Help in identifying Rifle

J

jimbucks

Inactive
From my father who passed away over 25 years ago.
On barrel: Winchester model 88-Cal 308 - S/N 559xx.

What is the value???

Thank You.

 
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Needs a good session of gentle rubbing with 0000 (4 zero) steel wool and light oil. Then wipe the metal down with a coat of clean oil before it rusts any more.
 
If you had kept the rust off of it, it would be worth nearly a thousand dollars.
Now? I don't know, a few hundred, a very few hundred.
 
They were/are not a very popular gun and ones in average good condition bring only $400 or so; that one, with significant rust, might bring $150-200 purely as a hunting rifle.

Jim
 
Sad !!!

If you had kept the rust off of it, it would be worth nearly a thousand dollars.
Now? I don't know, a few hundred, a very few hundred.
Click to expand...
Still very deisireable and collectable but all that rust is going to bring the price way down. :eek:

Recently saw one, in the same caliber at local Gander Mountain and we all know how outrageous their pricing is, for $1200. :rolleyes:

Be Safe !!!
 
At that price, I suspect they will have the gun for a long time. The Model 88 must have seemed like a great idea at the time. A modern, streamlined, lever action rifle, in modern calibers, with a bolt action style stock! A detachable box magazine! And a lever that didn't pinch any fingers! So what was not to like?

A lot, based on sales in this area at least. Lever action fans just didn't think it looked like a lever action. And bolt gun fans didn't see any real advantage over a bolt rifle. Pump gun guys were satisfied with their Remingtons.

So after a brief flurry of interest in the gunzines, the Model 88 kind of went into the background and stayed there. It could be ordered if anyone wanted one, but not many dealers stocked them.

Maybe it deserved better.

Jim
 
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The only really popular M88's today are those chambered in .358 - so much that gennie's bring a super premium & (VERY nice) restocked clones have been custom made by Geoff Miller of what was once Rogue River Rifleworks (Paso Robles, CA) on the other chamberings.


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IIRC, the .358 was never cataloged for that rifle, and it is not clear why or when they were made. But it is the scarcity of Model 88's in that caliber that makes them desirable for collectors. The common .308 has minimal collector interest.

Jim
 
The 358 chambering was a standard item for the 88. You may be thinking of the Model 100 semiauto. The 358 wasn't cataloged for it, but examples do exist.
 
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FWIW, I once owned a .358 Model 100 Carbine autoloader - but it was originally a .243 that I sent to P.O.Ackley for a rebore to .358" in the very early 70's.
I suspect more than a few M100 owners did likewise (rebore).



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