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Hello I recently bought this 1897 shotgun serial number 634441, at a pawn shop for 400 bucks. As Iam happy with my purchase Iam also so curious as to what exactly I have. From all of my research the receiver, heat shield , and bayonet lug are from ww1 the stock is possibly from ww2 and the barrel is where it gets confusing to me. The barrel is 20” has CYL stamped on it but has and oval P stamped on it and then an circle WP stamped on it above showing me it happened later. To add even more confusion to the mix there appears to be a front sight ground down right in front of the bayonet lug. I’ll attach pictures to help understand all of this. Is it possible while in the factory getting ready for the war effort early on they grabbed a mail order barrel to plus up supply? Thank you for any advice you have. It seems weird that someone would take the effort to send in their shotgun to get rebarreled with a riot shotgun barrel and not a regular trench gun barrel.
April 15, 2005
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timmeh145 said
Hello I recently bought this 1897 shotgun serial number 634441, at a pawn shop for 400 bucks. As Iam happy with my purchase Iam also so curious as to what exactly I have. From all of my research the receiver, heat shield , and bayonet lug are from ww1 the stock is possibly from ww2 and the barrel is where it gets confusing to me. The barrel is 20” has CYL stamped on it but has and oval P stamped on it and then an circle WP stamped on it above showing me it happened later. To add even more confusion to the mix there appears to be a front sight ground down right in front of the bayonet lug. I’ll attach pictures to help understand all of this. Is it possible while in the factory getting ready for the war effort early on they grabbed a mail order barrel to plus up supply? Thank you for any advice you have. It seems weird that someone would take the effort to send in their shotgun to get rebarreled with a riot shotgun barrel and not a regular trench gun barrel.
Based on the S/N and the mental picture I am seeing in my mind, I highly suspect that you have a put-together parts gun. The S/N is a bit too early for the WW I Trench Guns. That stated, it would really help to see actual pictures of all the markings on gun (barrel and slide bar).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
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