Who makes repro Win 1892 lever actions?

[gga357]

Who makes the best '92 in 45lc?
Rossi makes an inexpensive one.
I think Cimmeron, Taylor, Chiappa, and Puma are all made by Uberti? Anyone know? Are there others?
Thanks, Greg.

 

[CraigC]

The best has the Winchester name and is made in Japan by Miroku. These are wonderful rifles, exhibiting better fit, finish and accuracy than anything produced domestically in 100yrs. Folks grumble about the price but they are worth every penny, if you can appreciate what they offer. Several different variations have been produced in the last 10yrs. Unfortunately for us purists, all those marked "Winchester" have a rebounding hammer and tang safety.

Browning has also had guns made by Miroku and they have a traditional half cock action but none were produced in .45Colt.

Rossi makes a good gun and they're a great value.

Believe it or not, Uberti does not make an 1892 and to my knowledge, never has. All the Italian replicas have been made by ASM, Chiappa and perhaps one I'm forgetting. Not cheap but good guns.

 

[gga357]

So are the "Winchester by Miroku" 92s available? Under USRAC?

Are the Italian repros worth the price difference over Rossi?

 

[gga357]

Also who makes Puma?

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Puma is apparently a house brand name owned by Legacy Sports; I have a Puma made by Rossi (Brazil) but current Pumas are made by Chiappa (Italy). The last I checked Rossi had their 1892 rifles imported by EMF as the Hartford 1892 but EMF posted "Note: In December 2008, Rossi Firearms sold their 1892 rifle manufacuring to Taurus International." And Taurus did not want to make 1892s for EMF.

 

[HOOfan_1]

USRAC is dead and gone. Winchester is now owned by Fabrique Nationale.

As far as I know, USRAC made their own guns in New Haven and the Mirokou made guns have only come along since FN bought the rights to market guns with the Winchester name

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=022C&mid=534177

 

[Leaky Waders]

Pricey but nice - I have one of their 1886's in 45-70

http://www.turnbullmfg.com/

 

[CraigC]

USRAC is dead and gone. Winchester is now owned by Fabrique Nationale.

As far as I know, USRAC made their own guns in New Haven and the Mirokou made guns have only come along since FN bought the rights to market guns with the Winchester name

I don't typically get into these discussions because I really don't care who owns what name or when but you are 100% wrong on this one. The 1892 was reintroduced under the Winchester/USRAC name at least ten or twelve years ago. No reissues were made in the US, all have been products of Miroku. At that time, as evidenced by the stampings on my own 1892 Trapper .45, the Winchester name was owned by Olin Corp, not FN. The rifle is also stamped US Repeating Arms, Winchester and Japan/Miroku. USRAC was owned by FN the whole time, the rights to the Winchester name are another matter. My 1892 Trapper .45 is 9yrs old now and wasn't the first in the lineup. Incidentally, the first run of 24" round barrel .45's will probably be your most affordable option. I've seen them as little as $600-$700.

My Winchester 1895 .405WCF is also stamped as such.

It's all academic because they are all fine guns of wonderful quality and come from the same factory.

 

[Water-Man]

I own a Rossi Puma 92' in .38/.357 with a 20" Octagon barrel. Never had a problem with it and would not hesitate to buy another.

 

[gga357]

Turnbull has very nice stuff. But a little too much.

Just trying to decide if the Rossi is good enough or if I should bother with Win or Puma or Taylor.

 

[HOOfan_1]

I don't care whose name is on the gun either, but I didn't know US Repeating Arms was sourcing guns from the same place as Browning back then.

 

[MATT .45-70]

i could care less either for the name on the gun, however Taylors does make a very nice 1892, I had a chance to buy one in .357 but I thought it over too long and when I went back to the gun shop to buy it, guess what rifle was laying on the counter as the paper work was being filled out! man I missed it by minutes
Taylors is a nice smooth rifle
uberti 1873 is nice to, little pricey though

 

[gga357]

Any reason not to get a Rossi?

 

[Leaky Waders]

I can vouch for the beretta/ubertti 1873 - very neat rifle. Mine's the carbine version. The little brass elevator is cool.

The turnbull's are very nice, no rebound hammer nice bluing, no weird safety...for the price of a nib high grade winchester. Like I said I have an 1886 from him and it's a very nice rifle.

If I saw a rossi I'd buy it.

 

[WardenWolf]

I looked into a lever gun a while back, and Rossi / Puma lever guns all get favorable reviews. The only one I've ever heard of there being trouble with is the rare .454 Casull model, which is no longer made for that reason. Apparently the load was just a bit too powerful for it, and the guns just destroyed themselves after a short while. However, the reviewer also stated that they made it right and replaced the gun, and even substituted the .45LC version upon his request. I honestly think the problems with the .454 model were mostly caused by the limitations of the 1892 design. While modern metallurgy has allowed the design to handle cartridges far in excess of what it was originally designed for, there are limits to how far it can go.

 

[Jeff H]

Any reason not to get a Rossi?

I can't think of one. They are reliable, accurate and inexpensive.

 

[WardenWolf]

People have also said the Rossi / Pumas can be made a lot smoother either with a replacement spring or, sometimes, just by a thorough cleaning. In all honesty, they're as good as any other 1892 clone on the market today.

 

[Water-Man]

Stevesgunz.com is the place for that.

 

[CraigC]

No reason not to buy a Rossi.

The Uberti 1873's, as available from numerous importers like Cimarron, Taylor's and Dixie Gun Works, are wonderfully made rifles. IMHO, they put more effort into their rifles than they do their revolvers, which are also very good. I have an 1873 Deluxe Sporting Rifle .38WCF that is a wonderful shooter. I drilled & tapped it for a Marbles tang sight and it piles several different loads into an inch at 50yds.

I didn't know US Repeating Arms was sourcing guns from the same place as Browning back then.

It stands to reason, they've both been owned by FN/Herstal for quite some time.

The only one I've ever heard of there being trouble with is the rare .454 Casull model, which is no longer made for that reason. Apparently the load was just a bit too powerful for it, and the guns just destroyed themselves after a short while.

I'm gonna have to cry foul and ask for documentation on this one. These guns were discontinued rather recently and it was not because they were blowing up but due to poor sales. I have not heard a report of the first failure of these guns. Even the standard .45's can handle pressures in the 50,000psi range. Which is where most .454 factory loads peak.

 

[ball3006]

I have a Rossi in 357 and 45LC. Both are fine accurate rifles. I did go through them with a bit of stoning to smooth them up. The only reason is I have the know how to do so. I would recommend them any time.....chris3

 

[MAKster]

I have a Navy Arms model also built by Rossi. It is a quality piece. I agree that the action is stiff but that smoothed up with use. Considering that the Rossi rifles sell for half what the Winchester/Miruku and Chiappa models sell for I think Rossi is by far the best deal in 1892s.

 

[gga357]

I have a beautiful 1873 by Uberti. It is well made and smooth. I also have a Win 94 trapper not to smooth but fun. Just always wanted a '92.

Thanks all, now to find a good deal on an octagon barrel/case colored 20".

 

[DPris]

Taylors doesn't "make" anything, their current 92s are Chiappas.

The Winchester brand name is still owned by Olin who licenses it to Browning who's also owned by FN in Belgium. That was done to allow Browning to import & market "Winchester" branded guns, foreign or domestic.

USRAC began as a standalone company formed in the early 80s to produce Winchester-branded guns under license from Olin when Olin wanted to dump the firearm branch. Olin kept the Winchster name, just sold off the firearm production side.
USRAC was subsequently sold more than once & ended up as only the manufacturing facility in New Haven & owned by FN. By the time that factory closed, USRAC was no longer an independent company producing & marketing guns. It was just the factory, owned by FN, making guns for Browning to market.

New Haven guns made at the USRAC plant were marketed & serviced by Browning's operation for the last years it was running.

USRAC was only sourcing MIROKU guns from the same place as Browning.

The Rossi .454s were not dropped because they couldn't handle the round. As Craig says, low sales.
Talked to Steve Young this week, he's planning to convert a .45 Colt Rossi he has to .454. That should tell you something about the viability of the caliber in that gun.

Rossis typically come oversprung & relatively rough inside. The current Rossis also come with an annoying wingnut safety on top of the bolt.
That can be removed, Steve Young has a plug for it.
Denis

 

[gga357]

Thanks Denis Good info.
Greg

 

[DPris]

Sure.
My .45 Colt Rossi has been gone over by Steve.
Nice little gun.
Denis