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Do all take down 1897s have the serial number on both the frame and take down section?
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Yes. Winchester always marked the serial number on both halves as they were factory fitted to one another.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I am wondering if maybe some of the very early ones may not have had the serial number on the takedown section, I have seen one other with a 53k serial number that looked “right” that did not have the serial number on the takedown section.
I have one with a 516xx serial number, the serial number was applied on April 28th 1898, the patent was not approved until June 14th so this would be a very early piece, the June patent number of course is not on the barrel, and the Browning Bros. stamp is applied very much centered on the barrel unlike most of the stamped pieces sold by Browning Bros. (seriously some look like they were stamped on the loading dock by a teenager)
The piece looks “right” like it has spent its entire life together, There also appears to be tool marks that would not normally be seen on a Winchester. UNFORTUNATELY somebody cut down the 30″ barrel so it is only worth a fraction of what it may have been worth…..
I have examined several dozen early production Model 1897 Take Down shotguns, and all of them have had the serial number stamped on the take down extension, and on the receiver. Serial number 51389 was the very first Model 1897 Take Down, serialized on 4/21/1898, and then received in the warehouse as a completed ready to sell gun on 4/25/1898. The early production guns did have a more lightly stamped serial number, but are usually easy to read/see.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thanks, that would place mine at about the 250th one built, I stared at it long enough through a magnifying glass that I started to see what looked like numbers but they would be aligned with the bottom of the numbers touching the gap between sections, have not seen any like that during searches.
But it is what it is, an early piece ruined by somebody trying to make it “better” still looks cool over the mantle and probably would shoot fine, everything appears to be OK.
Any idea how many takedown 1897s were built?
My research survey is currently indicating that 78.73% of the Model 1897/97 production were Take Downs (approximately 780,000). The Take Down feature was a much more popular option, and with the Model 1912/12, it was the only option.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I have a very low serial number 1897 that does not appear to be a takedown model, and does not appear to have serial number on underside of barrel. SN 44779. According to lookup page it was made in 1897.
Gun does not have “pin” at end of magazine tube to enable takedown, and does not have reinforcing of barrel where would go into receiver. Did they make 1897’s that were not takedown? Any info would be appreciated.
I have some pics I could send if given permission by administrator or moderator. As a guest, I don’t see an “attachment” button.
Thanks
[email protected] said
I have a very low serial number 1897 that does not appear to be a takedown model, and does not appear to have serial number on underside of barrel. SN 44779. According to lookup page it was made in 1897.Gun does not have “pin” at end of magazine tube to enable takedown, and does not have reinforcing of barrel where would go into receiver. Did they make 1897’s that were not takedown? Any info would be appreciated.
I have some pics I could send if given permission by administrator or moderator. As a guest, I don’t see an “attachment” button.
Thanks
Winchester did not introduce the Take Down variation of the Model 1897 until serial number 48866 & 48870 (April 1898). All of the early production Model 1897 shotguns were Solid frame (just like the predecessor Model 1893). Serial number 44779 was manufactured in December of 1897.
You can send pictures to me at – [email protected]
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Hello, wondering what year this Winchester 1897 would be from, serial number 618801 it looks like.
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