Deactivated WWI RAF / Royal Navy Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine

This is an extremely rare First World War issued British contract Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine, chambered in 44-40. At the being of the Great War Britain soon realised that it was woefully short of rifles, and in 1914 the War Office approached Winchester and ordered an initial 9,000 model 1892 carbines.This batch was ordered in Fedruary 1915, and this rifle is from that batch, dating to 1914 as the year of manufacture. Prior to them shipping to the UK, the war office insisted that all the rifles were first inspected by the Canadian authorities who sent three inspectors to the Winchester factory to carry out this task. After inspection those rifles what passed were then stamped on the barrel with the Dominion of Canada Proof stamp, as can be seen on this example - thus confirming it to be WWI British contract carbine. Upon receipt in the UK they were issued to the RAF and Royal Navy. The RAF used them to shoot down German Zeplins and the Navy to board ships but most famously used on Q-ships to attack and defend against U-Boats. Due to the heavy loses inflicted on both the Navy and RAF very few of these carbines now exist.

 

Deactivated to current specifications with a moving action, trigger and hammer.