The tricky thing about these pre 64 284s is that they only came out in 1963. Their rarity is pretty well known. This situation lends itself to dishonest people. Recently my friend who runs an FFL shop told me some guy had 2 nice 88s sent to him. I asked him what they were, he said a 358 and a pre 64 .284. What a pair I thought. Me being a skeptic in life, I ask him if they both have checkered stocks (post 64s have impressed oak leaf pattern checkering) he says, "ya they do" then I say "so whats the SN range", meaning "144XXX" or so of the .284. They generally fall into a range of less than 10k and it is estimated that less than 5k were made. He says to me "the SN is 184XXX"
I immediately realize that's a post 64 SN because I owned myself a pre 64 284 model 88. I tell him that SN is way too high for a pre 64 and he told the buyer. The buyer apparently bought it from cabelas (known for their misidentification of firearms) and I'm not really sure how it resolved after that. Per proofhouse.com, the SN range for a 1963 (the only pre 64 284 year) is 139839 (start) to 148859 (SN of first 1964 gun). Oldguns.net has the same SN range (I just checked).
Now of course, those ranges could be a bit off, but if your gun is after 148XXX I bet you its not a pre 64. Unfortunately, I don't know of another way to tell a pre and a post 64 because I never had mine apart. I also never owned a post 64 although they're common, esp in 308. Here is a pic of mine, SN 147XXX. It had some gentle honest wear but was a nice gun. I sold it last year.
It's a $3500+ gun in pristine condition, valued right up there with .358's.
For that kind of money, it better be NIB complete with wax paper and hang tag. IMO the gun is worth more in the $2500 range. I have always seen .358s for more money (all 358s are pre 64) than pre 64 284s and they tend to bring it too. 358s had a recall IIRC where you did NOT get the gun back. So not many were made, and many went back = rare today. Kind of like the model 1893 Winchester shotgun.
Guys I also bought a remington model 600 chambered in .35 that is also in very good condition, a remington model 591p 5mm. and a walther .22 heavy barrel gun that I am not sure what the model is. I am still trying to figure out how to get pics on here. I don't know much about rifles at all, a freind of mine had these guns and he got in a spot and needed some money so I bought the guns. I really do appreciate the help from you guys.
So I'm still trying to figure out whether YOU were the good friend for bailing him out or was HE the good friend for giving you a (good) deal on what sounds to be a great group of rifles?
