My Dad got this one at an auction about 20 years ago in central Illinois. It must have been some kind of departmental or institutional gun based on the four digit number stamped in the pistol grip.

Any ideas as to age, or guesses on its past life?

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

That is a fine example of a great old shotgun. First class firearm in it's day. Shortened version was a trench gun for the first world war. Even had a bayonet lug.
It has put food on many tables. I wish I had kept mine.

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Don't Squat With Your Spurs On

1952. The finish looks original to me. The definitive proofs and serial numbers are crisp and it just looks right. With a cylinder bore choke, I suspect the barrel length is correct too, I'm guessing 20" to the bolt face. The recoil pad is questionable but could be factory.

Joliet?

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"I also cook."

FWIW the 1897 was produced until 1957. There were approximately 1,024,700 pieces made. Serial numbers started at 34,151 - 1,024,700. I know that does not quite add up but it's listed that way in my book.

I suspect the recoil pad was an after market addition. BTW that is a great looking example. I wish I had the one my dad was given in the sixties.

Bruce

"Serial numbers started at 34,151 - 1,024,700."

The 1897 was an update on the 1893, which had a few safety issues. IIRC, most of the 1893s were updated to '97 specs.

I believe a factory recoil pad would have a "W" stamp.

I've had a couple. Right now there is a 18 1/4" one sitting behind the bedroom room. I carried it in my patrol car for a number of years.

The serial number is in the E 66,xxx range and the barrel number is 93,xxx. The barrel is a 20" one that I cut down. I knew a Alabama State trooper that carried one that had the barrel cut down to 14".

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

That's a very nice example of a late model "E" series gun- I'm very envious!

Serials started at 34,151 because the 1897 serial numbers were just a continuation of the model 1893 series shotguns.

The 1893 wasn't suited for smokeless powder and had a weak action. The 1897 was the cure for the model 1893's shortcomings.

If you notice, your "riot gun" is a takedown version. Most are encountered in the solid frame versions, but take down riot guns are not uncommon in the riot gun series- riot guns are just much commonly seen in their "natural surroundings" than their longer barreled counterparts.

Also, if you notice, the handguard and stock are correct (except for the recoil pad) for the late post-war period. IIRC, the flat bottomed forend started being used as early as 1947, and the semi-pistol grip stock in the late 1910's or early 1920's. If the stock hasn't been trimmed for use with that pad, I'd suggest obtaining an original (style) pad and correct screws as your gun in extremely fine condition.

By the way, when I said it was an "E" series gun...
Think of it as model changes on a S&W revolver.
There is a chart out there that I printed and put with my notes on what changes were done with each letter prefix- starting with "C" because there was no "A" or "B" prefixes, as those pertained to changes on the model 1893.

Here, this explains most of the changes:

http://www.wisnersinc.com/additional...ster_93_97.htm

However, the Winchester 1893 was NOT the first repeating shotgun, nor was it the first pump shotgun that used fixed ammunition.

Both of those titles, are held by the Spencer pump shotgun- yes, the same Spencer that invented the repeating rifle used by the U.S. during the War of Northern Aggression.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

Winchester shotguns are right up there with P@R S@W revolvers for me. That's a good find. I believe the recoil pad was not factory. If that was a factory riot gun the barrel length would be 20". Some police depts just cut longer barrels down. I have a M12 that I believe was cut to just a bit longer than that, it's my "house gun". If yours isn't that length that may be the case. Even so, it's cool. The only shotgun I ever saw my Dad hunt with was a M97 that was made near the end of production. He was deadly on pheasants with it. I never shot it until after he passed away. I still take it out every year and have shot several birds with it. I always feel like he's with me. My dad was a single-shot rifle collector and liked Winchester Highwalls, among others. That was a John Browning design. I've always suspected that's one of the reasons he liked the M97 as it was also a Browning designed gun. They just don't make 'em like that any more.

As others said,
It looks righteous on wood and metal, except the pad is not factory. It doesn't look cut, so like Andy said, find a buttplate.
Orig Riot gun with the cyl choke.
God only knows where it's been- if they didn't use a 97, they were using 12's.

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Regards,
Lee Jarrett

Sure looks nice! Looks like it spent most of it's like in a gun rack,,not even scratches on the carrier from loading.
Looks like the proofs are punched through the blueing, which is correct.

They offered a cylinder bore 26" M97 as the 'Brush Gun' at some point but the Riot Gun version is much more desireable.

Like others have said,,get the pad changed over to a Winchester pad and that's about all I'd do to that one other than hang on to it!

Thanks for all the info, guys. I'm sure the recoil pad is a later addition - its a typical Pachmayr but I don't think the stock was cut when it was added.

There's a place selling repro 97 buttplates - does this look like the appropriate one?



Has anyone sent for a Winchester letter lately? I hear they start off expensive and go up from there.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”