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The latest acquisition for restoration. I am pleased with the condition of the metal overall. Most of the original finish remains in pretty good condition. The bore is a very shootable 6-7. The lands are relatively sharp however the grooves are rough. I did shoot a handful of 2″ spinner targets @ 30 yards and connected 5-5. The barrel needs a very light facing cut just to true it up .005-.0010″ The receiver has a small hairline crack that will have to be tig welded and redone with fresh CCH. It is complete and functional. It has aftermarket wood that was fitted by someone who was clueless as how to fit a stock. I do have a couple nice 2nd model butt stocks that will need minor fitting along with some original forearms in VG condition. It is all correct with the “broken D” lettering on the barrel and the lifter has not been altered. I picked it up off GB, it was not properly advertised as a first model
to my benefit!
Erin
Congrats! First models are getting harder and harder to find.
Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
JWA said
Congrats! First models are getting harder and harder to find.Regards,
Still plenty of shorts around but WRF’s & longs are few and far between……..And go very high in price.
Erin
Erin,
Oddly enough, there is a very nice high condition First Model 1890 in 22 Long coming up in the December Rock Island auction… https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/72/359/winchester-model-1890-first-model-casehardened-solid-frame-rifle#detail
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
Erin,
Oddly enough, there is a very nice high condition First Model 1890 in 22 Long coming up in the December Rock Island auction… https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/72/359/winchester-model-1890-first-model-casehardened-solid-frame-rifle#detail
Bert
I feel very good about mine, The second paragraph lists the rock Island one as restored and they are still estimating $5,500-$8,500. Something is not quite right with the barrel markings on the RI one. It is serial # 14807 and does not have the broken D. I have serial # 14975 and it does have the broken D on the lettering. Maybe they recut the lettering during the restoration and did not know any better??? I gave $650.00 for the one I bought! I will invest about 50 hrs. of my labor into the project, start to finish. Not a bad hourly rate for a hobby.
(even though I will never see the return) The metal work on mine will be a breeze so it will be a fairly easy restoration.
Best,
Erin
November 7, 2015
Offline
I’m a little puzzled by the prices “professionally restored” items seem to be bringing. I suspect this sector of the market will grow as time goes on. The ones I’ve seen seem to be going for approximately the cost of a professional restoration, sometimes less. Reminds me a bit of the classic and antique auto auctions I used to attend. The lettering looks to me like it has been touched up. Could be the pics but the “U”‘s are shaped a bit different and the lines to the side a bit uneven, for example.
I believe the scarcity of the caliber and low production #’s is the influence of the price on these first models. There just isn’t many out there chambered in 22 long or WRF. If you are looking for a nice specimen, a restoration may be the best option as they come up for sale so rarely. To find one in original condition similar to the one at the RI auction would be a real stroke of luck.(with a price tag to match) These little rifles were the grocery getters, so to speak, and were used hard. Finding one that wasn’t, being 125 years old would be very lucky indeed. Less than 2,000 of each of the WRF and long were produced. How many survived??……. If I had a $5.00 bill for every time I entered a search for 1890 on the computer, I could of retired long ago. Just kiddin!
Best,
Erin
It seems to me that high condition Model 1890 rifles in original condition are very hard to come across, but I don’t make many big gun shows.
James
Erin Grivicich said
I believe the scarcity of the caliber and low production #’s is the influence of the price on these first models. There just isn’t many out there chambered in 22 long or WRF. If you are looking for a nice specimen, a restoration may be the best option as they come up for sale so rarely. To find one in original condition similar to the one at the RI auction would be a real stroke of luck.(with a price tag to match) These little rifles were the grocery getters, so to speak, and were used hard. Finding one that wasn’t, being 125 years old would be very lucky indeed. Less than 2,000 of each of the WRF and long were produced. How many survived??……. If I had a $5.00 bill for every time I entered a search for 1890 on the computer, I could of retired long ago. Just kiddin!
Best,
Erin
I have 7 1890’s including 1st issue #2693 in SHORT with tang peep (left warehouse 06/22/1891). All total I have 3 SHORT, 3 WRF’s, and 1 LONG.
There is a good thread on the “Broken D” at: http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=437495&highlight=twoponies
Renegade,
Thanks for the link, It appears to me after reading the thread that Winchester evidently had at least 2 roll dies for the first models. I have 4 first models and all have the “broken D” Serial #’s range from 9194 to as high as 14975
Erin
Erin Grivicich said
Renegade,Thanks for the link, It appears to me after reading the thread that Winchester evidently had at least 2 roll dies for the first models. I have 4 first models and all have the “broken D” Serial #’s range from 9194 to as high as 14975
Erin
I have had several conversations with “TwoPonies” and bought his pocket manual on the 1890. Yes, it appears the very early #’s did NOT have the broken “D” and then it seems to dominate known samples and then was mixed results again. Glad you liked it.
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