In House Shipping:
Make: Winchester
Model: 90 (1890, Third Model)
Serial Number: 675788A
Year of Manufacture: 1920
Caliber: .22 Long
Action Type: Pump Action Rifle with Tubular Magazine
Markings: The Winchester ovalled “WP” proofs have the correct placement for a rifle factory fitted with an A5 scope; one in front and one behind the rear scope base.
Barrel Length: 24”, Octagonal
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the barrel. The rear sight base has been filled and marked “W.R.A.” (Winchester Repeating Arms). There are two male dovetails on the barrel with correct “PAT. MAY. 24. 1910” scope bases (the rear of which bears the classic “grasshopper” spring) fitted with an original Winchester A5 scope. The scope has a Fine Crosshair reticle, the sight picture is clear, and the glass is clean with no notable scratches. This configuration is correct for being installed by the factory, but is currently swapped for a left handed shooter. The tang is drilled, tapped, and filled for tang sight options.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece walnut with a 12-groove slide handle, straight grip and comb, and crescent steel buttplate. Both pieces have the original finish with exceptional wood to metal fit. Some of the wood has darkened where it meets the metal. The LOP measures 12 7/8" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has some surface level erosion scattered about with some light wear on the heel and toe. Overall, the stocks rate in about Fine Condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 80% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows light operation wear. There is thinning on the leading edges and exposed spots on the receiver, mag tube, and barrel that have taken a deep patina and minor erosion. The finish on the trigger guard and bottom tang has thinned and taken a deep patina as well but there is no notable erosion. The screw heads are sharp to lightly tool marked. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good Plus Condition.
Mechanics: The action functions properly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: Winchester was the first American company to offer a practical .22 pump-action rifle, the Model 1890. Designed by gunmaking genius John Moses Browning, the Model 1890 was patterned after Winchester's iconic lever-actions with a tubular magazine under the barrel, an exposed hammer, and top ejection. Winchester had asked Browning to design the rifle as a replacement for the rimfire versions of the Model 1873, which had never achieved great popularity. The Model 1890 was an instant success, and set the standard for all .22 repeaters that followed. In 1920, to avoid having their rifle models sound too old fashioned, Winchester decided to drop the “18” prefix from any of their model numbers, so the Model 1890 became the Model 90. About a decade earlier, in June 1910, Winchester announced its new telescopic sight, the A5, and a small number of Model 1890s/90s were factory fitted with the A5 scope as special order pieces over the years.
This Special Order Factory Mounted A5 Scope Winchester Model 90 Pump Action Rifle was made in 1920 and is in Very Good Plus Condition. It features a 24” octagonal barrel, 80% of its original blued finish (there are exposed spots on the receiver, mag tube, and barrel that have taken a deep patina and minor erosion), elegant two-piece walnut stocks with a 12-groove slide handle, straight grip and comb, and crescent steel buttplate, correct offset Winchester ovalled “WP” proofs (one in front and one behind the rear scope base), and a bright bore with sharp rifling and no erosion, and has been factory fitted with a Winchester A5 telescopic sight with a Fine Crosshair reticle, a clear sight picture, and clean glass with no notable scratches. The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to the barrel, the rear sight base has been filled and marked “W.R.A.” (Winchester Repeating Arms), and there are two male dovetails on the barrel with correct “PAT. MAY. 24. 1910” scope bases, the rear of which bears the classic “grasshopper” spring. This configuration is correct for being installed by the factory, but is currently swapped for a left handed shooter. The rule of thumb when examining a Model 1890/90 with an A5 scope is if the Winchester ovalled “WP” proofs are offset, then it’s a factory fitted sight. This exceptionally rare piece would make a phenomenal addition to any Winchester collection.