Winchester Model 1892

Lore & Background

The original Winchester company made 1,007,608 Model 1892 rifles. The Depression greatly affected sales, and at the start of World War II, Winchester dropped production when it retooled for the war effort. Production was not resumed after the war. Model '92 manufacture was resumed in the 1970s by Amadeo Rossi in Brazil; more recently by Chiappa Firearms, an Italian factory; by Browning in Japan; and by Winchester in Japan. The Royal Navy used 21,000 examples during World War I. Admiral Robert E. Peary carried an 1892 on his trips to the North Pole, and Secretary of War Patrick Hurley was presented with the one millionth rifle on December 13, 1932. Famous Amazon explorer Percy Fawcett carried a Winchester '92 on his expeditions and the famous jaguar hunter Sasha Siemel also used a short-barreled Winchester '92 carbine (with a bayonet attached).

In Their Own Story

The dust swirled under the moon, and Tommy Angelo pressed his back against a bullet-riddled Ford. He worked the action—a smooth, metallic click-clack—and a fresh round slid home. Across the yard, a silhouette darted between hay bales. Tommy exhaled, lined the iron sights with the shadow's chest, and squeezed. The crack split the night, and the silhouette folded into the dirt. The smell of cordite and gasoline hung thick as he cycled another round, waiting for the next target to break cover.

Reader's Guide

The source does not describe the weapon's role, in-game availability, or performance in any video game. It does not mention magazine capacity, reload animation, or comparison to the Tommy gun. The source states the rifle was chambered in various calibers including .44-40, .32-20, .38-40, .25-20, and .218 Bee, and that modern copies are chambered in .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .454 Casull.

Did You Know?

• The Winchester Model 1892 was designed by John Browning and replaced the Model 1873.
• The one millionth Model 1892 was presented to Secretary of War Patrick Hurley on December 13, 1932.
• The Royal Navy used 21,000 Model 1892 rifles during World War I.
• The Model 1892's action is actually stronger than Browning's rear-locked Model 1894.
• The Mare's Leg is a customized shortened Model 1892 used by Steve McQueen's character on Wanted: Dead or Alive.