Winchester Model 1890 First Model Solid-Frame .22 Short Pump-Action Rifle, 24" Octagon Barrel (1892)
This antique Winchester Model 1890 is a First Model solid-frame rifle from 1892, configured for .22 Short. It features the original 24" octagon barrel, the cartridge-specific feed system that runs only the caliber marked on the barrel, and classic walnut furniture with a crescent steel buttplate. Designed by John and Matthew Browning and widely associated with period shooting-gallery use, this early example represents the pre-takedown configuration documented for the First Model.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Fair - Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Bore Fouling: Mild Fouling - Light buildup of fouling or dirt.
Bore Rifling: Fair Rifling - Worn rifling, slight loss of definition.
Specific Condition Notes: There are small cracks throughout the walnut stock. The rear sight is bent to the left. There is heavy rust, finish loss, and discoloration present across the firearm. The bore shows mild fouling consistent with use.
What's Included
- Winchester Model 1890 First Model (Solid Frame) .22 Short pump-action rifle
The First Model solid-frame construction identifies this rifle as the pre-takedown configuration of the Model 1890. It retains its 24" octagon barrel and tubular magazine with a 15+1 capacity in .22 Short, employing Winchester’s caliber-specific feed system that accepts only the cartridge stamped on the barrel.
Stocked in straight-grip walnut with a crescent steel buttplate and paired with a ribbed walnut slide/forend, this rifle shows the period-correct furniture and handling profile associated with early-production 1890s Winchesters. Sighting is via a dovetailed front blade and a rear leaf sight.
Designed by John and Matthew Browning and manufactured in the United States, the Model 1890 became closely linked to late-19th and early-20th century shooting-gallery use. This example dates to 1892, placing it within the documented First Model range, and qualifies as an antique.
Research records for early serial-numbered examples of this model are held by the Cody Firearms Museum, offering avenues for historical documentation for collectors who pursue a factory letter. As configured and dated, this rifle represents the earliest iteration of Winchester’s iconic pump-action rimfire.