Rossi Model 88 .38 Special Stainless 3-Inch 5-Shot Revolver
This compact Rossi Model 88 stands out with its 3-inch stainless barrel, giving shooters a slightly longer sight radius while remaining easy to conceal. Built in Brazil during the late 1970s–1990s and imported by Interarms/Garcia, it combines a small-frame profile with a bright-polished stainless finish, transfer-bar safety, and exposed hammer for double-action or single-action firing. Its five-round cylinder and investment-cast construction make it a practical revolver for carry or collection.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good – Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling – Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific condition notes: The stainless surfaces display scattered scratches, blemishes, and areas of light rust with minor pitting. Despite exterior wear, the bore remains shiny and in good shooting shape.
What’s Included
- Rossi Model 88 revolver
Rossi produced the Model 88 as its stainless, small-frame revolver series, drawing mechanical inspiration from the Smith & Wesson J-frame while adding a modern transfer-bar and hammer-block safety system. This example’s 3-inch barrel is less common than the 2-inch variant, offering improved ballistic performance without sacrificing concealability.
The bright-polished stainless finish covers the frame, cylinder, and barrel, providing corrosion resistance and a distinctive appearance. Wood grips balance the revolver in the hand and maintain the classic styling typical of late-20th-century carry guns.
Import marks from Interarms and The Garcia Corp. confirm its U.S. distribution window between 1978 and 1996, adding clear provenance for collectors tracking production periods. The revolver retains fixed sights—a serrated ramp front and square-notch rear—set for standard .38 Special loads.
A five-shot cylinder keeps the frame compact while maintaining adequate capacity for defensive use. The exposed hammer allows precise single-action trigger pulls when desired, yet the gun functions smoothly in double-action for rapid follow-up shots.