Winchester M1890 Takedown in .22 W.R.F. — Made in 1898!

A scarce Winchester Model 1890 takedown pump action rifle chambered in .22 W.R.F. The top of the barrel is marked “-MANUFACTURED BY THE- / -WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S.A.-”, and at the receiver with “22 W.R.F.”. The upper tang is marked “WINCHESTER /  -MODEL 1890- /  PAT.JUNE 26-88.DEC.6-92.”. The lower tang is marked “5699X”. Barrel Length: 24″.  The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a “V” notched leaf sight screwed to the rear of the barrel, adjustable for elevation. The upper tang is a drilled, tapped and filled for a tang sight (not included). Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece walnut with a grooved slide handle, straight grip and steel crescent buttplate. The slide handle has a nick on the left at the second groove in front of the mounting screw, light handling marks, and some discoloration from age and oil. The buttstock has a cluster of bruises on the right-rear, several scattered nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches with a concentration along the belly toward the toe and a non-threatening crack at the rear of the bottom tang. The LOP measures 12 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has worn to white with scattered light nicks, scratches and surface oxidation. Overall, the stocks are in about Good-Very Good condition as Antique. Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color. Finish Originality: Appears original. Bore Condition: The bore is gray with well defined rifling. There is light erosion throughout the bore with infrequent light pitting. This should still be a good shooter.  Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 65% of its metal finish. The exposed portions of the case color components have mostly worn to white with remaining color seen at the top of the trigger guard, on the hammer, and on the inside, concealed when assembled. The barrel has most notable finish loss at the rear with finish thinning at all edges and scattered lighter finish wear forward of the rear sight. There are light nicks, scratches, and surface oxidation scattered throughout. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good-Fine condition as Antique. Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The action locks-up correctly. The hammer has a half-cock safety position. The rifle is chambered in .22 WRF, a cartridge originally developed to be more powerful than the standard .22 Long Rifle cartridge. With the development of new propellants and high-velocity .22 Long Rifle loadings, the .22 WRF lost favor with many shooters, although .22 W.R.F. cartridges are still regularly produced by CCI and they are available commercially from a number of Internet vendors. The rifle is in overall about Very Good-Fine condition with about 65% of its finish remaining. The rifle was made when the receiver and other parts were still color case hardened with a little bit of the figuring still visible on the exterior, more on the internal parts. This rifle has some normal handling wear, but the action is still tight and the bore shootable.  Because of the nostalgia factor, Winchester Model 1890 rifles have become very collectible in recent years, and those that were made before 1899 now bring a 30% or more premium! (ENAU-725)