The new Heritage 92 rifles are available in several configurations. [Heritage]
Heritage Manufacturing has jumped into the pistol-caliber lever-action game. The new Heritage 92 lever-actions follow a very familiar design, the classic Model 1892. The line launches with immediate introduction of 12 new models covering a wide range of shooting situations.
Heritage doesn’t say the rifle is an exact copy of the John Moses Browning design that Winchester has sold for generations, and it probably isn’t. However, the photos look similar enough that disassembly and operation should be the same. See past stories on the Model 1892 here.
Choices, choices
Heritage Manufacturing will offer the new 92 in .44 Magnum, .45 Long Colt and .357 Magnum. There will be three different configurations of the rifle, with each version available in your choice of three different finishes. Not all versions of the rifles are available in all calibers.
All versions of the rifle come with a thumb safety, buckhorn sights and wood furniture, as far as we can tell from Heritage’s website. Flipping through the various pages for each of the sub-models, it looks as if a few of their details are slightly mixed-up.
Heritage 92 Black 8-round.[Heritage]
92 Black 8-rounds
These are the carbine-length version of the rifle, with polished black metal, a 16.5-inch barrel, large-loop lever, and weight of around 5.9 pounds. The 8-round version is only available in .357 Magnum or .45 Long Colt, at an MSRP of $863.99.
The 20-inch barrel give’s the Heritage 92 10-round a familiar deer rifle look. [Heritage]
92 Black 10-rounds
The same idea, but with a 20-inch barrel and 10-round capacity, and only a few ounces heavier. Also, they have a standard-shape lever, not the John Wayne-style large loop. These rifles are only available in .44 Magnum and .357 Magnum. MSRP is $863.99.
Like something from a vintage mail-order catalog, the 12-round version with its 24-inch barrel recalls the full-length lever guns of the early 20th century. [Heritage]
92 Black 12-rounds
A classic rifle-length lever-action; very common a century ago, when hunters liked the longer sight radius and also thought the longer barrel gave them more hitting power. Comes with a 24-inch barrel and 12-round magazine capacity. These rifles also come with an octagonal barrel profile. Available in .357 Magnum, .45 Long Colt and .44 Magnum. Weighs 7.4 pounds unloaded. MSRP is $977.99.
Heritage’s website only lists the stainless 8-round version in .44 Magnum. [Heritage]
92 Stainless Steel 8-rounds
This rifle is only available in .44 Magnum, and it’s basically the same as the standard 8-round 92 Black, except for an 18-inch barrel, the obvious change to stainless steel construction and a $924.99 MSRP.
A full-length stainless-steel lever gun; the flashy looks means this will cost you. [Heritage]
92 Stainless Steel 12-rounds
Only available in .357 Magnum and .45 Long Colt. The same idea as the standard 12-round models otherwise, with an MSRP of $1030.99.
Look like a character from a classic Western film with the Ranch Hand. [Heritage]
92 Ranch Hand Black
Yee-haw. Just like Steve McQueen in Wanted: Dead or Alive. These come with a 12-inch barrel and 6-round magazine, and they look just like the Mare’s Leg pistol that Von Dutch made for Steve McQueen. They weigh 5.1 ounces. MSRP is $840.99. Comes in .357 Magnum or .44 Magnum.
Ranch Hand models come with a large-loop lever, and this stainless model comes with black-stained furniture. [Heritage]
92 Ranch Hand Stainless
Same as the standard Ranch Hand, but in Stainless steel. The asking price is $924.99.
For more details, check out Heritage’s website; we may see updates to their marketing material there in the coming days.
