+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: 97 trench gun, looks real except?..

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Legacy Member bob4wd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last On
    03-16-2024 @ 07:51 PM
    Location
    tehachapi, California
    Posts
    207
    Local Date
    04-25-2024
    Local Time
    08:09 AM

    97 trench gun, looks real except?..

    Got a question or two on my 97 takedown trench gun, s.n. 946209, matching numbers
    First the good news:
    Barrel is dated 42
    Barrel has the flamingbomb
    Left side has the U.S. And flaming bomb stamps
    Action and finish still have most all of the original finish, showing very little use.
    Shoots good.
    Now the bad news:
    The gun is heavily pitted, the wood has many worm holes (no, really!) and seems to be some light weight wood, not walnut.
    No stock markings at all
    No rear sling swivel nor was there ever one.
    The story i got when I bought it, long ago at the defunct Great Western gun show (sigh), was that it came from the Phillipines and was originally supplied to them late in the war
    , which explains the little-use but obvious signs of being left on the jungle floor appearance, and perhaps the replaced stock, although it sure looks like a genuine one.
    Now the big question- how do I tell a real military issue heat shield and bayonet adaptor from repro? There are no markings whatsoever on either, at least not any that I can find.

    No rear sling swivel nor was there ever one.
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    scosgt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Last On
    12-28-2016 @ 05:22 PM
    Location
    Valley Stream
    Posts
    70
    Local Date
    04-25-2024
    Local Time
    10:09 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by bob4wd View Post
    Got a question or two on my 97 takedown trench gun, s.n. 946209, matching numbers
    First the good news:
    Barrel is dated 42
    Barrel has the flamingbomb
    Left side has the U.S. And flaming bomb stamps
    Action and finish still have most all of the original finish, showing very little use.
    Shoots good.
    Now the bad news:
    The gun is heavily pitted, the wood has many worm holes (no, really!) and seems to be some light weight wood, not walnut.
    No stock markings at all
    No rear sling swivel nor was there ever one.
    The story i got when I bought it, long ago at the defunct Great Western gun show (sigh), was that it came from the Phillipines and was originally supplied to them late in the war
    , which explains the little-use but obvious signs of being left on the jungle floor appearance, and perhaps the replaced stock, although it sure looks like a genuine one.
    Now the big question- how do I tell a real military issue heat shield and bayonet adaptor from repro? There are no markings whatsoever on either, at least not any that I can find.

    No rear sling swivel nor was there ever one.

    Post pictures

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    Legacy Member bob4wd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last On
    03-16-2024 @ 07:51 PM
    Location
    tehachapi, California
    Posts
    207
    Local Date
    04-25-2024
    Local Time
    08:09 AM
    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by scosgt View Post
    Post pictures
    I'll do that but it'll be a few days- I'm on my way to the Reno gun show in a couple hours. Long drive!

  6. #4
    Legacy Member bob4wd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last On
    03-16-2024 @ 07:51 PM
    Location
    tehachapi, California
    Posts
    207
    Local Date
    04-25-2024
    Local Time
    08:09 AM
    Thread Starter

    Pics

    Here are a few pics. Sorry about the poor focus, but my old camera lacks a close-up lens, plus my old arms lack an anti-shake mechanism. But if anybody really cares, i could rig up a tripod, I guess.
    But- no markings at all on the adaptor/heat shield, but all of the correct ones on the gun itself, except for the stock which is a replacement.
    So what do we think- is it a hit or is it a miss?Attachment 26121Attachment 26122Attachment 26123Attachment 26124Attachment 26125Attachment 26126

  7. #5
    Legacy Member Tom Doniphon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    @
    Posts
    317
    Local Date
    04-25-2024
    Local Time
    08:09 AM
    An unmarked bayonet adaptor is correct for that gun.

    It looks like a real WW2 Model 97 trench.

  8. #6
    Legacy Member bob4wd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Last On
    03-16-2024 @ 07:51 PM
    Location
    tehachapi, California
    Posts
    207
    Local Date
    04-25-2024
    Local Time
    08:09 AM
    Thread Starter
    Well how about that. Not bad for a couple hundred only afew years ago! Thanks.

  9. #7
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    scosgt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Last On
    12-28-2016 @ 05:22 PM
    Location
    Valley Stream
    Posts
    70
    Local Date
    04-25-2024
    Local Time
    10:09 AM
    The parts shown in the pictures look right

  10. #8
    Legacy Member RobSmith's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Last On
    05-15-2021 @ 10:10 AM
    Location
    Dorion, Qc
    Age
    48
    Posts
    147
    Local Date
    04-25-2024
    Local Time
    11:09 AM
    Looks good to me. Worm holes/cosmetic water damage on the wooden parts is not terribly unusual for firearms that have seen service in Asia.

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. Is this guy for real?
    By trekvana in forum M1/M2 Carbine
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 04-06-2011, 08:38 PM
  2. Real or not?
    By tlitt in forum The Watering Hole OT (Off Topic) Forum
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 01-18-2011, 04:37 PM
  3. Real?
    By rocky321 in forum M1/M2 Carbine
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 11-13-2010, 09:57 PM
  4. M97 Trench on G.B.
    By TrenchCrazy in forum Military Shotguns
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 06-23-2009, 10:30 PM
  5. mod 97 trench ww2
    By wolfganggross in forum Military Shotguns
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 03-24-2009, 08:04 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts