Model 1892 Winchester question...

[Jst1mr]

Was looking at a nice Model 1892 saddle ring carbine in the pawnshop the other day, and it wanted to come home with me, but considering the $$$, thought I'd better do some research on serial numbers/age, etc. One thing I can't seem to find - which of the calibers offered is the most scarce? Also, was the fold-down tang sight a factory install?

 

[rcmodel]

Probably the most scarce is the 38-40 & 44-40 WCF, even though there were a heck of a lot of them made in those calibers.

Folks in general, and Cowboy Action Shooters especially, want them far worse then the 25-20 & 32-20 WCF.

The Lyman or Marbles tang sight was an option, and could have been factory.

But more likely, someone added it later.
The 92 came drilled & tapped for a tang sight so all you needed was a sight and a screwdriver to put one on.

No matter what caliber you found, if it has a good clean bore and is tight, it is worth some big bucks.

Most of them suffered greatly from black powder, corrosive primers, and little or no cleaning many moons ago.

rcmodel

 

[ditchdigger]

according to the winchester handbook, .38 WCF was the least manufactured followed by the .32,.25, and .44