Late 1943 WRA M1897

Hi folks,

I picked this one up in an auction state side in April, it was a sleeper I think I did quite well. When it finally got home from the import process I went through it and poyers book. I was ecstatic! it was the highest number recorded serial number according to joes book study. Then I cross referenced Canfields book to find one a few numbers higher. Non the less I'm incredibly happy with this one and filled the trench gun gap in my collection.
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Stunning, Very beautiful. Thanks for sharing

Very nice!!

Nice Gratton and Knight belt hanger. Who made the sling? Nice and clean, the whole thing.

You have a real nice late production 97 trench gun with the plugged front sight bead hole.

There actually are many with higher serial numbers.

Thanks guys, I couldn't ask for a better one. The plugged front sight bead hole is a result of having a riot gun barrel iirc. I was just going by what's in Canfields and poyers books, I'm sure there are many higher but there wasn't in the documentation I had to compare to. The sling is marked J.S Co with flaming bomb, but I believe that's supposed to be a J.S.C Co?

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Originally Posted by Buckingfastard

The plugged front sight bead hole

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It's correct...no worry.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

It's correct...no worry.

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You bet I'm aware, I've seen a couple like that, one way to verify original finish as I've seen bubba try and blue that and get rid of the different tone

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Originally Posted by Live4therut

I've seen bubba try and blue that and get rid of the different tone

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That's right...

Is the sling actually marked I S CO. with a flaming bomb rather than JSC Co.? There was a company that made M1907 slings who used the mark JCS Co. usually with CEB inspector's initials.

Yes now that I look closely it is marked I S CO with flaming bomb, I'm not familiar with that maker. Any info would be appreciated.

My mistake. The photo of the sling I have is actually looks like L S CO, not I S CO as I previously stated. Not sure who L S CO is.

a bit late to this thread with a question.

#1 beautiful shotgun

#2 With these 4 row 19 hole adapters, are they often found without a "W" stamp under the third screw or is that for the earlier 6/29 variations? Do the 4/19 types have any markings?

thank you

None of the bayonet adaptors that were factory installed on WW2 Model 97 trench guns were W marked. The same goes for the blued adaptors on Model 12 trench guns. There was a new contract provision in late 1943 that required the bayonet adaptors to be marked with a "W". By that time Winchester had already stopped producing Model 97 trench guns for the Military. They were only making the Model 12 trench gun, and these were the parkerized Model 12s. The adaptors on these parkerized Model 12s were W marked. There also are some W marked blued adaptors that were made as replacements.

excellent info, thank you for the detailed response

Was Winchester the only maker of the 4 row 19 hole heat shield variation?

Outstanding pictures. That is a good looking 97 trench, you did very well. Not sure what you paid, but the way prices are going I am sure you will be fine.