Winchester Model 88 .284 Win. Detachable Mag Lever Rifle, 1967 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,125
WOA#: 240220BA012
Make: Winchester
Model: 88
Serial Number: 208588A
Year of Manufacture: 1967
Caliber: .284 Winchester
Action Type: Lever Action with Removable Magazine
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “-WINCHESTER- / -TRADE MARK-”, “-MODEL 88- / -MADE IN U.S.A.-”, “-CAL. .284 WIN.- / -WIN. PROOF STEEL-”. The top of the barrel at the receiver and the top front of the receiver are marked with a circled “WP” proof. The left side of the receiver is marked with the serial number.
Barrel Length: 22”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to a serrated, ramped base fixed to the front of the barrel. The base is grooved for a hood, but none is present. The rear sight is a folding “U”-notch with white triangle aiming reference and the notch fine adjustable for elevation, dovetailed to the rear of the barrel. The top of the receiver is mounted with a scope rail. The left-rear of the receiver is drilled, tapped and filled for a receiver sight (none included).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is one-piece “basket weave” press checkered walnut with capped pistol grip, straight comb, checkered black plastic Winchester buttplate, and sling studs front and rear. The stock has light wear with some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The checkering is generally well defined, but the stock has some general handling wear. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has scattered light wear with well defined checkering. There are compression marks and light scratches scattered about the stock but concentrated on the sides of the stock below the receiver. The front of the forend’s finish is slightly bubbling. There is a nick in front of the front sling stud. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition as refinished.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is infrequent minor erosion, most at the muzzle end. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 7/10 for C&R.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 70% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. There are some scattered light nicks and scratches with infrequent spots of minor oxidation. The action shows mild operational wear. There is finish loss on the lever and magazine. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Good-Very Good condition for C&R.
Mechanics: The action functions smoothly and correctly. The action is tight. This rifle has a cross-bolt safety located at the front of the trigger guard. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The rifle comes with a single 5-round magazine.
Our Assessment: This is a Winchester Model 88 lever action rifle with a 22” barrel chambered in .284 Win. This model was made from 1955 to 1973, and was about the only lever action model chambered in a rifle cartridge without an external hammer that Winchester ever made, and had a removable magazine vs. the tubular magazine used on its other lever action rifles – a descendent of the Winchester Model 1895. This rifle is in about Very Good condition with a lot of its original finish remaining. It was made in 1967 and still has a decent bore. The .284 Winchester was developed to give the performance of the .270 Winchester out of a short-action length cartridge and was introduced for the models 88 and 100. Anyone who hunts in the woods will appreciate its short 22” barrel and fast handling characteristics for fast shots on running game. That said, this rifle would also make a nice addition to a Winchester collection. Please see our photos and good luck! – L.S.
