Help with old Winchester 92

[503]

Hello,

I was recently gifted an old winchester 1892 in 38 WCF. It has a 24 inch octagonal barrel. I dated the SN to 1903. It's in rough shape, the wood isn't bad and the metal has a nice patina.

The action and trigger work, however the lifter doesn't and will need to be repaired. I'm taking it to a good gunsmith to have it cleaned internally and hopefully fixed. I believe I should leave the finish alone though.

If anyone has any more info on the gun and what I should/ should not have done to it let me know. Also if anyone had any guesses on approximate value I'd appreciate it since I have no idea.

Thanks in advance,

503

 

[Mekaniks]

Very cool old gun for sure!
I am not going to be much help. But, you might reach out to the Winchester museum in Cody Wyoming and ask them if they have any records and get a letter on it from them.

 

[503]

Very cool old gun for sure!
I am not going to be much help. But, you might reach out to the Winchester museum in Cody Wyoming and ask them if they have any records and get a letter on it from them.

I'll do that, thank you!

 

[JimP]

Can't help you much, but I would leave it as is and make it a wall hanger.

Most of the time any restoration will decrease any value that it might have unless you want to turn it back into a shooter.

 

[503]

Can't help you much, but I would leave it as is and make it a wall hanger.

Most of the time any restoration will decrease any value that it might have unless you want to turn it back into a shooter.

I may do that, depending on how much it would be to have it brought back to shooting condition.

 

[JimP]

Looking at the muzzle it may require a new barrel to make it a shooter. If you replace any of the parts let the gunsmith know that you want the old parts back. Then place them in a plastic bag with a few of those desiccant packs that we get with everything anymore.

 

[503]

Looking at the muzzle it may require a new barrel to make it a shooter. If you replace any of the parts let the gunsmith know that you want the old parts back. Then place them in a plastic bag with a few of those desiccant packs that we get with everything anymore.

Yea the barrel is rough. I'll post what the gunsmith tells me, I appreciate it

 

[Ridge Runner]

I agree @JimP, that's what I did upon getting a '92 & '96 both were manufactured in the 1890's.

Ask Winchester about restoring the rifle and what effect the value difference of a restoration by them would make.

A good bore cleansing to check how bad the bore pitting is, would be the first step in deciding whether to repair and use or to make it a wall hanger, conversation piece.

Does that rifle use the true 38 caliber cartridge?

 

[503]

I agree @JimP, that's what I did upon getting a '92 & '96 both were manufactured in the 1890's.

Ask Winchester about restoring the rifle and what effect the value difference of a restoration by them would make.

A good bore cleansing to check how bad the bore pitting is, would be the first step in deciding whether to repair and use or to make it a wall hanger, conversation piece.

Does that rifle use the true 38 caliber cartridge?

I will definitely check with them. I'm not sure, it's makes 38 WCF. That's the same as the 38-40 I think. Correct me if I'm wrong

 

[JimP]

Yes the 38 WCF is the same as a 38-40 and is loaded with a .40 caliber bullet and not a .38.

It was based off of the 44-40 cartridge

 

[503]

Ammo for that is $$$

 

[Boone66]

Of you want to actually shoot it, the barrel will have to be replaced, or lined. It's pretty rough to have much collector value.

 

[Ridge Runner]

To avoid hijacking your OP I'll start a new OP : Let's See Your Lever Actions

I'll post photos tomorrow of my 38-55 Legendary Frontiersman and 32-20.