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Winchester Model 1897 WWI Trench Gun M97
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08-04-2009 04:00 PM
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Looks to be a reparked WWI gun with later handguard. Rebuilt somewhere along line after WWI.
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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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