An Extremely Rare Genuine Royal Navy Issued First World War British Contract Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine

This is an extremely rare genuine Royal Navy issued First World War British contract Winchester Model 1892 Saddle Ring Carbine, chambered in 44 WCF. 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. 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 that 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.

 

This particular rifle was owned by Charles. H. Nicholas who served as a chief armourer / ordnance inspector on Royal Navy ships during WW1. We have pictures of Charles and some of his service history supplied by his family. Born 1873 died in 1947 and is buried at St. Margaret's Cemetery, Rochester, Kent. During WW1 he served on H.M.S. Venerable seeing service in the English Channel, Dardanelles (Gallipoli Campaign) and later in the Adriatic.

The rifle is still live and can be owned on an FAC with the correct variation.

We can deactivate to order.