Winchester Model 1897 WWI Trench Gun M97

[sleepla8er]

I wanted to share pictures of my Winchester M97.

A little family history... My Grandfather was an armorer in the US Army. I never met him, but I've been told he served during WWI in Europe and during WWII in the US. I have no information about his unit, but I'm looking into how to find out via military records.

This M97 was what he kept as his personal issued weapon along with a M1911 pistol. I have no idea where his pistol is, but the M97 was his baby and I have his bayonet which is also made by Winchester.

With him being an armorer, I have no idea if this is the original bluing or if he refinished it at some point. I have no idea why the heat shield has 4 holes when I've been told WWI M97's had 5 holes. I don't know why there is pitting on the bayonet lug or why there is copper solder. It's possible he actually put this M97 together using salvageable parts from other M97 that were unusable due to battle damage.

The serial number has an E above the number and starts with 689XXX

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If you want access to all the pics for this M97, the password is "hotshot" at http://s671.photobucket.com/albums/vv77/Sig_Hot-Shot/
On the left side of the main page are the photo album names, just click on the weapon you want to view.

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http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv77/Sig_Hot-Shot/Winchester%20M97%20WWI%20Trench%20Gun%2012%20Gage/IMG_5847.jpg

http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv77/Sig_Hot-Shot/Winchester%20M97%20WWI%20Trench%20Gun%2012%20Gage/IMG_5846.jpg

[Rob13]

Looks to be a reparked WWI gun with later handguard. Rebuilt somewhere along line after WWI.

[sleepla8er]

This M97 is a hand-me-down and I know the heat shield is not from WWI era.

Althrough I'm very happy having this weapon, I don't want my pictures to mislead anyone who might compare my M97 to another. I sent the pics off to a M97 expert that I trust completely, here are his notes which I believe to be true:

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There's good news and bad news.

First the good news...it appears to be a genuine WWI era Model 1897 trench gun (receiver, stock and, perhaps, barrel although I couldn't tell for sure from the photos). Also the martial markings on the right side of the receiver (near the ejection port) appear to be genuine.

Now the bad news...the gun has been completely refinished in what appears to be some form of parkerizing or phosphate finish. It almost certainly was not done under government auspices. There is pitting under the parkerizing which would not have been found on a gun rebuilt or refinished by a military entity. All Model 1897 shotguns were originally blued.

Typically, when a U.S. military shotgun is overhauled by the government, the initials of the ordnance facility that performed the overhaul are stamped on the stock. There are none on this gun (and the stock appears to be in very nice condition) which also suggests that the refinishing, replaced handguard, etc. were not done by the government.

The handguard/bayonet adapter is of mid-to late World War II origin and was obviously added by someone sometime after circa 1942.

The "US" marking on the bottom of the pistol grip does not correspond with any known marking on genuine U.S. military shotguns.

The "US" and "flaming bomb" near the rear of the action are not consistent with markings on genuine U.S. military shotguns. Note how crisp these markings are as compared to the authentic martial markings on the right side of the receiver which are noticeably "washed out" as they were applied before the gun was refinished. The same go for the Winchester factory proof markings on top of the receiver near the barrel.

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