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Hello,rnI was recently gifted a Model 1897 which belonged to my great-grandfather. Trying to determine if this was once a military or commercial firearm.rnSN 243130 and the letter C above the SN, shows it was manufactured in 1903 I believe. Any help would be appreciated.rn
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Hello Dave,
Model 1897 s/n 243130 was manufactured in April 1904. It was a commercial sales gun (the U.S. Government (military) did not purchase any Model 1897 shotguns prior to the U.S. involvement in WW I).
What is the barrel length and the choke marking on the barrel? Is it a Solid frame or a Take Down?
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Hello Bert,
The marking on the barrel is FULL, it is a takedown I believe as you just have to pull tubular magazine forward and 1/4 turn to remove barrel from the receiver. Barrel length is 20″. The fore stock and screw on choke may not be original, the fore stock is a black finished wood and the choke is a Weaver Choke. Any help with what an original version is supposed to look like would be appreciated.
Dave
Bert,
I unscrewed the choke and used a dowel down the barrel till it touched the bolt face and measured it at 23-1/2″ barrel length. I believe that is more accurate. Not sure is this barrel was modified or not.
Dave
Dave1970 said
Bert,I unscrewed the choke and used a dowel down the barrel till it touched the bolt face and measured it at 23-1/2″ barrel length. I believe that is more accurate. Not sure is this barrel was modified or not.
Dave
The barrel has been modified, and it was most likely originally 30-inchs in length (standard) with a Full choke barrel. Apparently it was cut down (shortened) to install the aftermarket Weaver choke.
If you are interested in determining what the original configuration was, the Cody Firearms Museum (CFM) record office can (for a modest fee) provide you with a factory letter that will contain all of the information that was recorded in the original Winchester factory warehouse ledger record. The letter will look something like the example I have attached below.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
Hello Dave,It was a commercial sales gun (the U.S. Government (military) did not purchase any Model 1897 shotguns prior to the U.S. involvement in WW I).
Bert
Moro Rebellion? Mexican Punitive Expedition?
UpInTheBigTrees said
Bert H. said
Hello Dave,
It was a commercial sales gun (the U.S. Government (military) did not purchase any Model 1897 shotguns prior to the U.S. involvement in WW I).
Bert
Moro Rebellion? Mexican Punitive Expedition?
None that were officially documented. That does not mean that a very small number of Model 1897 Riot Guns could not have been used in those events, but they would not have been official government contract procurements.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
UpInTheBigTrees said
Bert H. said
Hello Dave,
It was a commercial sales gun (the U.S. Government (military) did not purchase any Model 1897 shotguns prior to the U.S. involvement in WW I).
Bert
Moro Rebellion? Mexican Punitive Expedition?
None that were officially documented. That does not mean that a very small number of Model 1897 Riot Guns could not have been used in those events, but they would not have been official government contract procurements.
Bert
I think the acquisition and successful uses of 1897’s in those conflicts are pretty well documented by the writings of several participants, including Pershing himself. But I understand the lack of official documentation of the purchase. I’ve read numbers like 200 guns, so perhaps they were bought with unit funds.
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