My grandfather died several years ago, and he had a large garage/barn in the country that my family has finally gotten around to cleaning out. Old appliances, old farm equipment, a little of everything. In between an old stack of lumber, I found a canvas rifle case that was covered in dust and spider webs. I open up the case, and I find a rusty lever action rifle. It appeared to have been put away with a coating of oil, but there is a little rust on the outter surfaces. The action is smooth, and rust free though. Given the conditions of the barn, I’m shocked that the rifle is in as good a condition as it is. What history there is behind it is that my great grandfather found it on a riding trail in central Texas prior to WWI. It reads that it was made by Winchester on October 14th, 1884, is chambered in .44 WCF, and has a serial number of 511,xxx. I don’t have any .44-40 to test out the action, but it appears that magazine, and action springs have tension and appear to work fine. The front sight is missing, but other than that everything appears to be intact. The bore isn’t that pretty. It appears to have a coating of lead residue on it and the rifling isn’t that pronounced. Then again, I have very little experience with old firearms. So, I’m wanting to get the front sight replaced, and overhaul the rifle. Any suggestions are welcome. 
Wipe it with oil, find a nice place to hang it up on the wall, enjoy.
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You have a model 92 carbine, not a 73. If you want to shoot it, have it checked and put a front sight on it. Otherwise, just put oil or grease on the rust and don’t restore it. It’s worth more like it is than it would be if it were restored. I’m guessing that from the appearance of the wood (possibly not walnut) it was made during WWI. They had a shortage of walnut then. However, there are lists of serial numbers by date that would give you the true date of production.
It is really, really funny that you post this - I inherited my g-g-grandpa’s 1873 (a real 1873, not a 92) just a little while ago. I’m going to restore it to shooting condition and shoot it. Mine isn’t quite in the shape yours is, I need new sights, new barrel band screws, and a new firing pin. But the bore is bright, and my gunsmith tells me that he wouldn’t hesitate to shoot it with cowboy .44-40 loads.
I’m not going to just let it sit.
The big book of dates says: if it is a model 1873 serial 511,000 is 1897 manufacture. 1892 carbine with serial 511,000 is 1909 manufacture.
Don’t restore it it! You will cut the value at least in half if not more.
Enjoy it for what it is… a family heirloom. If you want to shoot it have a gun smith go over it .
To remove the rust I would use kroil and 000 bronze wool, steel wool will remove any blue that is left and scratch the metal.
In the basement rafters of my house, I found a Model 97 in 16 gauge, shortly after moving in! :eek:
Sadly, it was NOT the FAMOUS “pigeon” model, which would have been about a $10k gun, but I know one of my predecessors here had been a 'smitty, in the early '60’s. It was still loaded with Remington/Peters ammo, which makes me think he kept it for ‘home defense.’ He moved away in '63, and I guess he forgot it was here! :o
A model '92 in a barn, is STILL a good find!
That’s most definitely a Winchester M1892 carbine.
0000 steel wool with a good bore solvent will take most of the surface rust off and it won’t hurt the remaining bluing.
Great find.
I agree, that is without question a Winchester 92.
Thanks all! I’m thinking I’ll just gently get the rust off, clean out the bore a bit, and keep it oiled and protected. I’ll still take it an experienced gunsmith familiar with the 1892 as I would still like it to be fully functional. Depending on the smith’s recommendation, I might fire a few rounds though it. Thanks again.
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Submit the serial number to the Cody Firearms Museum and they will be able to provide you with basic records such as when it was produced, etc.
Enjoy! And have fun cleaning the rust and shooting it! That will be a blast.
Mine doesn’t have a serial number! It’s supposed to be on the lower tang behind the lever, but that area is blank.
Interesting.
You might want to bring it to the attention of Rob Kassab at Rarewinchesters.com, you might have something very valuable.
Have you looked on the bottom of the receiver, forward of the lever?
Interesting story. A friend had a similar story about ten years ago. They bought a place in Texas and there was a lot of cleanup to do in the outbuildings and surrounding grounds. Working in the barn they pulled out old cast iron cookware, farm implement parts, feed sacks, etc. Calling the previous owners they were told the stuff was there when they bought it and to pitch it, they didn’t want it. Anyway on a nail behind a bunch of ancient lumber and stuff was an 1873 Winchester carbine in 38-40. Checking the serial number it was made in 1884. The overall condition looked amazingly like yours.
Great find, OP.
A friend of mine in Buffalo, WY found an old trapdoor Springfield that had the decorative rivets in the stock like the Injuns used to put on their weapons. Makes one wonder if the thing had been used in the Red Cloud War or Little Big Horn, etc.
I hope you get the rifle restored how you want it; personally, I would just put some oil on it to keep it from rusting further and just display it as is.
I concur… I frequent that site and there are some VERY squared away lever gunners there.