And the few that are have hand stamped markings on the right side of the receiver in front of the ejection port. Of course, the standard model 97, including riot guns, remained in production for slightly more than a decade after that. Found one online for a good price that the seller claims is authentic. Marines had also used their trench guns in shanghai, haiti, nicaragua and various other deployments between the wars. This is a steel reproduction that can be retrofitted to your pump action 97 winchester or similar weapon to bring it to trench gun specifications. The winchester model 1893 shotgun winchester arms collectors. Winchester 1897 trench gun with no military markings.
This commercial trench gun built in 1920 is a relatively scarce collector grade winchester. Converting a winchester model 1897 to a trench gun. This reproduction, blued steel heat shield features the 29hole6row pattern and the flush, 6rivet mounting design. Aug 22, 2015 page 1 of 2 winchester 1897 trench gun with no military markings posted in u.
By the way, that rubber buttplate with the us and ordnance bomb is not a trench gun buttplate. The winchester model 1897, also known as the model 97, m97, or trench gun, is a. I picked a stripped 1897 winchester receiver last month for cheap, and decided i am going to build a trench gun becasue i am not. Dec 17, 2015 according the blue book of gun values, the serial number range for the wwi m97 winchester trench riot gun is 650,000 695,000. Winchester shotguns model 97 for sale guns international. I almost picked one up at the last show but dont know much about them. The winchester model 1897, also known as the model 97, m97, or trench gun, is a pumpaction shotgun with an external hammer and tube magazine manufactured by the winchester repeating arms company. Im new to the forum and found an 1897 trench gun in a small gun store, but i have reservations about it. I have also talked with vietnamera marines who still used the model 12 trench gun in that conflict.
The trench gun of ww1 devastating firepower at close. For either a ww1 or ww2 impression the m1907 sling would be the correct sling for use on a m1897 trench gun. Reserve now and allow at least 4 weeks for delivery. Winchester 1897 trench gun project overview youtube. Heres a winchester model 1897 trench gun that falls within the known serial number range for those trench guns purchased by the u. Between 1897 and 1956 more than a million were produced by winchester repeating arms. Unfollow 1897 winchester to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. As popular as it was before the start of world war. I was in a small gun shop last week, and they had a 97 trench gun for sale for 1500. One other point of interest concerning the military purchased model 189797 riot and trench guns, is that the ww i guns were all solid frames and were marked model 1897 on the slide bar. It looked really good in the rack, but i was in somewhat of a hurry. The shotgun itself has betterthanaverage quality for a chinesemade gun, although the blueing was marred in a couple places and the front sight was slightly off center, but those are minor issues for the price. The winchester 1897 shotgun was manufactured from 1897 to 1957. Winchester model 97 trench gun winchester model 1897 % similar models vj 45 rg ii banel 2 magazine bmd bushing 3 magazine band bushing scrcws 4 magazine band 5 barrel extension 6 adjusting sleeve 7 barrel charnber ring 8 adjusting sleeve iock sqew 9 adjusting sleeve iock l0 magazine plug screws 11 mapzine end cap 12 magazine locking pin.
I have dated the serial number e 679xxx to 1918 but believe it could have been earlier. With a fiveround tubular magazine fed by a helical coil spring and featuring a reliable slide action the 97 is a rugged serviceable shotgun. I asked them if the price was negotiable, and the answer was no. Ive never been in a position to get one of these, as this was the first trench gun ive ever found for sale. Page 1 of 2 winchester 1897 trench gun with no military markings posted in u. We like to shoot the guns we collect at least once as we enjoy being a part of the history. Get the 74th edition of the worlds greatest gun book. Just finished building an m1897 trench gun in wwi style. There was one passion, however, i could never pursue while in these countries due to local governmental. The widow of the deceased owner claims that he carried it during wwii. The wwi era guns were not originally stamped with any u. Distinguishing features include blued heat shield with 6 rows of 29 holes, bayonet lug, sling swivels, blue finish, 18 groove walnut fore end, walnut stock with winchester logo, and black composite butt plate. He decided it was time to publish a book to help others to figure out what to look for. I am looking at a winchester 1897 trench gun made in about 1938 sn e8663xx that has no military markings.
The model 1897 is an external hammer shotgun lacking a trigger disconnector. This is a solid frame gun with 20 barrel that is factory marked cyl for cylinder bore. Seek knowledgeable instruction before attempting to use the gun if you are unsure. American soldiers, police, and hunters all loved and used the trench gun which is the reason it remained in production for 59 years.
Norinco 97 trench gun problemsolutiongeneral info part i. Ive been on a bit of a search for an 1897 trench gun. Imported by iac, this is a chinese clone of the winchester model 1897. You can probably use the serial number to look up the date of manufacture. Us winchester trench and riot guns and other us combat shotguns. From 1897 until 1957, over one million of these shotguns were. Winchester 1897 trench gun basic take down duration. Ive been looking for one and cant seem to find any. Overall, the model 1897 trench gun was a smooth weapon, complete with the winchesterstyle boxy receiver now rounded out for modern times.
However, the shotgun concept was fixed doctrine in the u. Up for auction is an extremely rare winchester model 1897 diamond grade, 16ga 30 full choke, highly figured all original shotgun. Most of the ww1 model 1897 trench guns are not us marked. The model 1897 was an evolution of the winchester model 1893 designed by john browning. A comprehensive guide to the winchester model 1897. Winchester 1897 trench gun questions if this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above. The real winchester riot or military guns are getting too expensive to shoot much.
Were there military guns with no property markings. The winchester model 1897 was designed by the famous american firearms inventor john moses browning. The serial number range for the wwii m97 winchester trenchriot gun is 920,000 960,000. This means that the user can hold the trigger down while cycling the shotgun and once the action is returned to battery the shotgun fires. Each bayonet comes with a green steel mounted leather scabbard complete with correct hooks for the u. An atypical hero emerged, the militarized winchester model 97 riot gun, a 20barrel, 12ga. Hello, im doing a full restoration on a winchester 1897 and after i reblue it, id like to get a heat shieldbayonet lug assembly to give it that trench gun look. Winchester 1897 disassembly thompson submachine gun. Turner saddlery is one company that makes a quality m1907 sling.
The trench gun of ww1 devastating firepower at close range. From 1897 until 1957, over one million of these shotguns were produced. Winchester model 1897 page 2 the firearms forum the. Offered is a fine high condition model 1897 winchester trench gun. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. I am starting to research its long history in the military. The winchester model 1897 and the winchester model 1893 were both designed by john browning. The 12 gauge winchester m97, in trench gun or riot gun style, was a pumpaction shotgun with an exposed hammer and a 5 round tubular magazine beneath the 18 inch barrel. I have always like the look of them and have an old 12 which i. The problem is that mine has a 28 inch tapered barrel and from what i understand the original trench guns had 20 inch straight barrels. When encountered today, most trench guns are quite worn, showing hard battlefield use, while the riot guns used by various police departments are usually in better shape, having spent much of their time in station gun racks and patrol cars.
Modeluv redroguexiii rendertexport darthfaceman two model options for the heatshield, one with modeled on holes, and one. According the blue book of gun values, the serial number range for the wwi m97 winchester trenchriot gun is 650,000 695,000. Trench gun or even riot gun would have a shorter barrel. The unmarked bayonet lug includes the front sling swivel, brass sight bead and attaching screws. Interstate arms 12 ga trench gun w20 barrelbead front. There were 19,196 trench guns sold to the us during ww1 and an estimate of 30,000 prior to 1920. The model 1897 trench gun is an old lead dispenser indeed, but it is the great granddaddy of our modern day combat shotguns. Heres a trench gun i bought for my dad, but was passed back to me several years ago after he. If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the faq by clicking the link above.
Us winchester trench and riot guns and other us combat. It is of wwii vintage, with a serial number in the 953000 range. Mar 30, 2011 winchester 1897 disassembly posted in u. The action is not as strong as the model 12 or any of the modern shotguns and if it goes to the range a lot sooner or later something will break.
I am in love with it and purchased is about 15 years ago. The trench gun, the winchester model 1897, was an immensely popular shotgun. You must read this manual carefully and thoroughly in its entirety and fully understand all aspects before you can safely use your shotgun. The winchester model 1897 trench gun with a fixed bayonet was a fearsome and distinctly american weapon used by doughboys in the trenches of france. One round could be in the chamber bringing capacity to six rounds total. Heres one we bought in 2006 when they were in a mild oversupply situation, a very slick and sturdymade copy of the classic winchester 1897 riot gun in the world war i trench gun configuration, complete with heat shield and bayonet lug. Does iac no longer sell theirimported reproduction 1897 trench gun. Winchester 1897 12 ga trench gun converting your personal 1897. The ww ii guns were all take down frames, and were marked model 97 on the barrel. It was chambered for the short 2 34inch shells only. Since the op m97 is only a four digit number, it is a madeup trench gun with the military markings added later.
Nov 29, 2009 a video on how far i have gotten on this project. I believe it came to canada from a batch via korea. Winchester 1897 trench gun project overview chaostheoryfilms. Winchester model 1897 internet movie firearms database. Winchester model 97 shotgun military information hq. Winchesters bad boy smoothbore model 97 riot gun gun digest.
I downloaded a copy of tm 9285 and have been doing some reading. I dont know a whole lot about these other than they look like a lot of fun, and itd make a good mate for my cmp garand. Winchester model 1897 trench gun the model 1897 was popular before world war i, but it. I take the kindle to gun shows with me and have info at my finger tips if i run across a trench gun and want to verify its authenticity. Having said that, the winchester model 97 is an amazing shotgun. Some of the early models are capable of slamfiring. At one time the 97 set the standard for combat shotguns.
Winchester model 1897 military wiki fandom military wikia. Winchesters classic m97 combat shotgun also known as the trench sweeper. Jan 17, 2014 one other point of interest concerning the military purchased model 1897 97 riot and trench guns, is that the ww i guns were all solid frames and were marked model 1897 on the slide bar. We have not seen any of these offered for the past year or so, perhaps because they are not in production. The trench gun, the military model, became so feared by the germans that they tried to get shotguns outlawed for use in combat and these were the guys using mustard gas. The hammer spur protruded from the rear of the frame hidden in the newer model 1912 and a large ejection port was set to the right side of the receiver. No reserve heres a winchester model 1897 trench gun that falls within the known serial number range for those trench guns purchased by the u. Winchester 1897 16ga pump 28 barrel fixed full choke needs a new forend. After 1943 or so one could also consider using the web m1 sling. The winchester model 1897 was an evolution of the earlier model 1893, designed by john. This is a discussion on my 1897 trench gun project within the shotguns forums, part of the gun forum category. A new americanmade 1897 trench gun would probaby be 2 to 3 times as expensive. Winchesters bad boy smoothbore model 97 riot gun gun. This is a discussion on 1897 trench gun reproduction within the shotguns forums, part of the gun forum category.
Originally designed for the winchester m1897 riot shotgun, this ventilated barrel jacket with bayonet lug for the m1917 bayonet, was introduced in wwi for trench warfare and used continually up through the war in vietnam. Winchester model 1897 internet movie firearms database guns. The serial number range for the wwii m97 winchester trench riot gun is 920,000 960,000. While the 1897 trench gun is a fantastic collectors item,it is just that, a collectors item. Anybody have one of those reproduction 1897 winchesters. This is an original mint condition 1935 manufacture commercial trench gun by winchester. Standard barrels and riot barrels will require locating notches for the bayonet lug. An exact reproduction of the classic ww1 enfield m1917 bayonet with simulated ww1 dates. There are many reproduction m1907 slings available on the market.
The us and bomb mark look authentic, but it looks like at least the stock has been refinished. Differentiating the trench gun from a standard 1897 is the heat shield atop the barrel. This is an exact reproduction of the classic ww1 enfield m. Here were the problems, denoted numerically as to which gun it pertains. Building an m1897 trench gun part i i have spent most of my life working overseas in south east asia in very fortunate circumstances. In addition the number that probably survived in the condition of this example is even scarcer. This small and inexpensive book has in depth coverage not found elsewhere. While the author has tested quite a few shotguns for a new book, the pumpaction clone of the winchester 1897 is a handsdown. Apr 29, 2014 winchester 1897 trench gun project overview chaostheoryfilms. Bert harman the winchester book george madis complete guide to. Its been there about a year and from what i understand they are the place to go for 97 work. Barrel is marked cyl and it looks like it had a bead on it at some time, now removed or ground down. American rifleman which bayonet for the 97 trench gun. Military police found that an m97 trench gun with bayonet attached was an excellent choice for guarding prisoners during world.