It is estimated from Winchester production records that approximately 2600 hundred 1906 Expert half nickel rifles were produced. There is no mention of how many 06′ Expert full Nickel were made. Below, I’ve uploaded pictures of five 06 ‘Expert half nickel plates running from top to bottom with a Nickel full plate shown on the very bottom. The 2nd display picture is the same rifles laying down to show a different angle. I’ve only seen five 06′ Expert full Nickel rifles and serial numbers in my research time. While the half plates have only the receiver and guard nickel plated, the hammer, trigger, takedown screw as well as the rest of metal is blue. Apparently, there was some variance in what was nickel-plated on the full plates. Out of the five full plates indicated: 3 had a blue hammer, takedown screw, trigger and sights; one had a blue hammer, take down screw and trigger and one was all nickel-plated. I’ve listed the SN#’s and years of production of the half Nickel and full plate display rifles. I would like to hear from anyone else who has a 06’ Expert Nickel full plate or have seen other examples.
06′ Expert Half Nickel SN#’s top to bottom with production date:
544,318 2/1919, 560,009 5/1919, 560,218 5/1919, 580,612 8/1919, 651,154 10/1920
06 Expert Full Nickel Plate SN#
566,468 6/1919
Daren Lannigan-WACA member
Hello Scott,
I’ve taken some new pictures of the barrel and tang stampings that I’ll try to get out asap. In the meantime, here is the info off the barrel:
MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO. NEW HAVEN. CONN. U.S.A. PAT. JUNE 6, 88. DEC. 26. 92. NOV.27.06. MAY 30,1911.-MOD.06-
22 SHORT-LONG OR LONG RIFLE
Hope this has been helpful.
Daren L.
Daren Lannigan-WACA member
Scott,
I believe your Model 1890 Full plate is pretty rare. In the Winchester Slide-Action Rifles Vol. I Model 1890 and Model 1906 by Ned schwing page 61, It states ” while Thousands of Model 90’s were used extensively throughout the United States in shooting galleries,very few were stamped with the Winchester Name”. The rifle pictured is half nickel and has the exact winchester engraving on the receiver that your rifle has. The rifle pictured also had a gallery counter fastener. Also, on page 72 it shows a rare picture of a full Nickel Model. So, yours is rare because of the Winchester engraving and being full Nickel! Nice rifle!
Daren L.
Daren Lannigan-WACA member
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