This rifle is virtually identical to its predecessor but for chambering a newly designed 8 mm cartridge, loaded originally with black powder and denominated 8×52mmR.

When in 1890 semi-smokeless powder became available, manufacture of rifles with a longer and thus stronger chamber and modified sights began.

China first bought Mannlicher 88 rifles before the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894–1895 and after that started production of the unlicensed Kuaili 1888 Kiangnan copy.

[13][14][15][16] During WW1, M.88-90 rifles were pulled from storage and used alongside the newer M90 and M95s, but due to their age and lack of maintenance were often worn and had corroded barrels.

It's not clear which nation, if both, did the M.88s; in any case it is generally not recommended to fire these rifles with full power ammunition as the 8x57mm cartridge generates much higher pressures than 8x50mmR.