Howdy
Traditionally, there were three different configurations that Winchester rifles came in.
Rifle, Carbine, and Musket.
These configurations were not limited to the Model 1892, they started with the Model 1866.
This composite photo shows the Winchester Model 1873 in the three different configurations.
At the top two are rifles. The rifle featured a crescent shaped buttplate, the magazine was suspended from a hanger dovetailed into the underside of the barrel, and the fore end had a cap at the end. Rifles could be had with round or octagon barrels, or even half round and half octagon. Round barrels were actually standard, but Winchester usually supplied octagon barrels to their distributors for no extra charge. Barrels were usually available in 2" increments, although any length could be custom ordered.
Carbines had short barrels, usually around 20 inches long. Carbine barrels had a sharper taper than rifle barrels. The magazine was supported by two barrel bands, one surrounding the for end and one up near the muzzle. Front sights were sometimes welded to the front barrel band, sometimes they were dovetailed directly to the barrel. Carbine stocks had a flat running up the comb, and the buttplate was a formed piece of heavy sheet metal, with a much shallower curve than a rifle's crescent shaped buttplate.
Don't be confused by the term Musket. They were not muzzle loading smooth bores. Winchester muskets were basically overgrown carbines. The most noticeable feature of the Winchester Musket was that the fore end extended almost all the way to the muzzle. Barrels were long, often 30". Magazines were supported by three barrel bands. The butt was basically the same as a Carbine butt, with the same type of butt plate. Not many Muskets were sold in this country, but a great many were sold to foreign governments for military weapons, and many of them had bayonet mounts on them.
Not very visible in your picture but the short rifle has a barrel lenght of 24 inch, wich makes it better for range use in cowboy shooting, because of the much longer sight radius,
The most popular configuration of rifle in Cowboy shooting these days is the Uberti 1873 Short Rifle with a pistol grip and 20" barrel. Usually chambered for 357 Magnum but usually fired with 38 Specials. That is the version that you see most often in the winner's circle. The 20" barrel is very quick handling. Targets are seldom far enough away in CAS to need a 24" barrel.
The rifle at the top of this photo is my 44-40 Uberti 1873 with a 24" barrel. No longer favored by the top Cowboy shootists, they like the 20" barrels and pistol grip. The rifle at the bottom is my 44-40 Winchester Model 1892, made in 1894, also with a 24" barrel.
This 38-40 Model 1873 has a 24" round barrel. It was made in 1887.
This 44-40 Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine was made in 1916.
, seriously, dont try this at home
