Found an 1892 32-20

[Elbow]

Found a 1892 Winchester 32-20. Stock has been refinished, forend cap and butt plate reblued, barrel been shortened by an inch. Standard rear and front sights, some of the screwes are dinged up but the bore is good and action is flawless. Just wondering what it may be worth, by the serial number it was made in 1904. Still shoots straight. Thanks, Craig.

[TXGunNut]

The modifications you mentioned pretty much wiped out any collector value but if it's quality work and the bore is good it should be a solid shooter. I just traded in a similar vintage all-original rifle with 40-50% finish and a fair-good bore and was allowed $825. I love the actions in those old 92's.

[fordwannabe]

In my never to be humble opinion shoot the thing and enjoy wrapping your hand around the same gun John Wayne and sooooo many others have held and let your desendants worry about the price. I bought one and now have 4.

[TXGunNut]

Well said, Fordwannabe. I may have a few collectible Winchesters but they're all shooters, and that's what's important. Shooting old Winchesters is like shaking hands with our forefathers. I recently took two old Winchesters to the range. I doubt either had been fired in decades. "Youngest" rifle was 106 yrs old. I felt the presence of at least one previous owner. Many of my older Winchesters come indirectly from estates and I've become accustomed to having an unseen observer at the bench. Sad note, one carbine in the collection had all the markings of a suicide gun. Even tho it was a desirable collectible the bad vibes off this gun kept me at bay. May God rest the poor soul who (possibly) ended his life with this carbine.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

Most shooters have a soft spot for the old Winchesters. My low wall was made in 1892 is one of my favourites and the original boolit mould mades very accurate boolits!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v152/BAWallace/LowWall_A_zps76604a69.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/BAWallace/media/LowWall_A_zps76604a69.jpg.html)

[Shawlerbrook]

I have an all original 1892 in 25 20 with a 24" barrel made in 1913. It is a hoot to shoot and I have had offers of $1200-1500 .

[bob208]

with the mods. about as much as a good repro.

[BigEyeBob]

I have a 92 in 44-40 , manufacture date 1910 , full length magazine ,all original in excellent condition .
love shooting it . Yet to use cast boolits only a matter of time .

[pietro]

.

I had a 1907 Model 92 in .32-20, with a special order barrel & button magazine, a full case-colored receiver, and perfectly refinished wood (as it later turned out, the rifle was fully re-finished by Doug Turnbull) - that I purchased from a LGS @ $700 (they priced it @ 50% book value, not realizing it was Turnbull's work ) & later sold to a funshow dealer for $3500, partially in cash & partially in other firearms (one of which was a pristine Browning/Miroku .44 Mag Model B-92 @ $500).


.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

with the mods. about as much as a good repro.

I'm afraid that is a pretty realistic assessment, as far as it goes. But it isn't a repro. It has been and it has seen.

[fordwannabe]

I admit I may not be the typical winchester collector..I MUCH prefer a gun that looks like it did stuff other than hang in a rich mans den for a 100 years. The best part of this for me is some of my stuff was passed over many times before it came to live with me. Eventually you can get most of them to shoot well enough for hunting. I have shot a Pennsylvania doe with a different 100 year old or older Winchester or Marlin for 7 of the last 8 years...exactly what they were made for. Oldest to date was a 1889 marlin made in ...1889. Some of my guns are in really good shape some not so good but they all shoot pieces of lead down range and I love every one of them.....kinda like having an ugly dog. That's just me though. Tom