My grandfather gave me a Winchester 1890 when I was 16 and told me his father gave it to him. That's all I got because he hated his dad. I have looked everywhere and can find only the mfg date of 1891. Yes , the serial number is that low , 5XXX . The lowest I've seen is 13,xxx. Any help with anything about this rifle would be great. It still shoots and in good condition. Thanks in adavance Jon

No help here but congrats on a great little rifle

Thanks I've had it for almost 20 years and I'm looking for a little info when I hand it off to one of my grandson. I have a house full of girls and that's not going to change thanks to a Dr visit and a little cutting.

When I was a kid, we used to buy them for about $25 and a box of 22 shorts for less than a quarter. I think they only shot shorts. They shot very well.

We used to cut the barrel down and cut off most of the stock so we could carry them on the tractor when we plowed. I seem to remember that they wound up as single shots. No idea what happened to them but wish I still had a couple.

You have a treasure.

This one is stamped 22 long on top of the barrel. It shoots 22 wrf, 22 long and 22 short. Unfortunately someone blued over the case hardening.

That one may be an oddity. But then, longs were kinda hard to come by back in the day.

Longs are still kinda hard to come b.



Hate to doubt the man that owns one but 22 WRF, 22 Auto and 22 Mag all share the same larger diameter case so the full bullet diameter fits inside the case while 22 short, long and long rifle all use a smaller diameter heel inside the case and full bullet diameter outside the case.

IIRC the 1890 was made cartridge specific ie. one in 22 WRF, another in 22 long and still another in 22 short. Later models like the M62 were more generric, one in 22WRF and one that chambered shorts, longs and Long Rifle.

Kmon1 is correct. I've got an early WRF and it's just marked WRF. The older 90's like yours should be marked for Short, Long, and Long Rifle.

I only fired shorts out if it. So this stamped 22 long only accepts 22 shorts or 22 longs? See I'm learning already thanks. this is the stamp.

Here's the eye candy

Is there anything else I should know?

Nope. Kmon1 had it right. That's a "22 Long" specific rifle. The pics are rough, but it does indeed appear to be in excellent condition. My '90 in WRF is in good shape, but a lot more purple/patina than yours. That's a nice little rifle.

Thanks and sorry about the crappy pics, my cell phone is due for an upgrade.