North American Auction Company
Live Auction

Early October American Indian & Western Sale

Sat, Oct 3, 2020 11:00AM EDT
Lot 108

Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring .44-40 Carbine

Estimate: $2,400 - $3,200

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
For your consideration is a Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine in desirable, big .44-40 caliber, made in 1917. This carbine with serial number 820873 is in very fine and original overall condition. The Model 1892 was one of Jonathan Browning’s best designs that incorporated all of the strength of the famed large caliber Model 1886 into a compact receiver intended for revolver length cartridges. Many frontiersmen and woodsmen relied on one size ammunition for both handgun and long gun needs. The Model 1892 replaced the relatively weak Model 1873 action and was intended to digest modern, smokeless powder ammunition. More full length, 24” barreled rifles were produced by Winchester than 20” barreled carbines. This makes carbines much more difficult for collectors and shooters to locate today. Of the rifles and carbines available on the collector market, the smaller calibers like .25-20 and .32-20 predominate, making the .44-40 very difficult to obtain. Prices for .44-40 Saddle Ring Carbines and Rifles are typically twice or three times that of the smaller caliber models. This example shows excellent deep original blue on the barrel and magazine. The receiver is also uncleaned and now displays excellent deep blue on the loading gate with the balance naturally aged to gray. The saddle ring is intact, and the stock and forearm display nice grain quality with generous wood finish. Additionally, the bore is unusually bright with sharp rifling all the way through. This is uncommon as most carbines of this period saw hard use and the bore conditions reflect this by being worn, pitted or a combination of the two. The action is tight with strong springs. The carbine is equipped with a correct and rare Winchester three-leaf express rear sight with all three elevation leaves intact and mated with a correct standard Winchester carbine front sight. All screw heads are in excellent condition indicating that this carbine has not been taken apart or worked on. All correct Winchester address and patent markings on the barrel are correct and sharp as are all Winchester proof marks and caliber designation. Additional Winchester Model 1892 markings are distinct on the upper tang. The Model 1892 line of firearms in .44-40 caliber is especially difficult to locate in a saddle ring carbine. This is an extremely fine 103 year old example that would be right at home in the finest Winchester or Old West collection. This firearm qualifies as a Curio & Relic, and requires FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check.
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