Winchester Model 1890 Third Model .22 WRF Pump-Action Rifle, 24-inch Octagon Barrel, Takedown, 1915
Manufactured in 1915, this Winchester Model 1890 Third Model is a .22 WRF-only pump-action rifle with classic Browning-era design and distinctive features. It is a takedown, top-eject configuration with a 24-inch octagon barrel, straight-grip walnut stock, and grooved slide handle. Matching serial number 550059 is present on the lower tang and the bottom front of the receiver; the receiver bottom additionally shows an “A” beneath the number, while the lower tang has no suffix. Period rollmarks include "22 W.R.F." on the barrel top and the Winchester trademark on the upper tang. This rifle predates the later "Model 90" rollmark transition and reflects the model's noted gallery gun heritage.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Poor - Noticeable dirt, stains, significant corrosion or damage.
Bore Rifling: Poor Rifling - Rifling heavily worn or filled with fouling or debris.
Specific Condition Notes: There is widespread rust and pitting on metal surfaces. Scratches and blemishes are present throughout. Finish loss is extensive across the exterior. The bore is dark with visible blemishing.
What's Included
- Winchester Model 1890 Third Model pump-action rifle chambered in .22 WRF
This Third Model features the externally visible locking cut at the top front of the receiver and a takedown system with a barrel–receiver collar, making transport and maintenance straightforward for the era. It also uses top ejection, a hallmark of many period Winchesters.
The 24-inch octagon barrel is paired with a near full-length under-barrel tubular magazine retained by two magazine hangers. Capacity is 11 rounds. Sights are traditional and practical: a dovetailed front sight and a barrel-mounted open rear sight with an elevator.
Chambered in .22 WRF only, this rifle is a single-caliber design and is not interchangeable with .22 Short, .22 Long, or .22 Long Rifle. The rifle carries correct rollmarks: "22 W.R.F." on the barrel top and "WINCHESTER — TRADE MARK — REG. IN U.S. PAT. OFF." on the upper tang.
Stocked in walnut, it has a straight-grip buttstock, a grooved/ribbed slide handle, and a steel crescent buttplate. The blued finish is consistent with the period. Designed by John and Matthew Browning and built in the United States, this 1915 example predates the later "Model 90" rollmark transition. Matching serial number 550059 appears on the lower tang and the receiver bottom; the receiver bottom also shows an “A” beneath the number, while the lower tang has no suffix.