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RARE WINCHESTER MODEL 1892 LEVER ACTION MUSKET.

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
RARE WINCHESTER MODEL 1892 LEVER ACTION MUSKET.
SN 83663. Cal. 44 WCF (44-40). Standard grade musket with 30" rnd bbl, square base German silver front sight and 800 yard musket ladder rear sight. Mounted with uncheckered straight grain American walnut with full length forearm & straight stock that has carbine buttplate with trap. Forearm has three bands with the middle band having a sling loop and corresponding loop in the buttstock. Bbl, receiver & bolt have Belgian proofs. Right side of buttstock is stamped with a series of letters & numbers, probably unit markings from the Belgian Congo. Accompanied by an orig 18-1/2" triangular shaped Winchester socket bayonet. Also accompanied by a Cody Firearms Museum letter which identifies this musket in caliber 44, received in warehouse March 11, 1898 and shipped June 2, 1898 with four other Model 1892s to Order #446. According to The Winchester Book, Madis, the musket is the most rare of all the Models 1892. It was offered in standard 1892 calibers with special order features available. The predominant caliber was 44. According to the referenced publication the majority of the musket production was sold to European nations and are rarely encountered in the U.S. According to renowned Winchester historian & author, George Madis, in a letter he wrote for another Model 1892 musket he states "Muskets in the Model 1892 are among the rarest of American made arms, and the total production has been estimated, from a count made in the 1930s at Winchester, at less than 1,000 muskets". PROVENANCE: Barnes Family Collection. CONDITION: Very good. Bbl retains blue in the most sheltered areas being mostly a mottled silver/brown patina with scattered spots of fine rust; receiver retains 50-60% thin blue, mostly on the sides. Wood is sound with nicks, scratches & dings and the buttstock retains about 80% orig finish with the forearm a hand worn patina. Mechanics are crisp, strong bright bore with a very light ring about 4" from the muzzle. Bayonet is fine. 4-47627 JR228