winchester 88 worth?

[nekshot]

I always thought the 284 was supreme in value and then the 243 was next in line with 308's at the bottom tier all things being the same. What would be special of a win 88 308 in a replaced stock(owner fell and broke original and replaced it with a factory stock). The runner up was a dealer and was not concerned with the replaced stock and ran the price to around 1800 buckos or so! Am I missing something about these guns?

[021]

You're not missing anything by not buying it. The 88 rarity should go, 284, 358, 243, then 308---of which probably 90% were chambered in. They bring a certain amount of money simply because of the Winchester name, but (my opinion here only) never were among the great leverguns made by the firm. $1800 for a 308 88 borders on insanity.

[Tim357]

Yep, gotta agree with 021, but for different reasons. The trigger is absolutely the worst I ever used. About as crisp as over ripe banana. Walk away, save the heartache.

[bob208]

i collect Winchester lever actions. i will not even look at an 88. they are bad trigger and I don't think they shoot all that great. but around here at the auction houses they go nuts when one comes up. but that is ok I will keep buying the special order 94's

[CLAYPOOL]

Yes you missed something all right, "They were Nuts".

[ammohead]

Give me a 99 Savage in any of those calibers over the 88 any day.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
Know a feller in Indiana with an 88... He thinks it is the finest rifle there is. But he has never carried or shot my 99 Savage. As Ammohead wrote I will take a Savage any day" everyday.

[OverMax]

[QUOTEThe runner up was a dealer and was not concerned with the replaced stock and ran the price to around 1800 buckos or so! Am I missing something about these guns? QUOTE] No not really.

Slick looking clip rifle marketed years ago that 88 Winchester was. When compared to a 88 lever at the time. Everything else lever in the market place was a club.
I'm not too sure? __ Beside its trigger pull problem. >As I recall the 88s wood on those Winchester Post-1964 models cheapen with their being stamped checkering. Not hand carved as done on the prior Pre-64 models.That's how you easily determine the difference between the two rifles build dates. But as you said the dealer replaced the original stock with another. Maybe ~maybe not the correct stock? So that alone would substantially reduce its collectible value.
I too think 1800.00 is obviously to much money wanted for a used 308 model. As your spot on about the 308 model being the plain jane of the cartridge offerings in the 88 series.
But some other fellow might feel differently. Then down the road it goes under his arm instead.

[ironhead7544]

The Model 88 in 358 Winchester is probably the rarest. Around 800 of them were made.

Dont know about value. Sold my 358 many years ago.

[021]

The Model 88 in 358 Winchester is probably the rarest. Around 800 of them were made.

Dont know about value. Sold my 358 many years ago.

found this...sure seems like too many .358 and .284.

[021]

And this...

[Kestrel4k]

Over the many years of looking at/for them, I have seen affordable M88's in all chamberings except .358 - IMO those are the rarest and furthermore are /perceived/ to be rarer and more desirable than the .284's - which accentuates the overall perception of scarcity.

When looking at the production numbers of the .358's, please keep in mind the following:

Apparently the Winchester factory played it low key when the 358 was introduced, probably because of the feeding problems encountered. At the time, the 348 was a favorite with larger game timber type hunters, but since the 358 was a smaller case, without factory fanfare and outdoor writers praising the 358 being able to do what the 348 could do but in a lighter gun, the 358 did not initially sell well.

One well known Portland Oregon gunsmith that was Winchester factory warranty at the time, remembers that many of the wholesalers were stuck with an abundance of unsold model 88s in 358 caliber on their shelves. Winchester allowed them to return these 358s to be rebarreled to either the 243 or 308. Therefore the actual number of 358s produced may be even less than any factory records may show.

That and more very interesting information can be read at the following link:
http://www.leeroysramblings.com/Gun%20Articles/winchester_model_88_100_info.html

Another thing that exacerbates the situation is that virtually all of the .358's are the more desirable pre-64 variation, while most of the .284's are less-desirable post-64's.

[021]

Good information Kestrel4k!

[McLintock]

I shoot longguns left handed, due to left eye dominance, so bought an 88 after getting out of college in 1964. I had always shot leverguns, both 94's, an '86 and Savage 99's, so figured the 88 was the way to go. It was a .284 and I really liked the chambering, but the trigger, as has been noted, was the pits. After finding out it couldn't be helped, I sold it and bought a Ruger 77 in .284 in 1972; never looked back or regretted it and just learned to shoot the bolt, never got a left handed bolt gun.
McLintock

[Char-Gar]

I am not as down on the Winchester 88 as most folks in this thread. I have two of them both in .308. They are dandy deer rifles and would also do for elk and moose if such lived in Texas.

They have two negatives;

1. The spongy trigger was mentioned, but with a little practice good accuracy can be had. It is not the kiss of death in a hunting rifle.

2. The stock has lots of drop at the heel, which makes it a kicker off the bench. But off hand in the field it works very well. It was not made for bench rest shooting.

Positives:

1. Accuracy is on par with the average bolt gun of the day, which is 1.5 MOA depending on the ammo.

2. It is light and handy coming up fast in the field for jump shooting.

The Winchester 88 was and is an excellent rifle for what it is. It is a deer rifle and a very good one at that. Perfect it is not, but good and effective it is.

[Ed in North Texas]

The 88, unlike the 100, wasn't a "bad" rifle (or carbine, which I believe bring better money than the rifles). The 100 had problems beyond the lousy trigger.

That being said, back to the original issue - $1800 for a pre-64 used .308 88 (presumably with a 10 to 20% "buyer's premium"*) IS nuts.

Another thought. That #2 dealer who drove up the final bid - wonder if he was a shill for the auctioneer? Either way, they seem sure to have found a sucker.

* What ever happened to the seller pays the auctioneer? I haven't gone to auctions in years and the "buyer's premium" is the primary cause.

[nekshot]

thanks for the factual info and opinions. I always viewed the gun with favor inspite of the beef against it. I only have second hand info on the sale and I know it was a early one and I think opening bid was 1200. I must admit it seems every time I walk into a shop(maybe once a year) the prices on every thing keep jumping. Oh well, I'll keep minding my own business and enjoy what I have!

[pietro]

When looking at the production numbers of the .358's, please keep in mind the following:

One well known Portland Oregon gunsmith that was Winchester factory warranty at the time, remembers that many of the wholesalers were stuck with an abundance of unsold model 88s in 358 caliber on their shelves. Winchester allowed them to return these 358s to be rebarreled to either the 243 or 308. Therefore the actual number of 358s produced may be even less than any factory records may show.




FWIW, Winchester did the same thing for the new production Model 1895's chambered in .270 - many were returned & converted to .405 Winchester.


.

[376Steyr]

$1800 for a beat up Model 88? Was it owned by Billy the Kid or General Custer? With Sitting Bull's autograph on the stock?[smilie=l:

[nekshot]

$1800 for a beat up Model 88? Was it owned by Billy the Kid or General Custer? With Sitting Bull's autograph on the stock?[smilie=l:

not sure where the beat up idea comes from because this was almost cherry except for a replaced stock.

[ironhead7544]

And this...

That information is incorrect. The Model 88 in 358 was discontinued in 1964. The 358 Winchester came out in 1955 as a replacement for the 348 Winchester.

There were a number of 358 Winchester M70 rifles made.

[244ack]

The Win 88's up here in canada usually sell for $600- $650 range from what I have seen. I Prefer the Savage 99 myself

[Hardcast416taylor]

My nephew picked up an 88 in .308 with scope, sling and extra clip all in very good condition at a pawn shop near Fort Knox about a year back for $350. He asked me later if that was a good deal?Robert

[Bill*B]

My first center fire rifle was a Winchester 88 in .308. A beautiful rifle, but something about that stock - it would kick the tobacco right out of your mouth.