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Excellent and Scarce Semi-Deluxe Special Order Winchester Model 1890 Slide Action Rifle in Desirable

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Long Guns - Rifles Start Price:3,500.00 USD Estimated At:7,000.00 - 9,500.00 USD
Excellent and Scarce Semi-Deluxe Special Order Winchester Model 1890 Slide Action Rifle in Desirable
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Excellent and Scarce Semi-Deluxe Special Order Winchester Model 1890 Slide Action Rifle in Desirable 22 WRF with Factory Letter

This is a beautiful example of a very rare "semi-deluxe" slide action Winchester Model 1890 manufactured in late 1902. These semi-deluxe Winchester rifles, although not factory engraved or highly embellished, are probably significantly more rare because very few people would spend the extra money to special order the rifle with one or two special features than the basic rifle. Usually they opted to upgrade to a significantly more elaborate and highly embellished rifle. The two special features on this rifle are an original Winchester hard rubber grip cap with plain walnut stock and a blank installed in the rear sight dovetail slot, and has instead been fitted with a Lyman bead front sight and a Lyman No. 1 second variation tang mounted adjustable rear sight. The octagon barrel has the standard Winchester markings of "MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO./NEW HAVEN CONN. U.S.A. PAT. JUNE 26. 88. DEC. 6. 92." and "22 W.R.F." stamped in front of the receiver ring. The upper tang is covered by the tang mount sight but it is probably marked with the third pattern "MODEL 1890/----WINCHESTER----/TRADE MARK", with the serial number on the rear of the lower tang. As noted, it is fitted with a plain pistol grip walnut stock with grip cap and a crescent steel buttplate and a standard 12 groove walnut pump handle. This rifle has an all blue Winchester metal finish with a color casehardened hammer and buttplate. The accompanying factory letter states that the serial number was applied on December 2, 1902, lists the caliber as "WRF", verifies the plain trigger, pistol grip stock, "blank in rear seat, Lyman rear" and that it was received in and shipped out to order number 179554 on March 4, 1903. It also states it was repaired and returned to order number 261308 on February 2, 1904 and repaired and returned on February 9, 1903.

Manufacture: Winchester
Model: 1890-Rifle
BBL: 24 inch octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 22 WRF
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 152479

Excellent with 90% plus of the original Winchester factory blue finish remaining, showing edge and high spot wear, some thinning on the lower stock assembly and slight browning on the trigger guard. The hammer and buttplate retain 90% of their color casehardened finish with the side of the hammer showing some scratching from cycling the action and the buttplate having a very subdued color casehardened tone overall. The stock and pump handle show 98% of the factory varnish finish with some minor/light handling marks or scratches on the right side of the stock, otherwise it is excellent plus. This is really a neat semi-deluxe Winchester Model 1890 slide action rifle in super nice condition with two special order features.