Winchester Model 88 .308 Lever Action

cadspazz · April 11, 2010, 03:10 PM

Hey Everyone,
I have a little issue that maybe someone on here can help shed a little light on for me?
I recently picked up a Model 88 from a family friend who had passed and his widow did not want it anymore, when I check up the serial number (8xxxx) they say it puts it at 1959. Sounds great but the stock has the quilted press on it and I am unsure of if they did that at all on this model prior to 64. I have read that the quilted pattern pre-dates 64 and was simply "applied" to all models at 64! Is this true?? Is it possible that this might have occured?

Cheers

Tom Matiska · April 11, 2010, 06:09 PM

The post '64 in our family is pressed checkering. I've always understood the cut checkering was pre '64. Plain stocks were later 60's.

My first guess would be the orginal stock cracked and was replaced. Wood is pretty thin up by the magazine. More likely to see a 358 with a replaced stock.

PetahW · April 11, 2010, 06:09 PM

This is pre-64 M88 checkering - It is plain old hand checkering.

This is post-64 M88 checkering - It is pressed-in, with extra winged panels at the rear.

Pre-64 M88 stocks are interchangeable with Post-64, and visa-versa - so it's entirely possible that a pre-64 rifle had a later stock installed, some time after it left the factory (or, if/when it might have been returned after 1964 for a new stock).

.

bamaranger · April 12, 2010, 02:21 AM

I'm a M88 fan myself, having inherited my grandad's first year production 4xxx .308 as a teenager. The shipping box is dated 1956.

Every early, pre '64 M88 I've seen or examined had simple, cut checkering.

I'd say yours got a new stock after a mishap, post '64.

dgludwig · April 12, 2010, 09:13 AM

Just to add, like Tom Matiska said, the Model 88 stock is pretty thin in the area around the trigger group and the magazine well. While stationed @ Anderson AFB in Guam in 1963, I ordered a Model 88 chambered in .358 Winchester. The rifle arrived in the packing crate with the stock broken clear through in that section. I don't know how typical stock breakage is on Model 88s but one thing's for sure: impressed "basket-weaving" stampings are post-64.

Given my experience concerning the relative fragility of the stock in terms of its thinness and the fact the rifle in question was made in 1959, it seems likely that the previous posters are probably right in their opinions that the stock is a replacement.

As an aside, I much prefer the cut checkering on the "original" in terms of its (objective) utility and (subjective) aesthetics.

Kivaari · November 5, 2014, 02:09 AM

Wow...that looks like my rifle....wow...that looks like my couch. Wait a minute..that is my rifle......from my picture trail page.....

....and I don't care...

I'm trying to find a checker..er/carver who could "go over" the pressed pattern and perhaps enliven/enhance it.....

kivaari

jrothWA · November 9, 2014, 08:31 PM

and has numbers following, it's a post 64.

The press checkering could be "re-pointed" by going over with proper tools, but drop any residual value.

Get number of gunsmith books, Baker / Traister revision of "Gunsmith" or Howe's "Modern gunsmithing" for checkering information, then try it yourself.

ALso co to www.widners.com, to locate new made magazines.

Enjoy!

bamaranger · November 14, 2014, 02:45 AM

A really early M88 will have a short tang at the rear of the receiver. Not sure when that ended.....but my old rifle has one, and thus would not really accept the "tangless" stock.

April 11, 2010, 03:10 PM	#1
cadspazz Junior Member Join Date: April 11, 2010 Posts: 1	Winchester Model 88 .308 Lever Action Hey Everyone, I have a little issue that maybe someone on here can help shed a little light on for me? I recently picked up a Model 88 from a family friend who had passed and his widow did not want it anymore, when I check up the serial number (8xxxx) they say it puts it at 1959. Sounds great but the stock has the quilted press on it and I am unsure of if they did that at all on this model prior to 64. I have read that the quilted pattern pre-dates 64 and was simply "applied" to all models at 64! Is this true?? Is it possible that this might have occured? Cheers

April 11, 2010, 06:09 PM	#3
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	This is pre-64 M88 checkering - It is plain old hand checkering. This is post-64 M88 checkering - It is pressed-in, with extra winged panels at the rear. Pre-64 M88 stocks are interchangeable with Post-64, and visa-versa - so it's entirely possible that a pre-64 rifle had a later stock installed, some time after it left the factory (or, if/when it might have been returned after 1964 for a new stock). . Last edited by PetahW; April 11, 2010 at 06:15 PM.

April 12, 2010, 02:21 AM	#4
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,312	+1 I'm a M88 fan myself, having inherited my grandad's first year production 4xxx .308 as a teenager. The shipping box is dated 1956. Every early, pre '64 M88 I've seen or examined had simple, cut checkering. I'd say yours got a new stock after a mishap, post '64.

April 12, 2010, 09:13 AM	#5
dgludwig Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2005 Location: North central Ohio Posts: 7,486	Just to add, like Tom Matiska said, the Model 88 stock is pretty thin in the area around the trigger group and the magazine well. While stationed @ Anderson AFB in Guam in 1963, I ordered a Model 88 chambered in .358 Winchester. The rifle arrived in the packing crate with the stock broken clear through in that section. I don't know how typical stock breakage is on Model 88s but one thing's for sure: impressed "basket-weaving" stampings are post-64. Given my experience concerning the relative fragility of the stock in terms of its thinness and the fact the rifle in question was made in 1959, it seems likely that the previous posters are probably right in their opinions that the stock is a replacement. As an aside, I much prefer the cut checkering on the "original" in terms of its (objective) utility and (subjective) aesthetics. __________________ ONLY AN ARMED PEOPLE CAN BE TRULY FREE ; ONLY AN UNARMED PEOPLE CAN EVER BE ENSLAVED ...Aristotle NRA Benefactor Life Member

November 5, 2014, 02:09 AM	#6
Kivaari Member Join Date: August 7, 2005 Location: McKinney Texas Posts: 34	Winchester Model 88 Wow...that looks like my rifle....wow...that looks like my couch. Wait a minute..that is my rifle......from my picture trail page..... ....and I don't care... I'm trying to find a checker..er/carver who could "go over" the pressed pattern and perhaps enliven/enhance it..... kivaari __________________ Kivaari quality SKS trigger tuning / repair www.kivaari.com

April 11, 2010, 06:09 PM	#2
Tom Matiska Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2000 Location: Wilkes-Barre, Pa Posts: 1,029	The post '64 in our family is pressed checkering. I've always understood the cut checkering was pre '64. Plain stocks were later 60's. My first guess would be the orginal stock cracked and was replaced. Wood is pretty thin up by the magazine. More likely to see a 358 with a replaced stock.

November 9, 2014, 08:31 PM	#7
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	If the SN is preceded by an "alpha" character and has numbers following, it's a post 64. The press checkering could be "re-pointed" by going over with proper tools, but drop any residual value. Get number of gunsmith books, Baker / Traister revision of "Gunsmith" or Howe's "Modern gunsmithing" for checkering information, then try it yourself. ALso co to www.widners.com, to locate new made magazines. Enjoy!

November 14, 2014, 02:45 AM	#8
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,312	also A really early M88 will have a short tang at the rear of the receiver. Not sure when that ended.....but my old rifle has one, and thus would not really accept the "tangless" stock.