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Fabulous Early Deluxe Factory Engraved Winchester Model 1890 Slide Action Rifle with Casehardened Re

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military / Long Guns - Rifles Start Price:32,500.00 USD Estimated At:65,000.00 - 90,000.00 USD
Fabulous Early Deluxe Factory Engraved Winchester Model 1890 Slide Action Rifle with Casehardened Re
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Fabulous Early Deluxe Factory Engraved Winchester Model 1890 Slide Action Rifle with Casehardened Receiver and Deluxe Walnut Stock

This is a beautiful example of an extremely rare deluxe factory engraved and highly embellished early Second Model Winchester Model 1890 slide action rifle, manufactured in late 1894. This is a beautiful Second Model that has the new takedown feature, but still retains the earlier concealed locking lugs of the First Model. These Second Models were produced for only a very short time between serial numbers 15,522 and 32,616 with this rifle being a late production model. This beautiful rifle has a very desirable factory "No. 8" engraving pattern that depicts a very rarely seen standing buffalo scene on one side, and a standing deer scene on the obverse. These engraving patterns were almost exclusively used on large frame lever action rifles such as the models 1886, 1892 and 1894 rifles. This pattern is shown on page 218 and 221 of "The Book of Winchester Engraving" by R.L. Wilson. The engraved scene itself is a semi-circular clamshell shaped panel with the standing buffalo in a prairie scene. The obverse depicts the same style of clamshell shaped panel with the standing deer in a slightly wooded scene. Both panels are flanked by beautiful medium sized tight scroll engraving that has a fine line border around the scroll engraving with heart-shaped designs as the border around the edges of receiver. The lower sides of the receiver also depict a wavy line pattern with single punch dot accents. The engraving was also applied on the top and front edge of the receiver, with a fine-line border around the edges of the stock and action group, and also that frames the upper tang factory markings and serial number. Although the engraving is not signed the beautiful detail could certainly be the work of John Ulrich, a Master Engraver of Winchester rifles or certainly someone in his shop. The side of the lower tang is stamped with factory work order number "3681" and "XXX" signifying the grade of wood. The rifle has been fitted with a beautiful extra fancy grade burl walnut pistol grip stock. The stock itself has an original Winchester hard rubber grip cap with a very fine line checkered pattern on each side of the pistol grip. It is also fitted with a standard 12 groove walnut pump handle that has just a hint of figure at the very front. The octagon barrel has the early Winchester markings "------MANUFACTURED BY THE -----/-----WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN CONN. U.S.A.-----". The rear of the barrel has the caliber markings of "22 LONG", which is very rare in itself as before 1919 this chambering was only used on a very limited basis. The barrel is fitted with the special order 3/4 length tubular magazine tube and it has the standard adjustable (slightly longer version) sporting rear sight and model 21 front sight. This beautiful rifle has the Winchester rust blue finish on the barrel and magazine tube with the receiver, trigger guard/lower tang/ hammer and buttplate all being casehardened finish.

Manufacture: Winchester
Model: 1890-Rifle
BBL: 24 inch octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 22 long
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grips:
Serial Number: 27937

Excellent with 90% of the slightly faded original blue finish showing edge and high spot wear on the barrel and magazine tube, and wear and blue loss on the underside of the barrel and magazine tube where the pump handle has rubbed against the metal surface. The breech bolt assembly retains 98% plus of the original blue finish. The receiver retains 80% plus of the original case colors with the lower stock frame showing 50% of the original case colors, both having faded from age. The hammer retains 75% of its case colors and the buttplate retains half of its case colors. The buttstock and forend both retain 98% plus of the respective high polish piano varnish finish showing some minor handling marks/scratches on the right side of the stock, and some minor chipping of the finish around the edges of the buttplate and around the tang of the lower frame. The checkering is sharp. This is a super rare early Winchester Model 1890 slide action rifle with beautiful and very rare factory engraved with large animal game scenes with an exceptionally rare highly figured burl walnut stock. Factory Engraved Model 1890's of this high level are extremely rare!