fallingblock wrote on Nov 27
th, 2016 at 7:13pm:
As Biil says. "The WRA catalog (Feb 1890) lists the 22 Short, 22 Long, and 22 Extra Long for the 1885 rifles."
They do however in that same catalog list the .22 Long Rifle ammunition @$6.00/1000as well as primed cases @ $2.50/1000.
Cheers,
Laurie
The footnote found directly below that listing for the .22 Long Rifle ammunition is revealing, as it reads:
" ADAPTED TO Various Rifles of this Caliber. "
Four years would pass before WRA revised that footnote to read:
" Adapted to Winchester Single Shot and Various Rifles of this Caliber. "
WRA didn't seem to be in any kind of hurry to add the 22 LR cartridge throughout the WRA production line.
The 1890, the 1902, the Thumb Trigger, the 1904, and the 1906 were introduced without the 22LR chambering, though it was added to the 1906, and a couple 1890s had 22 Long Rifle marked barrels installed near the end.
The 22 WRF was added to the list of availabe Single Shot chamberings before the 22 LR was added.