WWII Winchester M97, Sn. 953081, manufactured in 1943…I think. (Pics)

[TrenchCrazy]

My vote is Original stock thats been sanded. Sling swivel should sit lower in wood, that means wood has been sanded away. Why who knows? Besides that it is a great conditioned trenchgun!

[Bruce Collector]

The stock has been refinished without removing it from the gun. You can clearly see that the center section is lighter than the ends. Someone may have steamed out some dents. Some folks back in the day actually filled the swivel slots. And someone may have later "restored" it.
Have your gunsmith fit the buttplate properly. It will make the gun look much better.

[drm2m]

TrenchCrazy and Bruce Collector,

Thanks very much for your comments.

David