I have a model 97, breakdown that was purchased by my father in Wash DC during the 1968 riots.
S/N924922 with under barrel stamp 42.
20″ barrel marked 2 3/4 chamber cyl. Army Ordnance flaming bomb on top of barrel.
No GHD stamp.
U.S. and flaming bomb stamp on left side of receiver.
The gun has a bayonet lug but no handguard. Has a swivel on the bayonet lug but no swivel on the but stock. 18 groove forearm.
The number 17 is stamped on the right side of the trigger guard.
The number 6 is painted on the underside of the stock in red paint. Was probably rack stored in an armory/police station/prison.
Thanks for any input
John Burton
904 803 3683
The serial number and barrel date are in the right range. Barrel and receiver seem OK. Stock is an issue. Missing hand guard/heat shield is a problem. The 17 and 6 are some type of rack numbers.
So maybe you have most of a WW II trench gun missing the heat shield and the correct stock? The stock should have flutes, the swivel and a cartouche. You need a heat shield of the 4 rows of holes. Maybe a 6 row if real early.
It’s an early WWII serial numbered trench gun. The serial number was applied to the receiver in late 1941. There are riot guns in the same serial number range. There are also some trench guns in that serial number range, some with only the ordnance bomb on the receiver but others with both the bomb and “US” like this shotgun. Some of the trench guns in this serial number range have heat shields with 6 rows of cooling holes while others have shields with only 4 rows of holes and GHD marked stocks. The variation in martial markings on the receiver and the different heat shields used in this serial number range is evidence that these guns were not marked with the ordnance bomb and US in numerical order nor were they assembled in numerical order.
John, is the ordnance bomb on top of the barrel an open flame bomb or a closed flame bomb?
I agree with Tom. That stated, nearly all of the Trench Guns I have documented in the 924000 serial number range had a 6-row (holes) heat shield, and a “WB” marked butt stock. S/N 924925, 924928, and 924954 all have 6-row heat shields and “WB” on the butt stock.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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