Winchester 1897 trench gun.

Finally managed to get my grubby little hands on an authentic Winchester '97 trench gun. US marked with flaming bomb, notches on the underside of the muzzle end for the bayo lug. The buttstock is a replacement, which will be replaced. No finish left. Looks like it was made in 1948, from the research I've done. Even better, this shotgun is really tight. In everyone's opinion, would it help or hurt this shotgun if it were to be fitted with a repro bayo lug and heat shield? Finding a real set so far appears to be fruitless, and I can only imagine what it would cost. This is my first real trenchie, so any and all thoughts are welcome.

It will always be what it is, you can never get it to original so whatever you do to make it look better in your eyes is fine.

I take it you know about these people? East Taylor, LLC, Savannah, Georgia Winchester Trench Gun Bayonet Attachment

This is true......no, have not heard of those guys. Thanks!

Of course you'll proceed carefully and when finished let us have a look?

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You should be using our WTS/WTT/WTB Forums.

You can learn how to use it here..

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Thanks... :cheers:

Regards,
Doug

I'm the farthest thing from a collector (with weapons I'm much more of a user.....) so I wouldn't do a thing to that fine old riot/trench gun. If in good condition it's still perfectly capable of doing what it was designed for -all day long. From what I've read though, most collectors are not interested in older guns that have repro stuff added. I'll be interested in what others, more knowledgeable, have to say.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lemaymiami

most collectors are not interested in older guns that have repro stuff added.

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That is where most of us are on the map but we've learned that when someone wants to do something then it's usually going to happen. Specially if they already understand what they have. It's theirs... It turns into an argument where people are ordering someone to not do something...that never works.