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Winchester Model 490 - Manufacturing History Verification
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Cowboy4
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March 18, 2023 - 3:43 am
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Thank you JWA, I did not have it, really interesting, much appreciated.

In addition to the rate of twist I find particularly interesting the information about the shipping case of 5.

Thanks again.

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Cowboy4
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April 28, 2023 - 2:17 am
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Hello,

This is a short update on my ongoing research about the Winchester 490 history.

Before getting into the stats, I need to rectify a couple of details I wrongly reported earlier in the post.

  • The Winchester Model 490 was exclusively manufactured by Winchester Canada in Cobourg, Ontario, but not in the old Cooey plant (on King St.) but rather in the brand new 86,000 sq. ft. facility (on a 50-acre site) on Brook Road North inaugurated by Winchester in February 1970.   Of course, the reason Winchester was in Cobourg to begin with, was because Olin acquired Cooey in 1961.  Cooey had been operating on King St. since 1929.  Most of the ’94 Commemoratives manufactured by Winchester Canada also came out of the new plant on Brook Road North.   The plant closed permanently in early 1980 when Winchester left Canada due to political and labor issues.  The manufacturing equipment (machinery and hardware) was sold to Lakefield Arms Ltd. of Lakefield, Ontario.  In 1995 Lakefield Arms was purchased by Savage Arms.
  • The checkering on the walnut stock of the Model 490 was not cut, it was pressed.
  • Early s/n can have 5 or 6 numbers after the J prefix.  Actual examples: J000375*, J000705, J 01176*, J 01449*, J 01506, J002747, J003095*.
  • The recall asterisk is most commonly found at the end of the s/n (on the right), but I ran into several examples where the asterisk was punched on the left, just before the J.

Additional “interesting” info found so far:

  • At least one 490 cutaway demonstrator was made in the Winchester factory (s/n J005378).
  • Both the cutaway demonstrator and the special order rifle with nickel-plated frame and trigger and deluxe walnut stock, at one point in time belonged to Mr. T.E. (Ted) Hazelwood, Director of Marketing of Winchester Canada.
  • At least one specimen was produced in a carbine configuration (s/n *J029779).  The stock has no checkering, the buttplate is steel (very similar to a SRC buttplate), and the forearm has a metal band.  From the online photos I can’t determine the exact length of the barrel but it is definitely shorter than 22 in.
  • It seems that the first two rifles produced were assigned serial numbers JX1 and JX2.  No other markings were applied to these two rifles.
  • The markings on the rifles remained identical from start of production until approximately s/n 50,000 when they changed to a “second type”, same wording but slightly different font, size and punctuation.

Survey latest stats (undertaken by studying photos found online):

Specimen recorded:  184      (0.3% of probable total production)

Lowest s/n recorded:  J000375

Highest s/n recorded:  J057900

With asterisk:  88%

Without asterisk:  12%

Highest s/n without asterisk:  J024088

With asterisk up to 24088:  76%

Without asterisk up to 24088:  24%

With asterisk after 24088:  100%

  • Probable range of total production:  59,000 ± 1,000
  • Manufactured before March 1976:  serial numbers up to and including J024088

LOOKING FOR EVIDENCES of s/n above J057900 and all s/n without asterisk;  thank you in advance.

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JWA
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April 29, 2023 - 10:11 pm
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Cowboy4,

Thanks for the update!  Great topic and keep up the good work!

Best Regards,

WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire

http://rimfirepublications.com/  

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George Kahn
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June 28, 2023 - 3:59 pm
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I really enjoyed reading all the posts/info on the Model 490 Winchester.  To add to your notes, I own one of these, which bears serial number J01463*

geo

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Cowboy4
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June 30, 2023 - 1:21 am
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Thank you for the contribution !!

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ChickenmansDaughter
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October 17, 2023 - 12:07 am
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If you’re still collecting information; I have a M490, serial # J017726*

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Cowboy4
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October 20, 2023 - 2:24 am
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Added, thank you !!!

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Keith Thoms
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October 22, 2023 - 1:20 am
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Hi,

I have a 490 serial number J002765 for your records.

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Cowboy4
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October 23, 2023 - 11:48 pm
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Added to the spreadsheet, thank you !

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Nevada Paul
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November 12, 2023 - 11:53 pm
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I just came across this thread. Good work and thanks for keeping this updated and available to us all.

 

I have Model 490 Serial # J026882*

 

Hope this helps.

Nevada Paul

Life Member NRA

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Cowboy4
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November 14, 2023 - 2:48 am
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Noted, thank you !!!

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John Brown
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January 12, 2024 - 8:46 pm
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Purchased a camp in 2010 here in New Brunswick and included is a Winchester Model 490 , Serial Number J029172. I have fired maybe 12 rounds for sighting in purposes and it has been on the wall ever since. I just discovered this site when I googled for Winchester 490, 22 caliber and wanting further info on value etc.  I purchased Blue Book of Gun Values 44th edition and its not listed. 

 

Thanks for the info. 

John Brown

[email protected]Confused

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bryan fleck
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March 19, 2024 - 4:00 am
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I saw on cabalas J025878 * 

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Cowboy4
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March 22, 2024 - 3:19 am
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Thank you !

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Shiloh
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May 1, 2024 - 2:40 am
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I have M490 # J00819*

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28 gauge
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May 14, 2024 - 8:47 pm
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 JO 55539 is for sale on Gun Post with the original box.

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John K
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June 11, 2024 - 11:47 pm
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I have M490 serial J042227.

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Pedro243
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June 26, 2024 - 3:09 am
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Cowboy4 said:

LOOKING FOR EVIDENCES of s/n above J057900 and all s/n without asterisk;  thank you in advance.

  

Hi All,

I am new to the forum and collectors association.

I’ve got you covered Cowboy4.

I have J059537, sold to me as NIB with box. It had a few scratches on the bolt , but besides that, pretty good.

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Model 12 Man
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January 27, 2025 - 11:34 pm
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Good evening, reading your thread on the Model 490, very informative have serial numbers JO14542 with asterisk and JO10472 with asterisk, would like to hear from you! WACA 2417.

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Pedro243
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March 17, 2025 - 10:25 pm
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Just seeing if there has been any movement with this topic?

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