Project Description
This exact carbine featured on page 183 of the book “The Art of Miniature Firearms”! This is a 1/2 scale Winchester Model 1982 saddle ring carbine made by master miniature firearms maker George Wenzek of Washington State. The carbine was engraved & gold inlaid by master engraver Roger Sampson of Minnesota & the wood was checkered by master stock maker James Corpe of Missouri. The rifle’s gold inlays include a gold wire band on the barrel band, a gold wire band at the rear of the barrel, gold wire border inlays on the frame & lever. The left side of the frame features a gold inlaid mountain lion with an engraved mountain scene with gold wire inlaid borders. The right side of the frame features a gold inlaid wolf in an engraved woodland scene. There are additional gold wire inlays at the top rear of the bolt and the top tang of the buttplate.  The bottom of the receiver features an engraved oval game scene panel of a white tailed deer in a woodland background. The frame & lever with almost 100% engraving coverage with additional engraving at the rear of the barrel, the bolt & buttplate. Straight grained walnut forearm & buttstock with beautifully executed 48 lines per inch checkering by James Corpe with spade details. 18 3/4″ long overall with a 10″ round rifled barrel. Machined steel construction with a blue finish, except for the case colored hammer & trigger. This piece features a button magazine which is much shorter than standard, just barely extending past the front of the forearm, which would have been a Winchester special order item & would make the carbine much lighter & faster handling. Carbine style buttplate, straight grip stock.  Fixed front sight & a dovetailed windage & elevation adjustable rear sight with step elevator. Saddle ring stud & ring on the left rear of the receiver. Checkered hammer spur. The top of the barrel engraved with the Winchester barrel address “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER, REPEATING ARMS CO., NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A.”, in three lines. The bottom tang stamped “WENZEK” under the lever. The bottom front of the frame stamped with the serial # “5”. Mr. Wenzek only made five of these. Includes the beautiful original Wenzek walnut hinged top case with two slide latches. The interior French fit & lined in a light blue/gray felt. The left rear interior corner with an attached brass plaque reading “1892 Cal. 44/40, Winchester Saddle Rifle, Half Scale By, George Wenzek, 1992”, in five lines. Excellent beautiful near mint condition, I’d call it 99+%. The case is also near mint. Winchester sold many of their 1892 Model 1892 carbines in .44-40 to Mexico for their Federales police officers & their army. This is the second one of these I have ever had the pleasure to offer for sale, and as far as I know, this is the only engraved example. Words can not convey the beauty of this rifle & neither can photos. It really needs top be seen “IN HAND” to understand! Stock # WD-1047. Price: $13,500.00.
