Model 1897 Black diamond Grade Pigeon Gun|Winchester Shotguns|Forum|Winchester Collector

That shotgun brings back memories, year around 1970 my brother and I went hunting upstate NY when done hunting we stopped at some friend’s houses old-timers to say hello, that we knew for years, and hunted on their land, at the last stop we went into the house had some coffee, and a pond leaving there was a broken pump shotgun butt section laying next to to the rest of the shotgun l asked what happen he said shot at fox trying to get into his chicken coup when he fired from the hit he lost grip and it fell to the ground and the butt stock bolt that held it to the receiver broke l knew it was a Winchester but was sure with model my brother offered him 35 dollars and he said it yours.

After getting home we looked it over it was a Winchester 1897 Black Diamond Trap Model no rib, at that time l was into trap shooting and using an Ithaca model 37 Trap. the 97 was heavier but l liked it and shot good with it, went back to shooting my 37 a couple of months later l asked if he wanted to sell it because he was into skeet shooting his answer was l don’t have it anymore l traded it for a Win. either 1200 or 1400 it was an auto skeet Shotgun. The 1897 shotgun was a work of art. You had it for a while like me and enjoyed it for a while.