Winchester Collector - Forum: Winchester Shotguns

Bert H. on Trying to learn more about my 1897

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 02:25:27 +0000

Positively a refinished gun. Both the wood & steel have been refinished, and the recoil pad is an aftermarket alteration. If the stock was cut (shortened) to install the recoil pad, that further degrades to gun.

What is the serial number? With it, I can determine the precise date of manufacture (day, month, & year). Does it have a matted barrel and receiver top?

Have you read my recent article - 2026 Spring (winchestercollector.org)

Bert

MidwestCrisis on Trying to learn more about my 1897

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 00:53:29 +0000

I didn’t see a picture of the barrel address. The action bar stamps don’t look like they have been polished. The receiver polish looks good to me, but I have no clue. Just my observations

kevindpm61 on Trying to learn more about my 1897

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 00:25:51 +0000

I love the 1897 black diamond shotguns; I suspect that it has been refinished. The ventilated recoil pad is a strong indicator of this.

MidwestCrisis on Trying to learn more about my 1897

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 00:08:38 +0000

I agree with Chuck. You may have a real gem there.

Chuck on Trying to learn more about my 1897

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 23:32:30 +0000

The shotgun looks brand new if not refinished at some time. You need someone to take a better look at it for you. Hopefully one of the experts will respond.

Chuck on Gun stock carving

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 23:22:01 +0000

You might contact FEGA. The firearms engraving guild of America. Or the ACGG American custom gunmakers guild. These organizations may be able to help you.

Scotlund1 on Trying to learn more about my 1897

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 23:19:06 +0000

Ricklin said
Reblued and refinished means no collector value. That's my take but will defer to those more learned than I. What is the barrel length and choke? You have a nice family heirloom shooter IMO. Take good care of it for the next generation. The auction sites like Gunbroker make common guns pretty easy to value. Do not waste time with asking prices, the seller may know less about 1897 shotguns than you do. Look at the closed auctions, green means sold.

Thank you this helps. It is 30” full choke and seems to have all the right numbers. I am not sure about the refinishing. It was originally my great grandfathers gun and really had very little use. Between my dad and I we have done nothing to it for last 50 plus years. Just sat in nice gun cabinets. Action is all very tight which is good. I hope to find and expert who can determine if bluing has been redone. It kind of make sense it was as it is 114 year old.

Ricklin on Model 12 safety

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 22:42:25 +0000

I don't think for a minute that safety is original Winchester. Really common to find M12's with an aftermarket safety installed at some time in the distant past. Don't think I have not seen a big head safety quite that big headed before. The darn thing has a swelled head. It is after all mounted on the finest pump shotgun ever built. Easy peasey to swap an original back in if desired.

Jeremy P on Gun stock carving

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 22:40:00 +0000

I know a guy in Missouri you can reach out to, name is Coty Winsauer, I'll PM you his info.

Ricklin on Trying to learn more about my 1897

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 22:27:04 +0000

Reblued and refinished means no collector value. That's my take but will defer to those more learned than I. What is the barrel length and choke? You have a nice family heirloom shooter IMO. Take good care of it for the next generation. The auction sites like Gunbroker make common guns pretty easy to value. Do not waste time with asking prices, the seller may know less about 1897 shotguns than you do. Look at the closed auctions, green means sold.

Scotlund1 on Trying to learn more about my 1897

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 22:12:33 +0000

I know it is Black diamond and in great shape. In our family for close to 80 years. Mfg in 1911. No rust or scratches in metal and serial numbers match on both pieces. Trying to figure out best way to get it worth and providence

Ricklin on Gun stock carving

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 22:12:29 +0000

Personally I am not a fan of stock carving at all. I don't mind fine engraving, but stock carving is a bridge too far IMO. If it makes you smile, that is what matters but do bear in mind. The worth of the gun will not be enhanced, in fact it may devalue the gun. If it is a collectable model 12 carving will devalue it. Collectors prize originality above all else but condition. Ask here with pics of the gun if it matters to you.

Ricklin on model 37 shootguns

Fri, 24 Jul 2026 21:58:30 +0000

oldcrankyyankee said
I always love those "golden BB" late breaks.

Any break is a good break. That long grass is your friend at the traps. I'd put the grandson's to work finding enough clays and drag the manual trap out from under the clubhouse. I think they liked clay hunting better than clay shooting did manage to get both of them a break. A lot of those clays would have one two and rarely three holes in the dome. Do bear in mind trap targets are shot edge on for the most part. I'm a big fan of a black dust cloud where the clay used to be, but every break looks the same on the scorecard. An X is an X.

TXGunNut on model 37 shootguns

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 21:39:01 +0000

oldcrankyyankee said
I always love those "golden BB" late breaks.

Have been a benefactor of the "golden BB" but a fixed Winchester full choke won't give you many. The ones I've tried pattern beautifully with few potential "golden BB's". Seems there's a hole in my modest collection were a Model 37 should be.

Mike

oldcrankyyankee on model 37 shootguns

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 21:21:41 +0000

I always love those "golden BB" late breaks.