Offered here is serial number 8 of Winchester's first slide action production rifle, the Model 1890. This is an example of a First Model Winchester Model 1890 slide action rifle with the concealed locking lugs and solid casehardened frame. The First Model variant was only manufactured from 1890 to 1892. The upper tang is marked "WINCHESTER/MODEL 1890," and the lower tang is marked with the two-line patent marking. These are seldom seen First Model tang markings, and when this type of early tang marking is used, the serial number will only be stamped on the underside of the frame. Serial number 8 is correctly stamped on the underside of the frame. See "Winchester Slide-Action Rifles Volume I: Model 1890 & Model 1906" on pages 73-74. The rifle has a dovetailed blade front sight and a notch rear sight on a barrel marked with the two-line address ahead of the rear sight and "22 LONG" at the breech. Both sides of the frame and lower tang have "H.A.M." stamped in small letters, possibly the initials of a previous owner. Mounted on a 12-groove forearm and smooth straight grip stock with a crescent buttplate. The accompanying factory letter lists this rifle as being chambered in .22 LR when it was received in the warehouse on July 8, 1891, and shipped the next day. The serial number was applied on November 26, 1890, thus making this an 1890 production Model 1890!