One-of-a-kind prototype lever action carbine made by firearms genius John M. Browning in his Ogden, Utah, shop c. 1893. The prototype carbine has features found on both the Model 1892 and Model 1894 lever action rifles and carbines. The extensive documentation that accompanies this carbine includes letters from Bruce W. Browning, Willy Bertrand, the Winchester Arms Museum, Houze, the Winchester Collectors Association and the Research and Development Division of the Browning Arms Company. This carbine was the subject of an article by Winchester Firearms Museum Curator Herbert Houze that was published in October 2002 issue of AMERICAN RIFLEMAN. The documentation states that this carbine, known by John M. Browning and his son Val Browning as "The Improved Model 92" was one of two prototypes developed to chamber the new smokeless powder .30 W.C.F. cartridge. A letter from Bruce Browning states that this unique carbine was inadvertently sold when the contents of the Browning Morgan, Utah, storeroom were liquidated after Browning was purchased by Fabrique Nationale in 1980. This handmade carbine utilized no components from other Browning rifles with the possible exception of screws. The carbine is finished "bright" and features a 19 7/8-inch round barrel with sleeve front sight and unique carbine blade. The full length magazine has a single band dovetailed to the barrel. The dovetail mounted carbine style rear sight has no graduations. The square cut receiver has a Model 1892 style loading gate with fingernail sized scallop in the front edge and radius cut-out in the rear for the longer .30 W.C.F. cartridge. The carbine has the same single vertical breech locking bar utilized on the Model 1894. The hammer has a hand checkered short flat tang. The stock has a handmade carbine style buttplate. The nicely figured French walnut stock and forearm have fine checkered panels and a varnished piano finish. The documentation that accompanies the carbine indicates that it was stocked for exhibition in the late 1950s or early 1960s. A 1 1/4 inch tag marked: "PROPERTY OF/BROWNING/PROPERTY NO. 1880" is attached to the left side of the receiver above the loading gate. "B" is stamped on the bottom of the receiver to the left of the lever and "4" is stamped on the right side of the lever. The carbine has no other visible markings.

Very fine. The carbine retains all of the original bright metal finish. Wear is limited to a few very minor scratches and handling marks. The (later installed by Browning Descendants, at their direction) stock and forearm retain 98% plus of the varnished piano finish with perfect checkering. This is a one-of-a-kind prototype made by firearms genius John M. Browning to develop many of the features subsequently incorporated on the Model 1894 rifles and carbines. But for the inadvertent sale by FN in 1980, this carbine would almost certainly be on museum display with other Browning prototypes. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own a prototype firearm that was handmade by one of the finest firearms designers and inventors.