I have been reading these forums for several years and have finally decided to come out of the shadows and join. I have a Winchester 1890 .22 pump that was givin' to me. It appears to have been manufactured in 1904. The buttstock is split at the tang, the front and rear sights are missing, there is minor surface rust and pitting, however all of the manufacture info and serial number are still clear and ledgible. Also the rifling is almost nonexistent. All other parts seem to be original. I am trying to decide whether to restore this rifle as a collectacle/relic or sell it. Does anyone have an opinion as to the value in it's present condition? It looks like it will cost 200.00 to replace the stock, forearm and sights. Also is it possible to restore the rifling to shooting condition? Thanks for any help you can provide.
The barrel can be relined and restored to new condition and all the other stuff can also be done as you have indicated but any refinishing you do will detract for the collector value and the rifle as you discribe it does not have much collector value anyway so it is up to you to rebuild and make a great little shooter or to dispose of it as is, and there will be some interest in it for a parts rifle to rebuild other ones like it, and also the split in the stock at the tang can be repaired.
Steve
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i'd take it to be appraised before doing anything.... my blue book of gun values shows even at 10% condition: 1890 first model solid frame - $1250, 1890 second model takedown frame - $350, 1890 takedown w/blue finish - $235..... someone please correct me if i'm mistaken..........
i'd take it to be appraised before doing anything.... my blue book of gun values shows even at 10% condition: 1890 first model solid frame - $1250, 1890 second model takedown frame - $350, 1890 takedown w/blue finish - $235..... someone please correct me if i'm mistaken..........
I don't have a blue book with values, but I have the same gun in fairly good condition (shoots perfect and mechanically perfect...just looks old) and I was told it was worth around $1200 or so. Mine may be a model 90, which I think is the same as the 1890. It was my grandfather's gun that he used to shoot rabbits and uses .22 WRF (Winchester Rim Fire) ammo. Almost like a .22 magnum. I think they made these guns to fire three different types of ammo....22 long, .22 short and .22WRF. I am not a gun historian, but I think all of this is true. Mine has sentimental value, and part of me wants to have it fixed up and make it look like new because I'll never sell it. But I've had it for over 20 years and so far I've just kept it like it was. I think of my grandfather everytime I shoot it. Later, B
