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Thread: Winchester 1897 Trench Gun-legit or a construct?

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    Winchester 1897 Trench Gun-legit or a construct?

    I found an 1897 Trench Gun in a small gun store, but I have reservations about it. Serial number is 734xxx, so it was made in 1920. It is solid frame and has stock without a comb. Barrel is marked CYL and it looks like it had a bead on it at some time, now removed or ground down. Large US letters without periods are on the left side of the receiver with a flaming bomb. Flaming bomb also is on the barrel near the receiver. There is a GHD cartouche and ordnance stamp on the left side of the butt stock. The heat shield has six rows of holes. The butt plate is plastic. I would appreciate any thoughts on this. Is it a "made up" Trench Gun? Many thanks!
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    Welcome to the forum, even though a description is provided, perhaps pics would help. There should be some along shortly that may be able to help without them...
    Regards, Jim

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    I think we need a couple of the other guys to come look and say for sure. The "plastic" buttplate is called hard rubber.
    Last edited by browningautorifle; 07-03-2017 at 01:14 PM.
    Regards, Jim

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    Certainly looks Legit!

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    My concerns regarding this 1897 are that it looks like a gun that started out as a riot or trench gun in 1920, but has military markings of WWII on it ( large US on left side of receiver with flaming bomb, flaming bomb on the undated barrel). The GHD inspection mark would apply to a late WWII gun. Also, the crossed cannon ordnance marking looks unusual to me. But I realize there were variations.
    Last edited by pongo1; 07-02-2017 at 11:34 AM.

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    That 97 has a lot of issues including, among other things, the martial markings. The stock cartouche is totally bogus.

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