M1897 Trenchgun

[Shooter88]

I have a Winchester M1897 trenchgun that was made in 1918. I have never shot it, but I was thinking about trying it out. My question is, will the shotgun shells you can buy off the shelf at Wal-Mart be ok to shoot in it? I ask because I dont know if there is anything different about the shells that were used back then, than what is used today, kinda like how your not supposed to shoot today's commercial ammo through an M1 Garand.

[Sampachi]

Stick with 2 3/4 inch shells, and stay away from magnums.

[SimpleCountryActuary]

If it's a real M1897 trenchgun, you might check on what you can get for it. The real ones are pricey.

But with any Winchester 1897's, use the standard 2 3/4 inch shells and they'll work.

Best!

[Shooter88]

If it's a real M1897 trenchgun, you might check on what you can get for it. The real ones are pricey.

But with any Winchester 1897's, use the standard 2 3/4 inch shells and they'll work.

Best!

I think its real, but there are discrepencies that would make it non-original. The serial number is in range for it to be authentic and it is in fact made by Winchester, but it has been parkerized which from what I have read online, an absolutely correct Trench should never be parkerized. It has the U.S. and flaming bomb on the right side, which if the markings are legit, would make it one of the very few that were retained after WWI and used in WWII.

The biggest thing that is making me question it is there is another bursting bomb mark on the receiver just forward of the top corner of the ejection port. From the research I have done, that marking was never put there at the arsenal. So, I dont know. I think it is a legitimate trench gun that some bubba got his hands on. Sad.


What I want to do it send pictures of it to the museum in Cody, Wyoming and see if one of the gun experts there can authenticate it.

Thanks for the replies on the shells guys, I appreciate it.

[TheExpertish]

Keep us posted. Sounds interesting.

[cannon]

I have a 1911 from WWI. Before they sent it off to WWII it was de blued and parkerized and had a few mods made by the Arsenal.

Did they do the same things to trenchguns? I would imagine that at the start of WWII they were pulling and re arsenaling all kinds of firearms and equipment as the "Arsenal of Democracy" spooled up.

[TRAP55]

Shooter88, get some good clear closeups of all the markings, and email them to Bert Hartman at Win1885@msn.com
Make sure you put "Winchester" in the subject header, ask him if the Cody letter will tell any more than the standard issue features, and tell him Trap sent you.

[Mike A]

Cannon is right; all kinds of WWI weapons were refurbished after the war and put in arsenals. Many were hauled out for WWII since we couldn't make the newer guns fast enough.

I have a Colt 1917 revolver with the distinctive greenish Parkerizing from Atlanta Arsenal. So I believe you could find a legitimate 1897 Trench Gun with a Parkerized re-finish.

[beetle]

I know I'm probably in the minority on this, but I wouldn't shoot it until you've verified the originality and value of the gun. I've seen original M1897 trench guns go for $8000+. But one little parts breakage and the value plummets.

I'd have it checked out. If it's an original, then you know you have a very valuable collector. If it's a mismatched re-blued gun, then fire away!

[Shooter88]

I have a 1911 from WWI. Before they sent it off to WWII it was de blued and parkerized and had a few mods made by the Arsenal.

Did they do the same things to trenchguns? I would imagine that at the start of WWII they were pulling and re arsenaling all kinds of firearms and equipment as the "Arsenal of Democracy" spooled up.

Cannon is right; all kinds of WWI weapons were refurbished after the war and put in arsenals. Many were hauled out for WWII since we couldn't make the newer guns fast enough.

I have a Colt 1917 revolver with the distinctive greenish Parkerizing from Atlanta Arsenal. So I believe you could find a legitimate 1897 Trench Gun with a Parkerized re-finish.

Yes, from what I have read, many did get sent back to be re-furbished. But, I also read they did not parkerize them, but rather re-blued. Could it be possible a few were parkerized? Probably, but I'm not an expert on these whatsoever. Everything I know about them I learned in about 2 hours of searching Google, and reading forums. Just trying to figre out what I have on my hands, and trying to determine if its a well done fake. So far I dont think it is, so thats good.

Shooter88, get some good clear closeups of all the markings, and email them to Bert Hartman at Win1885@msn.com
Make sure you put "Winchester" in the subject header, ask him if the Cody letter will tell any more than the standard issue features, and tell him Trap sent you.

Thank you, I will send him some pictures and see what he says. Unfortunately, the gun is sitting in a safe at my parents house two hours away. I will have to wait a couple weeks until I go back there again to take pictures.

Beetle, I doubt I will be shooting it anytime soon.

[choprzrul]

It's a 93 year old mechanical device that goes boom.

Take it to a gunsmith and have it checked before pulling the trigger.

.

[AaronHorrocks]

It sounds like your 1897 is a real trenchgun. You're a lucky guy. I've been in the market to buy one for a while.

Yes, some were parkerized. This however, was not done at the factory, but was a late rebuild at a shop. While most 1897s sell at $1600 to $2600 depending on age and condition, the ones that were parkerized have most of their value stripped away. It's hard to say a price without seeing it, but I've seen parkerized 1897s on gunbroker listed for $800 to $1200, however I haven't seen them sell. I would recommend holding on to it, because as an old shotgun that's been in your family for a while it should be worth more to you than the $1000 you might get for it.

Did you see the Pawn Stars where the old man brings in an old revolver that looks too good to be true? It was looking like a $2000 gun (or so, I can't recall) until the guy said he cleaned it with a wire brush before bringing it in. He cleaned off all of the value. ...And was offered next to nothing for it after that.

[Shooter88]

It sounds like your 1897 is a real trenchgun. You're a lucky guy. I've been in the market to buy one for a while.

Yes, some were parkerized. This however, was not done at the factory, but was a late rebuild at a shop. While most 1897s sell at $1600 to $2600 depending on age and condition, the ones that were parkerized have most of their value stripped away. It's hard to say a price without seeing it, but I've seen parkerized 1897s on gunbroker listed for $800 to $1200, however I haven't seen them sell. I would recommend holding on to it, because as an old shotgun that's been in your family for a while it should be worth more to you than the $1000 you might get for it.

Did you see the Pawn Stars where the old man brings in an old revolver that looks too good to be true? It was looking like a $2000 gun (or so, I can't recall) until the guy said he cleaned it with a wire brush before bringing it in. He cleaned off all of the value. ...And was offered next to nothing for it after that.

Yeah, I still like the gun and never plan on getting rid of it. Its not really the value of it thats making me want to find out more about it. My biggest concern is that it is a real trenchgun and not a copy. The parkerizing I can live with. But, at this point I'm pretty convinced that it is indeed real.

I dont have cable, so I dont watch TV to often, but what a shame. I couldn't even imagine what that guy felt like afterward.

[Chaos47]

Sounds interesting!

[Shooter88]

Here you go









I have a couple more, but imageshack is not wanting to cooperate right now.