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Winchester 88 serial number

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10 comments

  • Bert H.
    The "A" is technically not part of the serial number. You need to just look at the numerical digits.
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  • Spider7115
    1956 according to http://www.proofhouse.com/win/index.html

    Like Bert said, "A" is not part of the serial number.
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  • BT99
    Thanks guys. I never knew that. But then, why is the "A" there???
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  • babun
    http://www.leeroysramblings.com/Gun Articles/winchester_model_88_100_info.html

    """ You may see a suffix to a serial number of "A" on a few earlier guns. This appears to be possibly a duplicate or more likely a replaced receiver/barrel unit."""
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by babun
    http://www.leeroysramblings.com/Gun Articles/winchester_model_88_100_info.html

    """ You may see a suffix to a serial number of "A" on a few earlier guns. This appears to be possibly a duplicate or more likely a replaced receiver/barrel unit."""


    That is positively not accurate. The "A" is neither a duplicate serial number, or a replaced receiver/barrel.

    The "A" was used to indicate a production change that was instituted by Winchester to the receiver group.
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  • tsr1965
    quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by babun
    http://www.leeroysramblings.com/Gun Articles/winchester_model_88_100_info.html

    """ You may see a suffix to a serial number of "A" on a few earlier guns. This appears to be possibly a duplicate or more likely a replaced receiver/barrel unit."""


    That is positively not accurate. The "A" is neither a duplicate serial number, or a replaced receiver/barrel.

    The "A" was used to indicate a production change that was instituted by Winchester to the receiver group.


    [:D][:D][:D]+1
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  • babun
    If it was a production change, why are there so many in so many different years without the "A"???
    quick look found several for sale here:

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=480432480

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=481044827[img][/img]



    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=481601543

    See pic #5

    also one with serial #103451- NO "A" is another for sale.

    Yet there are some with lower and higher #'s With the "A"

    http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=481060056

    And some without.
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  • Bert H.
    Winchester never assembled any of there various models in numerical/sequential serial number order. Additionally, when production changes were made, they sometimes stretched across more than 10,000 serial numbers.
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  • babun
    Bert, thanks for the reply.

    I still find it very odd that some guns have the A, then 5 years later, some guns don't have it. About 70,000 to 80,000 guns. Thats a lot of guns . And then it appears again! I've seen no order or reason to this apparent coming and going of the "A".[?]

    Being that the barrel and receiver of the model 88 is a factory "one shot deal" and is almost permanently attached to each other, I would think any factory mods made to them would require a complete change out. Hence the "A".

    Almost like the 4 letters assigned by winchester to the gunsmiths fixing the firing pin recall of the model 100 to be stamped inside the action:

    B=Bolsa gunsmiths
    L=lefever gunsmiths
    N=Nu-line

    X= for all other independent shops.

    I will have to look into this anomaly more.[:D]
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  • MIKE WISKEY
    "Almost like the 4 letters assigned by winchester to the gunsmiths fixing the firing pin recall of the model 100 to be stamped inside the action:"

    Just to note; while working as a gunsmith, I changed upwards of 100 m-100 firng pins,and got paid $20 ea. from Winchester. I was never asked to mark the receivers in any way.
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