Chiappa 1892
The Chiappa 1892 is a reproduction of the Winchester Model 1892—John Browning’s refined and improved version of the Model 1873 that became the dominant lever-action rifle of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Available in .357 Magnum/.38 Special, .44 Magnum/.44 Special, .44-40 Winchester, and .45 Colt in full rifle, carbine, and the compact Mares Leg pistol configuration, the Chiappa 1892 covers the complete range of traditional cowboy lever-action use cases. The 1892 action is considered smoother and more refined than the 1873 it replaced, making it a preferred choice for SASS cowboy action shooters who want a fast, reliable lever gun.
Read our full Chiappa 1892 Buying Guide ↓
1892 vs. 1873: Why the Later Model Is Often Preferred
The Winchester 1873 used a toggle-link action that, while historically significant, is mechanically more complex and somewhat slower to cycle than the 1892’s improved design. Browning’s 1892 action uses a simpler, stronger locking mechanism that many shooters find cycles more smoothly and reliably. In SASS competition where rapid cycling is directly rewarded, the 1892 is widely considered the faster action. For buyers choosing between the Chiappa/Cimarron 1873 and the 1892, the 1873 is more historically authentic to the Civil War and post-Civil War era; the 1892 represents the refined later generation and is the better action for sustained competition use.
Configuration Options: Rifle, Carbine, and Mares Leg
The Chiappa 1892 rifle uses a 20” or 24” barrel with a full-length magazine tube for maximum capacity and the traditional rifle silhouette. The carbine uses a 16” or 18.5” barrel for more compact handling—the configuration preferred by most SASS competitors for its faster handling on stages. The Mares Leg is a legally-classified pistol with a pistol grip stock and 12” barrel in the same compact format popularized in Western films. Each configuration shares the same action and accepts the same caliber selection.
Caliber Matching with SAA Revolvers
The Chiappa 1892 in .357 Magnum matches the Cimarron Model P SAA revolver in .357 Magnum, creating a caliber-matched rifle and revolver pair that shares ammunition entirely. The .45 Colt 1892 matches the .45 Colt SAA for historically authentic period-correct combinations. The .44-40 pairing with a .44-40 SAA reproduces the most historically common rifle-revolver combination of the frontier era. For SASS competitors who want a matching pair, the 1892 and Model P in the same caliber is one of the most practical and historically resonant combinations available.
Short-Stroke and Competition Tuning
Like the 1873, the Chiappa 1892 can be fitted with short-stroke kits that reduce lever travel for faster cycling in competition. Chiappa and several aftermarket suppliers offer short-stroke components specifically for the 1892 action. For serious SASS competitors who want to maximize stage speed, a short-stroked 1892 carbine in .357 Magnum or .45 Colt is one of the most capable competition lever guns available at any price. Factory-tuned competition variants are also available for buyers who want competition-ready performance without gunsmith work.
Related Pages
Compare the earlier model on the Cimarron 1873 Rifle page, browse the full Chiappa lineup, or explore all lever-action rifles.