info wanted win, md 88
- Thread starter stillwater12
- Start date
I'd say a talented stock maker had some fun with a 1966 Model 88 and a pre-64 steel butt plate.
Hard to tell from the pictures but I'm guessing a rifle barrel, not a carbine.
Does the A suffix look factory or is it possibly added?
Winchester in 1966 wasn't doing high end customs that I'm aware of given that they'd just butchered the Model 70 a couple years earlier to save money.
Dang fine looking rifle though. Well done.
Hard to tell from the pictures but I'm guessing a rifle barrel, not a carbine.
Does the A suffix look factory or is it possibly added?
Winchester in 1966 wasn't doing high end customs that I'm aware of given that they'd just butchered the Model 70 a couple years earlier to save money.
Dang fine looking rifle though. Well done.
Thanks Douglas.... for your thoughts...i owned a gun shop for 28 years seen lot of guns and worked with a lot of the best gunsmiths around.Not that i think i know all there is to know but this one has me shaking my head. The stock looks factory and is fitted so well,that sounds funny talking about a 1966 win. One can only wonder if not factory why someone would use a 1966 and not pre 64 when so many would of been around then.The A does not look added the only diff i can see is on my other pre 64's the proof mark is next to ser. #and again on barrel one the side with ser. #, this one the proof is on top of receiver and barrel not on side of receiver with ser.#.I searched the internet for hours and can find no mention of this rifle or even a pic..downloaded 1966 catalogue and custom shop pdf's and nothing....anyway thanks again,all thoughts are welcome ...Bryan
buzzmagoo
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- sprucewood Hallows Eastern Townships
The checkering looks to be well done as does the stock fitting . The wood looks to be of a higher grade and the screws on the but pad have been alined ( dont think that was done at the factory ) a custom or a very skilled and Patient Tinkerer . The barrel crown does it look factory ? Any other mechanical ajustments ? Stoned trigger ? Polished action ? Hand fitted parts ? That could lean you more to believing it could be in fact a very nice custom and Desirable. If your willing ( mark where the and witch screws go where ) remove the stock and but plate he might have marked his handy work some where ( name or date ).
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
I think I remember from the era reading that the Winchester custom shop was still in operation. Not saying that's where it came from, just a possibility. It's a beautiful rife.
gunrunner100
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- NW Ontario
IIRC Reinhart-Fajen and Bishop offered semi-inletted stocks of this kind back in the heyday of custom rifles.
Regardless, it's a nice rifle that would be envied by those that appreciate full-stocked rifles.
Regardless, it's a nice rifle that would be envied by those that appreciate full-stocked rifles.
I'll stick my neck way way out there and venture a guess that that's not custom stock work from the 1960's or 70's or 80's.
The "shadow line" of that cheek piece and the overall condition tells me that's fairly recent work.
Could be dead wrong but that's my guess.
If I'm right I'd sure like to know the fellow that crafted it.
The "shadow line" of that cheek piece and the overall condition tells me that's fairly recent work.
Could be dead wrong but that's my guess.
If I'm right I'd sure like to know the fellow that crafted it.
Very nice looking rifle. . The basket weave checkering on a 1966 M88 left a lot to be desired for many old boys may explain why a 1966 was used over a per-64. Another thought is the stock on the M88 is quite weak at the magazine area if subjected to excessive stress I've seen a couple that were broken in that area. A pre-64 stock is very tough to find so why not do a custom stock?
The stock looks very well done, the finish, the cheek piece, the borderless checkering, from the picture, looks flawless apposed to Winchester Factory checkering of early 1960's. I like the full length stock and the cheekpiece is very well done.
The stock looks very well done, the finish, the cheek piece, the borderless checkering, from the picture, looks flawless apposed to Winchester Factory checkering of early 1960's. I like the full length stock and the cheekpiece is very well done.
Very nice rifle and in 284 win also,I had one in 358 win pre 64(was 308,had Ron Smith bore it).It was a great rifle and still wish I had it.I had a boyds lamanate stock for it that fit great.The orihinal stock was in great shape so I bought the boyds to save it.
