Winchester Model 90 slide action

[captbuck]

Hi, I don't know if I'm in the right forum to ask this question, if not please advise me.

I just purchased a Winchester .22, model 90 slide action rifle mainly to hang over the door of my log cabin. The more I looked at the rifle, the more interested I became in finding out about it. I looked up the mfg. date by the serial number (185156) and it gave the date as 1902, however, the last patent date on the barrel is May 30, 1911. Would the 1911 date be the mfg. date?

Thank you,
Buck

[grizzlyguy]

I have a Win. mod 1890 in .22 WRF. Octagon barrel, pump action. Would guess that your's may be an 1890 as well. I think the patent date refers to when the patent was granted and not to the manufacture date. Early 1900's could be correct for your rifle.

[S.S.]

By the patent date, Your rifle was probably made between 1911
and 1918.

[asacole]

Patent dates have little to do with the date a gun was manufactured.  For instance, the 1888 patent date refers to when the Browning patent was sold to Winchester; the 1892 date refers to the patent for the takedown feature; the 1911 date relates to an improvement in the magazine tube.  Your gun was manufactured in 1903-if the Madis dates can be believed.  They're sometimes off a little, but this is close enough.  Model 1890's were also caliber specific: chambered for .22WRF, .22 long, .22 short, and late in production, .22 long rifle.  The carrier was specifically made for the length of the shell specified and would not accept another length.  If you intend to shoot the gun, be sure to use ONLY the cartridge specified on the barrel.  Depending on the reference you choose to believe, the '90 totaled between 775k and 815k guns, production ceasing in 1941.  Early on it was offered with many special order options and the first model receivers were case colored.  All this and more info. can be found in Ned Schwing's 2 volume book "Winchester  Slide-Action Rifles", vols. 1+2. The special order and/or case colored rifles can-in 90% + condition-be worth several thousand dollars or more.  I've owned several '90's but currently have two shooters, one chambered short and the other long.  Both have Lyman tang sights and are accurate and fun to shoot.  Plus,best of all, they're Winchesters-what more could anyone want?    -Asa

[captbuck]

Thank you all very much for your help and input.

Buck