I shoot a nice old Model 1897 Trap Gun. Years ago I saw a forearm for sale that was described as a high-end Model 1897 forearm and I bought it “just in case.” That was when I learned that there were at least two types of Model 1897 forearms. Mine on the gun was a 3-screw version, and the one I bought wasn’t.

When I recently got it out to use it, I discovered that it’s not a Model 1897 forearm after all.

It’s just under 7″ long, about 1-5/8″ diameter at the butt end and 1-1/2″ at the front end – which has a narrow ridge cut all the way around it to fit inside a forend nut. The inside of the butt end has the first 1-1/2″ reamed and smoothed out for some sort of an insert on that end.  

It’s made of walnut and is nicely checkered (worn, though).

Any speculation on what gun this was made for? 

TIA,

Tom