rogertherelic said
Thanks James for noticing.  As luck would have it, my first 61 W.R.F. ser. #6768 (octagon barrel) has the same tang sight.  Imagine my surprise and joy when I found the round barrel with a tang sight. The Lyman 5B was a bonus and both are early production examples!  Sometimes I score big!

Thank you Bert, I will email 2bit and seek his views.  He might be off to Mich. for the summer.

RDB  

You’re welcome, RDB!  What great luck, surprise, and joy that you had when you found this beauty in its rare configuration would be difficult to describe!!!  Huge score…huge score!!!!   (Talk about scoring BIG, is it possible that you were the lucky guy that won a 95-98% case colored Model 1890 on Auction Arms about 10 years back, or do I have you mixed up with another mighty lucky guy?!)

Hopefully, two-bits or someone will come along and answer any questions that you have about this beauty!

James

rogertherelic said
James, 2bit answered my inquiry and he has about 22 other round barrel W.R.F. in the same serial range. Winchester did make ‘batches’ of rifles.  That does make sense from a monetary stand point.  Yes, I did purchase a nice 1890 about 10 years ago from Jack the Dog.  It even had the canvas carrying case it had been stored in.  Unfortunately the case has a blood stain on it that soaked through and discolored and slightly pitted the right side.  I don’t think it would rate 95%.  Amazing you could remember that.  This is that one.

 

  

Roger,

I was wondering where two bits was on this issue.  Good to know he was waiting in the wings somewhere out there, and hope he was able to give a yea or nay on whether or not your rifle was assembled and sold before or after WWII, as it is an interesting point for obvious reasons.

Thanks for the pics, man!  What a joy to see this beauty one more time.  It must have been somewhere in the forefront of the cobwebs in me old brain housing group, and now that you mention Jack…it seems more like yesterday as the pieces come together!  I have to tell you that I watched that auction with a great deal of interest…drooling all the while, and from time to time over the many years since, and was happy that you won it.  The fact that you have the old case with old blood stains on it adds a huge amount of character and wonder to it.  Yes, that was another BIG score for you!! 

If you ever find that you can’t live with either of these beauties, please include me as a PM contact…or in the wings out there where two bits lurks! 

rogertherelic said
I am reaching that age where I am realizing I gotta start thinking seriously about selling my prizes and mistakes.  Because I have bought what I wanted, I have to accept the fact I probably won’t get back what I paid on some items. Have to bite the bullet and be happy to have had the pleasure to own them and enjoy them.  I also have a lot of collectible ammo too.  I will keep you in the know.  Roger  

Good thing I am close by!