Winchester Model 1890 Gallery Gun .22 Short Pump Action Rifle, MFD 1909 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1775.01
LSB#: 210127EM64
Make: Winchester
Model: 1890
Serial Number: 385370
Year of Manufacture: 1909
Caliber: .22 Short
Action Type: Pump Action Rimfire Rifle
Markings: The left shoulder of the barrel is marked “MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. / NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. PAT. JUNE 26. 88. DEC. 6. 92. NOV. 27. 06.” and “MOD. 1890-”. There is a Winchester proof on the top of the chamber ring and the top rear of the barrel. The rear left shoulder of the barrel is marked “22 SHORT”. The bottom tang is marked with the serial number. The top tang is marked “REG. IN U.S.PAT.OFF / -WINCHESTER- / —-TRADE MARK—-”. The bottom of the receiver is marked “385370 / A”. The grip cap is marked “WINCHESTER / REPEATING / ARMS CO.”.
Barrel Length: 24”, Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “V”-notch elevator sight screwed to the barrel.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece walnut with a grooved slide handle, capped pistol grip, straight comb and steel crescent buttplate. There are scattered minor compressions and draglines. The wood is a bit shy at the heel. There is a tiny amount of play between the bttstock and the metal. The wood has darkened with age. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 12 3/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has some scattered erosion with the most notable at the heel and toe. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with well defined rifling. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 65% of its metal finish. Areas of finish loss include the slide bar, all leading edges, spots of abrasive cleaning over oxidation on the barrel, the top and bottom tangs, and the magazine tube. There are scattered nicks, dings and scratches throughout the metal. The action has operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are worn, but legible. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: From Wikipedia: “The Winchester Model 1890 pump action rifle was designed by John Browning in the late 1880’s, patented in 1888 and renamed the Model 90 in about 1919. 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. It proved to be the most successful repeating rim fire rifle for general all around shooting ever made by Winchester. Approximately 849,000 Model 1890 rifles were produced between 1890 and 1932, after which the Model 1890 was replaced by the Model 62. For many years, the Model 1890 was considered to be the standard for use in shooting galleries, hence its nickname of “gallery gun”. This is a Model 1890 3rd Model rifle made in 1910, with a blued octagon barrel and receiver and a straight gripped stock with crescent shaped steel buttplate. The rifle is chambered in .22 Short, the standard for those used in shooting galleries. The rifle is in about Very Good condition with about 65% of its original finish remaining. It is sad that most of us will never experience the fun of a young boy or girl getting to go to a carnival for the first time and shoot a real firearm at targets trying to win a prize. Nevertheless, we can still dream, and this rifle will help with those dreams. This rifle has seen some honest wear, but the collectors should still be interested, as no collection of rimfire rifles would be complete without a gallery gun. Please See our photos and good luck!