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**pacrat** · 01-11-2021, 8:24 PM

According to "wiki" there was a 3 yr window in which the 92 was factory chambered in 218 Bee.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.218_Bee

Yet no markings seem to indicate an after factory rebarrel job.

You might ask Trapp to check with Bert for the Ser # range of the 92 Bees.

**Woodymyster** · 01-11-2021, 8:27 PM

Your 92 should have been made in around 1911. I believe .218 Bee came out right before WW2. I remember people would take Win 65 barrels chambered in .218 Bee and swap them on their 92s. However, I believe the barrel would have Winchester markings as well as Winchester 65 markings and I think they were 24" long.

I assume you could take a .22 barrel and chamber it for .218. I believe .218 is based f the .25-20 brass.

**DanM** · 01-11-2021, 8:45 PM

Thanks for the info. Something tells me this may have been done somewhere other than the factory, the 18" barrel is much heavier than what you would expect, however I know little about antiques. The action, chamber and barrel all appear in great shape with very little wear at all, no putting whatsoever

**Dgr1dman** · 01-11-2021, 9:05 PM

**TRAP55** · 01-12-2021, 2:41 AM

Originally posted by DanM

Sort of an oddball. Serial 637001, the odd part is its 18" barrel and chambering of .218 Bee, Marble Gladstone peep sight mounted on tang, no shroud over front sight, very plain stock, no checkering, no sling mounts ever installed. Overall in good condition. Does anyone know about these being rebarreled by factory? Barrel has no markings at all.

Dan, your 92 was made in the last quarter of 1911. Check the bottom of the barrel next to the receiver for a two digit barrel date code.
The .218 Bee was introduced in 1937, in the Model 65.
To date, there are no documented "factory built" 92's chambered for .218 Bee. Both Bert and Michael confer on that from their surveys, and existing factory records.
If it was re-barreled outside of the factory, the barrel will have the Oval P proof. The ones that have shown up with the WP proof, show no R&R factory records. Ones with both proofs, haven't either.
That's the bad news. The good news is, even though cobbled together non-original, they still sell for crazy high prices!