Winchester Model 88 308 Win 22” Lever Action Rifle & Leupold Scope 1964 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,375.00
LSB#: LSB250808JN001
Make: Winchester
Model: 88
Serial Number: 158044A
Year of Manufacture: 1964
Caliber: .308 Winchester
Action Type: Lever Action, fed by Detachable Magazines
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “-WINCHESTER-MODEL 88-CAL 308 WIN.- / –TRADE MARK– MADE IN U.S.A.-WIN. PROOF STEEL-”. The left side of the receiver is marked with the serial number.
Barrel Length: 22”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a hooded beaded blade, dovetailed to a serrated ramp, screwed to the barrel. The rear sight is an adjustable flip-up U-notch sight, dovetailed to the barrel. The receiver is mounted with a Leupold Vari-X II 3-9x scope with a fine crosshair reticle. The glass in the scope is clear. The scope shows no notable wear. Overall, the scope rates in Excellent condition. The scope is mounted on a one-piece Leupold-style base, and sits in 1” rings.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a one-piece “basket-weave” press-checkered walnut stock, with a capped semi-pistol grip, fluted straight comb, checkered plastic buttplate, and sling rings front and rear. There is a leather sling attached to the stock. The LOP measures 13 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock shows only the most minor of handling wear. The checkering is well defined. The stock’s finish is strong throughout. The stock fits the barreled action tightly, with no play. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the stock rates in Excellent condition.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: 1x 4rd factory Winchester magazine, in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 10/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 99% of its original metal finish. The balance of the finish shows no notable wear, other than a couple small dings on the bottom of the barrel The bluing is deep and dark throughout. The markings are clear and legible. The screw heads are sharp. Overall, this rifle rates in Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly, as does the cross-bolt safety. We did not fire this rifle, but we did perform a mechanic’s check. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with the scope and sling as mentioned above.
Our Assessment: Winchester’s Model 88 stands apart as one of the company’s most forward-thinking mid-century designs, blending the fast handling of a lever gun with the solid-top receiver and rotating-bolt strength of a modern bolt action. Introduced in 1955, the 88 was engineered specifically to take advantage of the new generation of high-intensity cartridges, and by 1964, when this rifle was built, it had already earned a strong reputation among deer and elk hunters who wanted Winchester reliability with magazine-fed repeatability. The pressed basket-weave checkered walnut stock, deep bluing, and streamlined receiver profile place this rifle unmistakably in Winchester’s early-1960s aesthetic, and this example remains remarkably clean, pairing crisp factory sights with a period-appropriate Leupold Vari-X II 3–9× scope in excellent condition.
Chambered in .308 Winchester, the cartridge introduced in 1952 as a commercial refinement of the 7.62 NATO, the Model 88 offered shooters a flat-shooting, efficient round well suited to North American game from whitetail to elk. In this rifle the bore remains bright and sharp (10/10), the metal finish sits at roughly 99%, and the factory stock shows only trace handling, an uncommon state of preservation for a 60-year-old field rifle. The detachable box magazine, tight wood-to-metal fit, and smooth lever throw reflect the mechanical soundness that made the Model 88 a standout in Winchester’s catalog. Clean, elegant, and fully capable, this 1964 C&R-eligible Model 88 is a beautifully preserved example of one of Winchester’s most innovative postwar sporting rifles. Please check out our high quality photos, and good luck on your bids! – J.D.
