NRA Gun of the Week: Winchester Model 1892 Rifle

by
posted on May 6, 2017

Some might say the Model 1873 Winchester “Won the West,” but it was Model 1892 that conquered Hollywood. The imfdb.com page for the Model 1892 may well be its longest entry. Remember Chuck Connors in “The Rifleman,”? Yeah, that was a Model ‘92. How about the “Mare’s Leg” in “Wanted: Dead or Alive”? That was a cut-down Model ‘92, too.

Made in New Haven, Conn., in 1919, this original Winchester Model 1892 rifle in .32-20 Win. is just one of more than a million made between 1892 and 1941. A John Moses Browning design, the Model 1892 was a scaled down and simplified version of the great inventor’s Model 1886. Made in numerous guises, this Model 1892 rifle, has an octagonal barrel with a full length magazine tube. The rear sight is a semi-buckhorn with an elevator and a front blade dovetailed into the barrel’s front. The walnut buttstock is topped with a crescent buttplate. The Model 1892 was chambered by Winchester to fire blackpowder pistol caliber cartridges (.25-20 Win., .32-20 Win., .38-40 Win. and .44-40 Win.). Additionally, Winchester added .218 Bee later in the production run. They have been offered under the Browning name, and Winchester still offers them today, but these say they come from Japan’s Miroku, not New Haven.

Check out the video above hosted by American Rifleman Editor-in-Chief Mark Keefe to learn a bit more about this iconic American lever-action. 

Additional Reading: 

The Winchester Story   
SHOT Show 2017: Annie Oakley's Winchester Model 1892 Rifle   
The Navy Arms Model 1892 Rife: A Gentleman's Lever-Action    
Winchester 1892 Deluxe Takedown Rifle   

Latest

KelTec PR57
KelTec PR57

KelTec’s PR57: Thinking Outside The (Detachable) Box

KelTec has brought the stripper clip back with the thoroughly unconventional PR57—a carry pistol with an uncommon chambering, an unusual action and no box magazine.

The Armed Citizen® June 9, 2025

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

More Western States Opening Large Shooting Ranges

A number of states in the western U.S. have opened or are planning to open large, versatile ranges to serve the growing need for publicly accessible shooting spaces.

Preview: Sneaky Pete Distressed Leather Perfect Holster

More than just a fresh look made using handcrafted leather, the Sneaky Pete Distressed Leather Perfect Holster has been redesigned to accommodate extra ammunition in addition to a concealed firearm.

New For 2025: Rost Martin RM1S & RM1C Comped

Two new models joined the Rost Martin handgun lineup in 2025, one with subcompact dimensions and another with a built-in compensator that promises to reduce recoil substantially.

CMP Resumes M1911 Pistol Sales

As of January 2025, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) had resumed sales of surplus U.S. Army M1911/M1911A1 pistols to qualified U.S. citizens.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.