#1
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Win. 1892 .218: To "Bee" - Or Not?
A rifle listed as a Model 1892 in .218 Bee is at a nearby Amish gun auction soon. It's my understanding that a few came out of the factory in the late 1930s; all others were smithed "hybrids" with Model 65 barrels. I'm no collector, but might bid on it, as it looks like some will pay a pretty penny for even a, uh, "wannabe", and would hate to see a priceless relic sell for $200 then be used as a buggy gun. Catalog pics show it looking kind of rough. Anybody on here know of a way to tell a very-rare original from a re-barreled one?
Thanks. |
#2
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Win 1892 .218 bee
I have no idea, but if you can bid and maybe obtain it, for a decent price, I would say go for it. Might just turn out to be one of those "Rare" finds, for a low price. Bill K
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#3
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#4
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Isn't the rifle Model # on the barrel? That would tell pretty quick if changed. I thought at least but it's been a long time since I looked at any.
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#5
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That's an extremely rare bird......... Only a handful were built. As Ray suggested the model # should be on the barrel. The serial # should be very high on the rifle. Over 1 million to be correct. I'm away from home so I can't reference it exactly but this should be enough to tell if it's a put together. I have seen a few of the rebarreled (218's) ones go in the 7-8 hundred dollar range. 92's are great rifles and a hoot to shoot. No recoil and make a soda can dance all day at 50 yards with iron sights. I have a 25-20, 38-40 and a 44-40. Never much cared for the 32-20 cal. Spose I should pick one up just to round out the calibers they were offered in.........
I just did a little more digging, the cartridge did not come out until 1937. Total production of 92's from 1937-1941 (end of production) was less than 1,000 rifles. I don't know how many were 218's were run for a total but as I was saying the number is under 1,000 units produced in that time frame. Who knows how many of the balance of these rifles were in the other chamberings?? An original in rough shape I would expect to go for 3,000-5,000 A original rifle in solid condition, no cracks or splits in the wood 50% blue 10,000 excellent condition, north of 15,000 These prices reflect the rarity of this chambering. If you get a couple fella's with fat pockets that have to have it, well............... Aaron
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I have come to the conclusion that guns are a lot like women, no matter how ugly they are, someone will always take them home!! Last edited by long shot; 09-24-2016 at 06:59 PM. |
#6
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The Wikipedia link said the M1892 in 218 Bee were only made in 1936 - 1938. So, you should be able to cross reference that timeframe to the SN of the rifle.
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#7
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I have come to the conclusion that guns are a lot like women, no matter how ugly they are, someone will always take them home!! |
#8
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This is good question to ask on the Winchester Collectors site.
The serial number suggestion is also a very good start. Good Luck. Jim |
#9
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I've always wanted a '92 in 218 Bee but could never take a good condition 25-20 or 32-20 to make one on.
I had one once and sold it, the person who converted it didn't bush the firing pin hole and since it was oversize it kept piercing primers. Anyway a few years ago I picked up a rough '92 in 25-20, the butt stock was rough and the foreend and magazine were missing, the firing pin broken in two and the firing pin hole was big enough to drive a bus between the firing pin and the breechblock, not to mention the barrel waved side to side about 1.5" when you shook the action. It made me wonder how it got to be in this state. Even though the serial number puts it about 1912 it will be converted to 218Bee, perhaps with octagonal barrel and sporting configuration. Till it does it just sits in the safe. There was a very good article in American Rifleman many years ago about the history of the '92, might have to dig it out as it had some very good facts. |
#10
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What a neat little snow-shoe bunny rifle that would be with cast bullets.
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Daryl |
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