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April 15, 2005
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While browsing the Rock Island Auction December catalog, I happened upon this outright deception (the alleged Winchester letter with the gun is a FAKE) listing;
As many of you know, I have been researching and surveying the Model 1897 (97) for many years now. Accordingly, my research of the factory records at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center of The West (McCracken Research Library) shows that serial number 1024701 was actually the last Model 97 manufactured (on September 30th, 1957). The serial number on the gun being auctioned (1023521) was actually manufactured in October of 1956 versus October 1959 as proclaimed in the letter. Furthermore, based on the Polishing Room serialization records, serial number 1024701 was the last Model 97 shotgun made (1,180 guns later). I have actually found (surveyed) serial numbers 1023698, 1024132, and 1024404, all later than the gun falsely being advertised as “the last M97 made”
Buyer Beware!
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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Wow, looks like they didn’t even bother to write the letter on a typewriter. Good eye, Bert!
Mike
October 4, 2017
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I am not a handwriting expert but I was a criminal investigator for 30+ years. During this time I had experts review many forged document.
It appears the person who signed the letter stopped his pen at the top of the last two letters. Again not an expert but experience tells me that authentic signatures seldom show evidence of this stopping of the pen and forgeries often show this.
That being said secretaries often sign for the boss.
Dominic
March 20, 2009
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I tried to read the entire “letter” but the amount of bull shit falling off my lap top screen soon impaired my ability. “Oh yes my most dearest friend. PLEEEEASE do not ask for yet another Model 897 because we had to sacrifice Vestal Virgins to find these long lost part to assemble this LAST one JUST for you!!!!!”
Where do these POS guys come from???? As a geologist I truly do not think that there is a rock large enough for them to live under!
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
March 12, 2008
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I am going to play the devil’s advocate here. We all know Winchester didn’t build their firearms in strict numerical order. Just because a certain s/n was the last one recorded, then it come’s down to semantics. Is the last one made, the last one serial numbered, or is it the last one assembled? I know for a fact that Winchester kept back a sizable quantity of service parts for each model after they were discontinued. I have a list of model 52 parts that were kept back at the end of model C production, and it included 200 receivers along with 125 of each weight barrel.
Wouldn’t it be possible that Winchester built this man a 97 from service parts, if he in fact, had some connections with the factory? Believe me, I am the epitome of skepticism, just throwing it out there for your thoughts.
Steve
November 7, 2015
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“Never say never” indeed. I’d like to think it’s possible but the letter is somewhat incredible.
Mike
