 90° and slipped out of the receiver’s internal interrupted threads.

Above, the two sections separated with interlocking threads in view and magazine follower pulled back to allow two sections to rotate.

Yes, I did put it back together and I did shoot it… a lot

The 45 Colt is an amazing cartridge. Like the 45-70 Gov’t, it has evolved into a very modern cartridge by progressively taking advantage of improvements in bullets, powder, brass, and firearms over a span of nearly one hundred and fifty years. Unlike a retread politician with a facelift and no new ideas, the dramatic improvement in 45 Colt performance is measurable and demonstrable. There are currently approximately sixty diverse types of 45 Colt factory ammunition. Standard pressure, high pressure, solid projectile, shot capsule; there are types for hunting, target shooting, cowboy action shooting, and self defense. Factory ammo bullet types range from 78 grain fragmenting at 1,800 fps from a handgun to 335 grains at 1,200 fps. If none of the factory ammunition meets expectations, the 45 Colt is also a handloader’s cartridge with a wide variety of cannelured bullets to select from, lots of powder choices, a good number of molds for bullet casters, and more than fifty types of reloading dies.

The Winchester Model 1892 Deluxe Trapper Takedown Case Hardened is an ideal match for the cartridge. The 16″ barrel yields a compact firearm, but it is long enough to extract the potential from the 45 Colt cartridge, standard and high pressure versions. Seven types of ammunition were selected for a checkout of the rifle. Not an exhaustive selection, but a fair cross section of lead and jacketed bullets.