WWII Winchester M97, Sn. 953081, manufactured in 1943…I think. (Pics)

[drm2m]

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd346/drm2m/DSC09417-1.jpg


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NO "GHD" Cartouche-----WHY?


http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd346/drm2m/276kbsrightbuttstock018.jpg


David

[TrenchCrazy]

Stock has been replaced. The butt plate looks a little larger than stock. Should be sanded flush with stock.

[TrenchCrazy]

Maybe its original and its just been sanded and refinished? A pic of the sling swivel inletting may tell the story?

[drm2m]

TrenchCrazy,

Thanks for your response, you could well be right.

Based on the condition of this gun I am absolutely puzzled as to why the stock would have needed replacing.
Who knows?????

David

I will check my photos of the sling swivel tonight.

[Bruce Collector]

First of all, play GI manual of arms with a 97 and you will need a stock.

That stock appears to me to be refinished, and they did not cut the buttplate to match. This is very common, and KILLS the value of the gun.

Original stocks do turn up from time to time in the $400 or so range. Keep your eyes open.

[Bruce Collector]

If you look closely at the pic of the full gun, you can see where the finish is darker towards the buttplate. That is very typical of a refinished stock.
OTOH if you look at the fit to the receiver, it looks perfect. So my guess is that the stock is refinished and not replaced. It should have a commercial varnish finish, not any kind of oil. If you look it over really closely, you may find someplace there was a repair done. Look especially at the wrist area, as it is quite prone to breakage.
AND
Some people, back in the day, did not care about future collectors and just sanded out the cartouche, probably thinking it was someone initials or something silly like that.

[drm2m]

Bruce Collector,

Thanks for jumping in on this subject.

I made the mistake of buying the gun before the books...in this case.
It is something I rarely do.....I tripped over it at a local gun show (Montreal May 5th 2002) where these guns are rarely seen.

I now know what the stock is missing.

THIS....(one of Big Larry's photos he sent me some years ago.)

http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd346/drm2m/DSCF1631-1.jpg

I spoke to Scott Duff years ago and he mentioned that he knew of stock breakage on guns that showed little wear.

I don't see any signs of a repair any where on the stock....and as you say the stock fit at the wrist where it meets the gun is excellent.

It puzzles the hell out of me.

The only file photos I found of this part of the gun are below. (Taken back in 2002) I don't know whether it tells us much?

How would a replacement stock likely marry to this gun without a lot of fitting issues?
I am sure I don't know.

My inclination is to leave it the way it is.

If I lived in the U.S. I might feel differently as the market value would probably justify the additional investment.

Thanks for your observations.

David


http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd346/drm2m/Croppedresizedundersiderearswivelan.jpg


http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd346/drm2m/296kbsTrenchGunButtplatemarkings003.jpg


http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd346/drm2m/152kbsDSC01124.jpg

[Tom Doniphon]

I can't tell by your photo, but is the sling swivel slightly below the wood line? It should be. Compare your's to the photo of gfguns Model 97 sling swivel in the thread below.

[drm2m]

Thanks for your involvement Tom.

Tomorrow I will take some more photos of this area of the gun....it has been too long since my last pics.

A THOUGHT:

I have always believed ......you have one chance to get it right....when you buy it!

It is one thing to add accessories.....it is another thing to start adding parts
to try and transform a piece into what it historically was not.

You might be able to find the correct pieces....but you are kidding yourself at the end of the exercise....if you think it is correct.

All of these guns are what they are....if we start manipulating that historical reality....who are we kidding.....the next owner?

I don't feel great about doing that as a serious collector....and I won't do it.

David

[drm2m]

Stock photos.
I suspect that this might be the original stock.....but obviously some one has done some work on it.....for reasons I don't understand?

David


http://i530.photobucket.com/albums/dd346/drm2m/DSC03554.jpg



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[TrenchCrazy]

My vote is Original stock thats been sanded. Sling swivel should sit lower in wood, that means wood has been sanded away. Why who knows? Besides that it is a great conditioned trenchgun!

[Bruce Collector]

The stock has been refinished without removing it from the gun. You can clearly see that the center section is lighter than the ends. Someone may have steamed out some dents. Some folks back in the day actually filled the swivel slots. And someone may have later "restored" it.
Have your gunsmith fit the buttplate properly. It will make the gun look much better.

[drm2m]

TrenchCrazy and Bruce Collector,

Thanks very much for your comments.

David