model '92 25-20

[kevin.303]

i'm kinda curious to know the value of an original model 92 winchester there was one out at my grandparents farm. when my grand father was a child it was left there by a hired hand. the ranch ain't to far from the sask-dakota border and it was speculated that he was a deserter from the Us Cavalry. i think some reletive living in montana has it now. last i heard it was in working order and had about 70% of original blue. would this be BP or smokeless cartridge?

[w30wcf]

kevin.303,

The .25-20 W.C.F. cartridge was introduced by Winchester in 1895 for their Model of 1892.  It was made from the .32 W.C.F. cartridge (.32-20) necked down to ,25 caliber.  

It was first introduced  with 86 gr. bullets and was factory loaded with either black or smokeless powder options at a velocity of 1,200 f.p.s.

Beginning in 1903,  Winchester began offering a W.H.V. (Winchester High Velocity) smokeless powder cartridge which clocked almost 1,700 f.p.s.
with a 86 gr. jacketed bullet.

From  1911 to 1936, Winchester also offered cartridges loaded with LESMOK, a  Semi-Smokeless powder.

With the advent of the Winchester "Superspeed" cartridges in 1925, a .25-20 Superspeed round was introduced with a 60 gr. Hollow Point bullet at a sizzling 2,200 f.p.s.  

Winchester black powder .25-20 cartridges were last loaded in 1940 so for the last 63 years, only factory  cartridges loaded with smokeless powder have been available.

Ref: Winchester catalogs 1895, 1903, 1925,
       W.R.A.  CO. Headstamped Cartridges And Their Variations - Dan    
       Shuey
       www.wcfpublications.com

With regards to value, I am no expert, but based on what I have seen in the marketplace, value could be anywhere from $400 to $3000 depending on overall condition and the different options that the rifle has.

w30wcf