Winchester(?) Model 88 Lever

[MikeS.]

I believe it's a Winnie, but I saw a Model 88 lever action in .308 Winchester today at my local store. It looked to be in good condition. Would 650 be out of range on the price?

Thanks guys,

[AndyM]

If it is a pre-64 and in really good shape - that is not a bad price - I have seen them sold for alot more and been offered more for mine, which is a pre-64 5 digit ser.#.

[MikeS.]

How would I tell if it is a pre 64?

[Charles]

The Winchester 88 is a very fine rifle. It was Winchester's effort to bring the levergun into the 20th century. It was and is a sucessful design that will shoot as accurately as a bolt gun of the same size and weight.

Gun prices are not fixed, but determined by geography, time of year, how much debt the gunshop has, what the owner had for breakfast and the phase of the moon.

Two years ago I bought a 1963 vintage 88 in .308 for $500.00 and paid that without batting an eye. Last month I bought a 1964 vintage 88 in .308 (with scope) for $400.00 and I jumped on it. I considered both of these rifles to be bargins.

At $650.00 the price is on the high side of fair range. One thing to remember is rifle will be worth more than $650.00 in few years. They have not been made in some years. If you want it, but it and don't worry about what the book says or what somebody 800 miles away paid for his.

In 1986, I bought a very nice Trapdoor Springfield for $350.00. My friends thought I was nuts as others could be had for $250 to $300. Last month I sold the rifle for $1,600.00.

[edsguns]

How would I tell if it is a pre 64?

Mike, It's pretty easy to tell a pre '64 from a post at just a glance. The pre 64s have cut checkering similar to what you'd find on a model 70 from that era (the barrels are the same type used in a mod 70 Featherweight, BTW) The post 64s have a totally different checkering pattern that has basketweave, oak leaves and acorns in the pattern. Actually it looks a lot nicer than it might sound. The prices have soared in the last few years and $650 for a pre 64 in excellent condition is not unusual. Personally, I'd get an excellent post 64 for a shooter as the checkering is the only difference and most gun value books do not differentiate between the two. Although owners surely seem to! The Winchester model 100 semi-auto is very similarly styled, sans lever , of course. Same lines , same checkering. The .308 accounts for about 1/2 of the total number of model 88s followed by the the .243, .284, and .358.

[MikeS.]

Ed, funny you mention the Mod. 100. The shop has a 100 right next to the 88.
Tom the owner said they hadn't seen either in a year, then they get both in last week. They're asking 450 for the 100.

[1894]

I don't know when they changed , but this is the checkering on a '56 model 88.

[Charles]

In the "for whatever it's worth" department, my 63 Mod. 88 has the basketweave checkering and the 64 has the regular early pattern. The stocks appear to be original to both rifles. I suspect there was a transition period in which stocks of the old pattern were used up, mixed with the new pattern.

[edsguns]

In the "for whatever it's worth" department, my 63 Mod. 88 has the basketweave checkering and the 64 has the regular early pattern. The stocks appear to be original to both rifles. I suspect there was a transition period in which stocks of the old pattern were used up, mixed with the new pattern.

Charles, as with everything else, never say never! But, the basketweave checkering was done as a post '64 money saving deal as was all changes to Winchester lineups. I have purchased (years ago) a replacement stock for a model 88 I owned then, and it was a basketweave pattern. Because of sluggish sales and the fact your basketweave was a '63, I'd further speculate it was produced in '63 and stocked later. I'd also say this could make your rifle a very special one! Well, actually all nice 88s and 100s are pretty special in my book! Congrats on 2 very nice rifles.

[bogus bill]

I paid a little under $700 for this 1957 model 88 in 308 win just a year ago. I have since added a leopold scope, but havent wrung it out yet.

[SAF]

Here's mine. 1955 Mod 88 with Kollmorgen 4x Bearcub scope. This gun is near perfect.

[Old Shatterhand]

The mod 88 doesn't have the inferior or simpler qualitity that is sometimes connected with post-64 Winchester. Metal work is still excellent on my own m 88 from 1969, and and it can compete with my my pre-war Sauer shotgun or my previous Mannlicher-Schoenauer in finish. Stock design may admittedly be a bit simpler, but it is a really great rifle with fine balance, smooth handling and astonishing accuracy.

Old Shatterhand

[BAGTIC]

I have two M100 and they are both good shooters. With handloads inside 1" at 100 yards.

Not traditionlly styled but I like the way the handle.

[Charles]

The only downside to an 88 or a 100 for that matter is the drop of the buttstock. The .308 is not a hard kicking round, but in these rifles, it does slap you around far more than in a stock with a straighter butt.

[Pete44ru]

You'll also occasionally run across a M-88 or M-100 Carbine, which has a 19" barrel, uncheckered stock, and a metal forend barrel band, ala Ruger 10/22.

And, if you happen across a .358 Winchester M-100 Carbine - but the barrel's marked ".243 Win" - FYI, P.O. Ackley rebored/rifled it for me 35-odd years ago.

[Big K]

Here are a few of mine....Left to right...


308-308-284-284-358

[H_Talon]

I's love to find one in 358win ... I might .. hmmmm MIGHT !!!! give up
my 99 in 358win .. no not trade just would hunt with the 88 instead
of the 99 ... well .. maybe not ...

but I'd still love to find one ...

Talon

[Hillbilly]

I passed on a .308 for $500 or so...about 3 years ago. It was scoped and in good condition.

If it's in any shape at all $650 is a deal. The few I've seen since have been $700+

[1894]

I love starting a round of pics of 88s

[Guncase]

Here's a post 64. For what it's worth, I paid $340.00 for all you see here. Rifle, 2 mags (full) two boxes of .308 (full) a soft case, 2 slings, and the Redfield scope. You just don't find deals like that every day. Needless to say, I couldn't get there fast enough. This Gent had an add in the local paper. Says he bought the rifle from a freind that needed money a couple of years back.

[natedontgo]

peek at Gunbroker #90906279 for insight as to what the top grade 88 will sell for currently..Imagine the $ if it was a 284 W. or a pre-64 in 358W. Buy every good hunter grade you can afford.!! Nate

[johnly]

Here's a picture of my Winchester M88's. The bottom is a pre-64 284 that I just stumbled on to. Now if I could find a nice 358 that didn't require a second morgage, I'd be thrilled.

[johnly]

OK... Can someone point to the error I made that prevented the picture from appearing?

John

[Charles]

BTW.... If anybody as an extra 243/308 magzine for the Winchester 88 for sale, I am a buyer.

[Big K]

Johnly,

Hit alt+p on your keyboard as soon as you paste your image data, just as it states above your reply box!.....I saw your pics on Hunt101....Real nice Model 88's!.....Ken

[Rimfire McNutjob]

Uh Oh, this reminds me that I don't own an 88. I hope my wife doesn't catch me trolling GunBroker.

[Old Shatterhand]

BTW.... If anybody as an extra 243/308 magzine for the Winchester 88 for sale, I am a buyer.

I think www.brownells.com has new replacemant mags.

Old Sh.