Rifleman Q & A: Winchester .22 Pump?

by
posted on August 1, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
22pump.jpg

Q: I inherited a pump-action rifle I believe to be a Winchester Model 1890. Stamped on the gun is “22 SHORT” and the serial number is 208XXX. I am interested to know a little more about what I’ve got. Is it possible to find out when the rifle was actually made?

A: Your gun is a Winchester Model 1890 .22 rimfire pump-action rifle. This was an extremely popular little gun, and some 849,000 were manufactured between 1890 and 1932. However, they were sold by Winchester until 1941—that’s when the existing supply of parts dried up.

The first 1890s utilized a solid frame, but after about serial number 15,500 Winchester changed to a takedown barrel/receiver combination. Chamberings were .22 Short, .22 Long, .22 Long Rifle and .22 WRF. They were not interchangeable. The serial number of your rifle indicates it was made in 1904.

—Garry James, Contributing Editor

Latest

Mantis X Review 1
Mantis X Review 1

Review: Mantis TitanX Training System

You don’t have to go all the way to the range to enhance your shooting skills.

Radical Update: The Benelli M2-G1 Tactical Shotgun

For 2026, Benelli has given its tactical M2 shotgun a radical update with the new M2-G1 version.

President’s Column | President Meets President

I am quite certain, that for the first time in NRA history the President of the United States met with the NRA president, the NRA president asked for his support for national Right-to-Carry (NRTC), and then, on a national stage, President Trump called out the NRA president’s name and pledged his support for national Right-to-Carry legislation. But that’s exactly what happened at a rally near Allentown, Pa., in late June.

Gun of the Week: TriStar Arms KR.22

Semi-automatic .22 rifles have been a staple in the firearm marketplace for decades, and the TriStar Arms KR.22 brings yet another lightweight, affordable option that accepts Ruger 10/22 rotary magazines.

Political Report | Trump Reiterates National Right-to-Carry Support

I am repeatedly reminded of how critical it was that the NRA engaged early in supporting Donald Trump’s 2016 candidacy—and that he won. A recent example came in June, when President Trump spoke to American workers at a Mack Trucks facility in Macungie, Pa.

The Armed Citizen® Aug. 21, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.