86Win said
Bert,

I just saw on rimfire central a reference to 1890s with 62 barrel. It said that Winchester produced some of these. I have an 1890 22 short with a 23″ round barrel. SN 510123 A. The barrel is marked WINCHESTER MODEL 90. The gun is in great condition. Can you tell me anything about this? Don

  

Don,

Does the barrel have a (P) proof mark stamp on it? 

Serial number 510123 was manufactured in February, 1913.  Accordingly, the original barrel was octagon and roll marked “MOD 1890”.  The 23-inch round barrel is a post 1932 production item.  Accordingly, it should have a 2-digit barrel date marking on it (bottom of the barrel just forward of the receiver frame), and it is positively not original.

The Model 90s with a factory installed 23-inch round barrel are the post 1936 production parts clean-up rifles that Winchester assembled from 1936 through 1949.

Bert