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A friend of mines mom recently inherited some guns and in my browsing the one that stood out the most was a model 1897 pump. Have always wanted one and she gave me a fair price so I took it home. Had thought about selling to a cousin of mine but I quickly fell in love with it. Would love to get some more information on it. The serial number is 423963 it is a takedown model with an “E” stamped near the serial number. The serial number on the barrel matches that of the receiver. It is an 18 inch, but the barrel says “FULL” and is lacking a front sight bead. Could it have been cut down to its current configuration? Would love any info on date of manufacture and original configuration.
March 31, 2009
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Made in 1908. Bert can give a more accurate date. Yes, the barrel has been cut down.
April 15, 2005
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August 1908, and it most likely originally had a 30-inch barrel.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
August 1908, and it most likely originally had a 30-inch barrel.Bert
Thanks for the knowledge fellas, loving my new gun
December 25, 2016
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Double check that barrel length, if only very slightly less than 18″ the gun is illegal. The issue is any bubba with a hacksaw can cut down a shotgun, bubba may not know how the ATF is going to measure his creation.
Move the slide full forward to fully close the action. Now get a cleaning rod or a wooden dowel. Put the rod down the bore and mark the rod while it is contacting the bolt face of the closed action. If that measurement is 17.999 or less your gun is illegal. Bubba knows how to use a hacksaw, he may not know how to properly measure the barrel length.
If it measures less than 18″ have a shop at least destroy the barrel. It is possible to be fined 10K and 10 years in the federal pokey. Or the FBI can take pot shots at your family and kill them, ask Randy Weaver. His crime was cutting a shotgun down to 17.9.
