WINCHESTER WWII M97 RIOT GUN

[Tom Doniphon]

Parkerized W marked bayonet adaptors were originally only used on the last few thousand Model 12 trench guns made during WWII that had a factory parkerized finish.

If the barrel doesn't have the 3 cuts for the adaptor screws, then it is a riot barrel. Also, a real Model 97 trench gun barrel would not have a front bead sight.

The sources you are using to determine the date of the gun are incorrect. Most of the production tables out there are wrong. The best source to determine a date of manufacture for a Winchester firearm is the Winchester Polishing Room serialization records which show the exact date the serial number was applied to the receiver. According to those records your gun was made in 1942. Military contracts for the Model 97 were completed well before the end of WWII.