Anyone own a Winchester model 1897

[lasbrisas]

Saw a really nice model 1897 Winchester shotgun the other day, dated 1900. One of the few that will slam fire and used by cowboy action shooters. Just wondered if anyone has one and what your thoughts are. Been reading up on them, the one I saw was the take down model and shorter cut down versions were used as trench guns with a bayonet fitted although I suspect it would be too short to be allowed here.

[saddler]

Saw a really nice model 1897 Winchester shotgun the other day, dated 1900.

Mine is dated 1898

One of the few that will slam fire and used by cowboy action shooters.

So, WHICH Winchester 1897 models DON'T "slam fire"?

Just wondered if anyone has one and what your thoughts are.

Yes - nice guns - used mine a lot for rabbit shooting, etc.

...shorter cut down versions were used as trench guns with a bayonet fitted although I suspect it would be too short to be allowed here.

Er, not quite. NOT "cut down" - they left the factory with 20" barrels, on purpose.
The RIOT versions had a plain barrel, the TRENCH version also had a bayonet lug/heat shield.
...and yes, too short to be allowed here unless a de-act. (UK law states that ALL pump action shotguns need a min. 24" bbl, plus there is also an overall length criteria to meet)

[Pfletch83]

I thought about getting one of the Norinco reproductions.

Though I couldn't justify buying a 12 gauge that I can't shoot ( problems from a wreck).

But when I was a much younger fellow I did fire one of the original trench guns with 2-3/4 inch target loads, all can slam fire but remember it has an exposed hammer that can really mess up the webbing between your thumb and forefinger (I found that out the hard way, but learned the lesson very quick)

[lasbrisas]

Saw a really nice model 1897 Winchester shotgun the other day, dated 1900.

Mine is dated 1898

One of the few that will slam fire and used by cowboy action shooters.

So, WHICH Winchester 1897 models DON'T "slam fire"?

Just wondered if anyone has one and what your thoughts are.

Yes - nice guns - used mine a lot for rabbit shooting, etc.

...shorter cut down versions were used as trench guns with a bayonet fitted although I suspect it would be too short to be allowed here.

Er, not quite. NOT "cut down" - they left the factory with 20" barrels, on purpose.
The RIOT versions had a plain barrel, the TRENCH version also had a bayonet lug/heat shield.
...and yes, too short to be allowed here unless a de-act. (UK law states that ALL pump action shotguns need a min. 24" bbl, plus there is also an overall length criteria to meet)

I bow to your knowledge and wisdom, I only had a few minutes to read up on them, when I say "One of the few that will slam fire" I mean in general considering all shotguns as most others have a trigger interuptor or whatever it's called, as I said I have little knowledge of these but they seem interesting.

[ovenpaa]

I did post details of a Model 97 trench gun that was for sale a while ago and probably still is.

http://www.full-bore.co.uk/viewtopic.ph ... 897#p99660

[saddler]

Saw a really nice model 1897 Winchester shotgun the other day, dated 1900.

Mine is dated 1898

One of the few that will slam fire and used by cowboy action shooters.

So, WHICH Winchester 1897 models DON'T "slam fire"?

Just wondered if anyone has one and what your thoughts are.

Yes - nice guns - used mine a lot for rabbit shooting, etc.

...shorter cut down versions were used as trench guns with a bayonet fitted although I suspect it would be too short to be allowed here.

Er, not quite. NOT "cut down" - they left the factory with 20" barrels, on purpose.
The RIOT versions had a plain barrel, the TRENCH version also had a bayonet lug/heat shield.
...and yes, too short to be allowed here unless a de-act. (UK law states that ALL pump action shotguns need a min. 24" bbl, plus there is also an overall length criteria to meet)

I bow to your knowledge and wisdom, I only had a few minutes to read up on them, when I say "One of the few that will slam fire" I mean in general considering all shotguns as most others have a trigger interuptor or whatever it's called, as I said I have little knowledge of these but they seem interesting.

Ah, thought you were under the impression that the '97 design had been changed at some point to delete the feature

I also have an Ithaca 37 & a Winchester Model 12 - both do the same trick as the '97 - though I was not aware of this fact until the police tried to reclassify my '97 as a Section 5 gun due to the "slam-fire" design feature...

I have a vague feeling that SOME of the Norinco copies did have the feature removed, or the early ones didn't have it, or some such

Good reading on the topic in the Cranfield book, and the Swearengen book....plus a few others, but they are the two main ones to look for.

I know that Chris Smith brought some of the Norinco copies in. They seemed ok, better to clatter around action shoots with something that has no historical rarity, though the machining was not as good as the Winchesters. Last I heard he still had one...