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May 31, 2026
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Just got a garden-grade 97 (according to the serial number lists, 1920 mfg). Originally MOD, some PO cut it to about 23″ — I intend to cut it to 20″ and eventually put the bayonet/heatshield on it. This will be for practical use in my RV, as will be the Model 12 I’m looking for an extra barrel for.
I took it down to clean, then in reassembling it, the mag tube wouldn’t rotate if pushed all the way in. I was able to reassemble, but there is a tiny gap between the receiver and the end of the mag tube. Is this normal, or am I getting it wrong?
Looking at the wear on the barrel, it looks like the ears on the front end of the mag have worn through the bluing about 1/16 of an inch behind where they are now — not a full thread’s worth of spacing.
April 15, 2005
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The serial number will tell me precisely when it was manufactured. The MOD choke suggests that it originally had a 28-inch barrel.
If the Take Down was tight before you disassembled it, but now has a gap, you did something wrong when you reassembled it.
Pictures of the gun and all of the factory markings on the barrel, slide bar, and receiver frame would be beneficial in evaluating the gun.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
May 31, 2026
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S/N 7218xx.
The takedown itself looks normal, it is only the mag tube that may be an issue. Is the back end of the tube itself supposed to be tight against the receiver, or is that small gap normal?
To be more clear, when reassembling, I pushed the mag tube all the way to the bottom, but it would not turn to engage the lugs — I can feel it hitting the end of the lugs. Pulling the tube out a bit they engage fine, with a final gap (seen through the loading port) of about 1/16″ or so.
April 15, 2005
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MotorCDR said
S/N 7218xx.
The takedown itself looks normal, it is only the mag tube that may be an issue. Is the back end of the tube itself supposed to be tight against the receiver, or is that small gap normal?
To be more clear, when reassembling, I pushed the mag tube all the way to the bottom, but it would not turn to engage the lugs — I can feel it hitting the end of the lugs. Pulling the tube out a bit they engage fine, with a final gap (seen through the loading port) of about 1/16″ or so.
The serial number indicates that it was a March 1920 production gun.
The magazine tube should not be pushed tightly to the bottom of the receiver frame when rotating it back into its final assembled position.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
May 31, 2026
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Cool, I figured that it was supposed to have a little room, but wasn’t sure.
For being 106 years old, it’s in good shape. I’m looking forward to getting out to shoot it, then it will go in my classic 1973 GMC Motorhome as a coach gun.
Am I correct in believing that the 20″ bbl was measured from the breech block to muzzle?
April 15, 2005
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MotorCDR said
Am I correct in believing that the 20″ bbl was measured from the breech block to muzzle?
Yes. The correct measurement is from the bolt face to the muzzle face. Close the action fully and then insert a rod or dowel down the bore until it bottoms out on the bolt face, mark at the muzzle face and measure.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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