1894 in 44 WCF info/possibilities?

[Jager]

I have an old ( beat up) Winchester 1892 in 44 WCF. I have never fired this gun and know little about it other than it is in rough shape. If anyone could shed some light on my following ramblings I'd appreciate it. I am considering having it fixed up.

Is the 44 WCF the same as 44-40? How similar is this to the 44 magnum? Could it be converted/interchanged? Pros/ Cons? I know nothing about these cartridges other than the 44 mag seems to be more common.

There is little rifling left ( I was told .410 was shot out of it), it has a broken firing pin, the magazine tube was cut back to just in front of the forearm, there is no blueing (if it ever had any), the saddle ring was filed off and the stock is in rough shape.

Would this be a worthwhile project ($$$ in vs. value out) or should I just hang this one on the wall and walk away?

 

[tiriaq]

.44WCF = .44-40. .44 Magnum is very different. Sounds as if this is a basket case carbine. If the action is mechanically sound, replace the firing pin, clean the barrel thoroughly, and test fire it with .44-40 ammunition. If accuracy is acceptable, it might be worth refurbishing. If not, the action could be the basis of a project.

 

[rlg]

Good wall decoration

Sounds as if this is a basket case carbine.

X2.

Scrub it, oil it, pull out the broken pin and hang it on a wall.

Move on to the next project.

 

[ben hunchak]

'92s in decent condition are very desireable and in the past many were converted to .357mag and .44mag(reducing their value), if your action is sound you could look into a new barrel(already chambered), a new stock,etc. You would have to be really keen on this old action for it to make it worth while as the cost of this would be more than a new gun. Once you were finished this project your rifle would be worth less on the market than you paid. The .44/40 is a great old cartridge that has been loaded light all along because of it being chambered first in the Win. '73, a much weaker action. i use a .44/40 for hunting at times, with Black powder, in an old Hopkins and Allen single shot, the rifling is worn like yours but with a soft cast bullet of the right dia. and 35grs. of 3f Goex it shoots o.k., black powder seems to bump the bullet up for a good fit and acceptable accuracy and thats how I would use your rifle if it were me.