Make: Winchester

Model: 1890 2nd Model

Serial Number: 150661

Year of Manufacture: 1902

Caliber: .22 Short

Action Type: Pump Action Rifle with Tubular Magazine

Barrel Length: 24”, Octagonal

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight is a “U”-notch “sheet metal” sight screwed to the barrel with elevation slot and adjustment screw.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are beautiful oiled finish walnut. The wood to metal fit is excellent, though it has darkened where it meets the metal. There are a couple spots of discoloration on the right side of the wrist. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 12 7/8? from the front of the trigger to the back of the crescent steel buttplate. There are some minor freckles toward the bottom of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks rate in about Fine Condition.

Type of Finish: Blued, with a Case-hardened hammer and buttplate

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is very faint erosion down the length of the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates at 8/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 93% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows light operation wear. The case color on the hammer is strong throughout. The case color on the buttplate has thinned and mostly gone mute, but remains strong near the top screw. There is light corrosion freckled on top of the receiver and bolt. There are minor scratches scattered about the receiver and a couple nicks on the edges of the barrel. The bottom metal has taken a patina where the finish has mostly thinned. There is minor thinning on the leading edges. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fine Condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: Winchester was the first American company to offer a practical .22 pump-action rifle, the Model 1890. Designed by gunmaking genius John Moses Browning, the Model 1890 was patterned after Winchester's iconic lever-actions with a tubular magazine under the barrel, an exposed hammer, and top ejection. Winchester had asked Browning to design the rifle as a replacement for the rimfire versions of the Model 1873, which had never achieved great popularity. The Model 1890 was an instant success, and set the standard for all .22 repeaters that followed. For many years, the Model 1890, when chambered in .22 Short, was considered to be the standard for use in shooting galleries, hence its affectionate nickname of gallery gun.

This Winchester Model 1890 2nd Model Takedown Rifle was made in 1902 and is in Fine Condition. It features a 24” octagonal barrel, 93% of its lustrous, original blued finish, with some strong, vibrant, and iridescent case coloring on the hammer, and the case coloring on the crescent steel buttplate having mostly gone mute, though remaining strong near the top screw, beautiful oil finished walnut stocks, clear markings, and a bright bore with sharp rifling and only faint erosion. In .22 Short, this is a wonderful example of the classic Winchester 1890 pump rifle.