Mike

Henry Mero said
Bert,I am not much in to shotguns, they do come along once in a while, but I gotta say thanks for Your contribution/study on the 1897, very informative. I am now a little more knowledge able on them. Thanks again Bert for Your efforts.
  

As always, thanks for the positive feed back

Scatterguns (shotguns) were the actual mainstay gun for the majority people who settled the west and the North American continent. Nothing was more intimidating than a shotgun loaded with buckshot! 

For many years (decades), the Winchester Model 1897 was the primary gun that every small-town Sheriff or Police Department had in their gun racks, banks guards had them handy, railway companies, security companies, stage coaches and Express companies, saloon keepers... etc.   It was inevitable that it would be selected to serve with our Military forces around the globe in two World Wars and several other major military conflicts.

Bert

Brodg88 said
Chuck,
I was formally gifted this rifle, so I'm trying to figure out what it is and what to do with it!
I'm enjoying the history sleuthing project.
UPDATE:
I have ordered 2 magazines, the Wilson Book, and the Little John's Auction catalogue so I can have hard copies of everything. I also have a friend who may have the original James Julia catalogue as well. 
I'll report back on these as they come in and scan/upload everything I find as well as thoughts on how well the images/descriptions match this rifle. 
  

Well, you don't need this any more, but here it is.

I was formally gifted this rifle, so I'm trying to figure out what it is and what to do with it!
I'm enjoying the history sleuthing project.

UPDATE:
I have ordered 2 magazines, the Wilson Book, and the Little John's Auction catalogue so I can have hard copies of everything. I also have a friend who may have the original James Julia catalogue as well. 

I'll report back on these as they come in and scan/upload everything I find as well as thoughts on how well the images/descriptions match this rifle. 

Brodg88 said
Chuck, is there any way you could share a picture of those pages with me? I have a copy of the book but it's unopened and was $75 so I'm trying to validate before I commit. 
 
Those Ebay listings are unbelievable, WOW! Thank you!
  

The picture is spread over the 2 pages.  I can take a picture but I am not going to flatten out this book to do so.  You will get what I can easily take. 

Those Ebay listings are unbelievable, WOW! Thank you!

Look at the book on the bottom middle.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/277765690812?_trkparms=itmf%3D1%26aid%3D1110006%26rkt%3D4%26asc%3D20231107084023%26mech%3D1%26algv%3DSimVIDwebV4WithCtxRankerV1UnifiedFeaturesWithAuctionUnification%26pmt%3D1%26amclksrc%3DITM%26sd%3D389361224242%26sid%3DAQALAAAAEP3A3%2FzjM%2F7LrlCB70VF1A0%3D%26itm%3D277765690812%26noa%3D0%26plcampt%3D0%3A14103065018%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26rk%3D1%26pid%3D101875%26b%3D1%26mehot%3Dnone%26lsid%3D0%26meid%3D420dc58b305b4fe789e757ee938e38fb%26pg%3D2332490&_trksid=p2332490.c101875.m1851&itmprp=cksum%3A277765690812420dc58b305b4fe789e757ee938e38fb%7Cenc%3AAQALAAABIHjs4pTzsWtKQwt45cJq69%252B749CG0w%252Bxen2a259K4IbDma2lrjo5E1j9ppIfiU7ldZvGQviwWl99ih4hxSP7jXhzpmlRDbNCbDsiHsCoQOSXkutL4j8TXoEwk5EWlhDPS5SLsZevR3hTY1XT50GfWcmtU6JO6LlG00c9V0U382PrzHrhEhr%252BjxU87YNtz9gwuEqJW3ejUeOPyJNrgl2SZzgt5MOm%252Fo2efrC9jQXRnWraRgqDlSEYXnT0%252BJh7HqIymqcBI8sDy6K08k%252Fq7IHp19GCYHrms9rpYFERitxnD0IcYmvdA6XgbnlYDHKqvsjjDkj5ImApuO9ulumhmvM4l1wuAiKjRKktrTi9r4iU2FSChihpTa5KZuzwOtxShpa6Cw%253D%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2332490&itmmeta=01KJXKWZ7VND8KN0AZ65821ZH5

Does anyone happen to have access to or know where to find:

• the Little John Auction (May 20, 1998) catalog – Lot 776
  • the C.W. Slagle article in The Winchester Repeater that reportedly discusses this rifle
  • the specific pages (16-17 I think) reference in R.L. Wilson’s Winchester: An American Legend where it may be pictured
• Does anyone remember Robert F. Wolfskill or know if his collection was sold at auction?

Even a photo of the relevant catalog or page would be incredibly helpful as I try to piece together the research history on the rifle.

Does anyone else find this thing fascinating? It seems to be somewhat one-of-a-kind...but it's unlike anything I've ever had.