I handled a very mint Model 290 a few days ago and noticed that
it didnt have any serial numbers on it. When did Winchester start
putting serial numbers on this model? I assume it was made in the
early 1960s.

It was made in the mid sixties, I believe 1964 was the first year. Somewhere in my gun library, I have a copy of the infamous 1964 Winchester firearms catalog. The new Winchester .22s were pictured on the cover. The 250 lever, 270 pump and the 290 auto-loader. I think the Gun Control Act of 1968 required that all new guns made from that point on, had to have serial numbers, guns made in the US and guns imported to the US as well.

I had a 270 pump once and it had the most horrendous trigger pull I have ever seen. I never measured it but it was in the double digits for sure.

At least some of these had the front sight spot welded on.
The rifling and bore underneath were distorted. They shot
very poorly.
Good luck!

I have a Win 190 that has no serial number and a Savage 24 in 410 and 22LR that also has no serial number..

don't know when Savage started making the 24.. it belonged to my granddad who died back in Nov 1968.. and it was old then...

family claimed he got it about 1935... but I don't think they were making them that far back..

it saw a lot of action, at least the 22 barrel, as it is very shot out....and has about 4 or 5 inches of rifling long gone..

my granddad had it in West Virginia.. and he loved to eat squirrel..so I am sure it accounted for a lot of them..

Well, I'll be dang! I have a Winchester 190 and I just went and looked, and it has no number either. I never noticed that before now. I inherited the rifle from a family member who passed away many years ago. After some 15 to 20 years, I finally took it to the range and shot it. It has an old half inch Redfield scope that looks like it is a steel tube. The trigger pull is way heavy. Imagine my surprise when I loaded it with some $6 a brick Federal ammo and found that it will shoot little bitty groups at 50 yards.

Shortleade: I am very happy your Winchester 190 is shooting so well.
Good for you.
And where can I find some Federal ammo for $6.00 a brick?
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

VarmintGuy, time travel back to 1985-1990 and cruise through walmart...there it is!
I don't remember what the regular price was, but our local walmarts would have it on sale for $6 quite often. This was a bulk package with 550 rounds. I used to buy them by the buggy full till walmart started limiting them to two per customer. No problem, 'cause I've got LOTS of it!
I hate to sound smug, but I felt pretty smart when the ammo prices skyrocketed a couple years ago.