Barn Find Winchester Lever Action 44

[NIGHTHAWK]

Was going through one of my gun safes this morning and found this rifle. It was originally found in a small storage barn in Rein between the studs of an open wall - along with a bunch of other great stuff!

I bought the house from third generation Family members I’m good friends with. Their grandparents came to Reno around early 1900’s. They were hunters sportsmen. No history on it all. I told them I found it and was told to keep it. I’m not sure what I’ll do with it, if anything… Sure wish they knew more about it…

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Was going through one of my gun safes this morning and found this rifle. It was originally found in a small storage barn in Rein between the studs of an open wall - along with a bunch of other great stuff!

I bought the house from third generation Family members I’m good friends with. Their grandparents came to Reno around early 1900’s. They were hunters sportsmen. No history on it all. I told them I found it and was told to keep it. I’m not sure what I’ll do with it, if anything… Sure wish they knew more about it…

 

[1dirthawker]

pretty cool find!!

 

[Wyatt Smith]

Super cool!

 

[TucsonFX4]

Neat!

 

[K E Johnson]

Looks like a model 1892? If so, it was made in 1912.
It could be restored. I don’t know what cost would be. Otherwise it is a nice conversation piece.

 

[thi9elsp]

Would the Cody Firearm Museum be able to give you information on it? Might be worth giving them a call.

 

[Shootist43]

How is the bore? If it is good, I'd send it off to a gunsmith to be checked out and re-blued. Providing he says everything is fine, I'd look for a used stock. In the end, you may just have a nice old working rifle on your hands. Obviously, there isn't collector's value.

 

[sestoppelman]

Looks like a model 1892? If so, it was made in 1912.
It could be restored. I don’t know what cost would be. Otherwise it is a nice conversation piece.

Yep, for sure a model 1892 in .44-40 Winchester. I have a Spanish clone called a Tigre. This model of Winchester is very popular.
Much stronger than the '73, just a scaled down '86.
Neat find!

 

[gillettehunter]

Cool old rifle. Don't you wish it could talk? Thanks for sharing.
Bruce

 

[Sarg]

What a beauty, if the bore is shoot-able no trouble to find a lever & butt stock to fit & away you go !

Has my favorite rear sight on these, it is how ever broken which is a pity.

Nice find, I would be very pleased !

If it could talk it might complain about being in a wall & then gun safe for 50yrs or more ?

 

[CoElkHunter]

Very nice find! Wonder how many mule deer and elk it has taken over the years?

 

[Troubleshooter]

Would the Cody Firearm Museum be able to give you information on it? Might be worth giving them a call.

The Cody museum (which possesses the old Winchester records) would be able to determine the original configuration and what is known as the Serial Number Application date (essentially the "manufacturing date") but that's about it. We already know that it is a Model 1892 saddle-ring carbine, chambered in .44WCF (aka .44-40) and that it was manufactured in 1912. Unless it was ordered with special features (and this one appears to not to be) they won't have any information on where it was shipped nor to whom. The OP will need to decide whether that information is worth the $40 fee for a "factory letter."

Nitehawk, here is the link for the factory letter, should you decide to obtain one:

Winchester

Cody Firearms Records Office provides manufacturing dates and configuration data on specified Winchester firearms using orginal factory records.

centerofthewest.org

Still a pretty neat find though!

 

[Kraut]

Cool find!
Might be interesting to see what some TLC could do to the old girl. Could be a nice project.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

The Cody museum (which possesses the old Winchester records) would be able to determine the original configuration and what is known as the Serial Number Application date (essentially the "manufacturing date") but that's about it. We already know that it is a Model 1892 saddle-ring carbine, chambered in .44WCF (aka .44-40) and that it was manufactured in 1912. Unless it was ordered with special features (and this one appears to not to be) they won't have any information on where it was shipped nor to whom. The OP will need to decide whether that information is worth the $40 fee for a "factory letter."

Nitehawk, here is the link for the factory letter, should you decide to obtain one:

Winchester

Cody Firearms Records Office provides manufacturing dates and configuration data on specified Winchester firearms using orginal factory records.

centerofthewest.org

Still a pretty neat find though!

Thank you! I think this is great information, a good idea, and I appreciate it… I’ll send in fir information and keep everyone posted.

There are also some good gun smiths in Northern Ca and Reno, I’ll have to find one that specializes in bringing these rifles back to working order.

 

[Nomadx2]

Very cool gun to find! Even if it can't be shot, would still be neat to have it restored.

 

[JimP]

I think that I would just hang it on the wall instead of having it restored.

Odds are that the barrel would need to be replaced or relined and other parts replaced.

 

[AZDAVE]

Two options, one restore it. Two hang it in the trophy room and come up with a great story on how the stock and lever were broke in a Calvary charge or No sh(* there was my great grandma from the black sheep side of the family running off rustlers A find like that deserves a story