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EPITAPH

Production of the Model 88 ceased in 1973 after 19 years and production of 255,545 Model 88 Rifles and 28,330 carbines. This should not, however, be regarded as unflattering to the 88. While the Winchester 94 and 92 lever action Rifles literally sold in the millions, the 88 represents the third largest production run of any of Winchester’s modern lever action Rifles, excluding the 293,816 military sales of the Model 95 muskets sold to Czarist Russia. Production of the Model 88 actually exceeded that of the Winchester 95 lever action Rifle and even the much-lauded Model 1886. Winchester cited increasing cost production as the reason for dropping production of the 88. While this may seem like the usual and customary cop-out, in the case of the 88 it might actually be true. All the 88’s technical advancements resulted in a complicated design that not only required many small parts but also critical dimensioning and meticulous fitting of them to assure reliable functioning.

To get an idea of just how complex the design is, one need only retract the bolt and remove the magazine. Shining a powerful light into the bottom of the receiver with the bolt forward and later retracted will reveal just how complicated the design actually is. Removing the barrel and receiver assembly from the stock will reveal that the “one-piece” receiver is actually an assembly of many small, intricately-fitted components. (Incidentally, when removing the barrel assembly from the receiver, one should not fully retract the lever assembly as it will jam in this position. We know - we did this ourselves, but after some time and having had a lot of practice at problem-solving, we got it back in place. While some sources have cited the need to have a gunsmith reassemble the action, the action can be closed by carefully massaging and pressing on the rear portion of the lever train.)