Lever crooked / off center?

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catoctinfalls
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Lever crooked / off center?

Post by catoctinfalls »

Hi forum, was hoping someone could shed light on this mystery. Attached are several pictures of an old reblued Winchester 1892, serial applied in 1897 per Madis, 1900 per Cody's records. As you can see, the lever is off center, to the right of the gun as you hold it in firing position.

I'm no gunsmith, but I think the actual lever has somehow been warped, because when I press a flat piece of metal against it, it doesn't seem to rest flush against it.

Is it physically possible for metal to warp like this, or does it look like the lever itself is straight but has been reassembled wrong? Any theories on what may have caused this? Has anyone seen anything like this on any lever action before?
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J Miller
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Re: Lever crooked / off center?

Post by J Miller »

To my eyes the lever looks bent. Right about where the loop and trigger guard meet.

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Re: Lever crooked / off center?

Post by black river smith »

I do not have an original Win1892 but with my experience with Rossi '92's, the levers are the same general shape and 'cannot' be installed crooked. That just to answer your one question. How did that happen -- is a hard one to take a guess at. As 3 Miller stated that lever is bent at the trigger and loop area to the left side of the rifle. If you were to disassemble the action and lay the lever on a flat surface the 'bow in it' would be very apparent. I am 'guessing here' but I think a smith could press that back into shape without cracking or maybe using some heat and pressure.

PS. From the pictures provided that is a nice condition and finish on the rifle even for a rework. Don't understand why refinisher did not take the time to fix that before polishing and reblueing and reselling the firearm. Shame to have to do it all over again.

PSS. Welcome to the forum.
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marlinman93
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Re: Lever crooked / off center?

Post by marlinman93 »

It's bent, and they actually can bend easier than you'd think. I've straightened them by removing the lever and clamping it in my vise with wood padded jaws. Then just gave it a gentle pull until I figured out how much it took to get it straight again. Tougher to remove and replace than it was to straighten.
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jeepnik
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Re: Lever crooked / off center?

Post by jeepnik »

Wonder whose head it was bent over. Sometimes I really do wish firearms could talk.
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AJMD429
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Re: Lever crooked / off center?

Post by AJMD429 »

jeepnik wrote: Sun Jan 23, 2022 6:38 pm Wonder whose head it was bent over. Sometimes I really do wish firearms could talk.
:shock: :lol:
Good thought. Probably got stepped on or sat on or something mundane, but a barroom brawl does sound more romantic from a historic standpoint... :D
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Re: Lever crooked / off center?

Post by Ysabel Kid »

AJMD429 wrote: Sun Jan 23, 2022 8:31 pm
jeepnik wrote: Sun Jan 23, 2022 6:38 pm Wonder whose head it was bent over. Sometimes I really do wish firearms could talk.
:shock: :lol:
Good thought. Probably got stepped on or sat on or something mundane, but a barroom brawl does sound more romantic from a historic standpoint... :D
+1 :lol:
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Re: Lever crooked / off center?

Post by Griff »

Steels warps with heat... usually in the heat treat process. But, levers are not a hardened part, and have been known to bend. I agree with the above, looks bent between the trigger guard and lever loop.
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Re: Lever crooked / off center?

Post by Nate Kiowa Jones »

Griff wrote: Sun Jan 23, 2022 10:55 pm Steels warps with heat... usually in the heat treat process. But, levers are not a hardened part, and have been known to bend. I agree with the above, looks bent between the trigger guard and lever loop.
It's just bent. As many of you know, I sell and install the big loop levers. So, because Rossi has been making these 92's since the 60's there will be variances in how the new levers fit in relationship to the lower tangs. I've had to bend the loop portion up or down and sometimes even open the trigger guard portion to make them look right.
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Old Savage
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Re: Lever crooked / off center?

Post by Old Savage »

Steve, thanks for your input, always appreciate what you have to say.
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JOG
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Re: Lever crooked / off center?

Post by JOG »

Personally, I would send it off to a competent gunsmith to have it straightened out.
A good old 92 deserves to be fixed correctly. Even if it's been re blued.
Good luck with it!
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Re: Lever crooked / off center?

Post by black river smith »

Nate Kiowa Jones wrote: Mon Jan 24, 2022 2:41 am It's just bent. As many of you know, I sell and install the big loop levers. So, because Rossi has been making these 92's since the 60's there will be variances in how the new levers fit in relationship to the lower tangs. I've had to bend the loop portion up or down and sometimes even open the trigger guard portion to make them look right.
Sir, thank you for this comment. It has answered a question for me that I asked over on a different forum back in mid2019. That helps my understanding of what 'was' and has to be done for better aesthetics on these Rossi '92 firearms.
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Old Savage
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Re: Lever crooked / off center?

Post by Old Savage »

Bet this one could have a bent lever.
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