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  #1  
Old 08-07-2012, 08:19 PM
Arik Arik is offline
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Default Winchester 1897 shotgun

I have an opportunity to buy a 1897 Winchester riot gun. This is the riot version because it came with a shorter barrel, no bayo lug and a few other things that the trench gun had. This gun is bot perfect and shows signs of use. Bluing is rubbed in some places from wear, barrel has been replaced at one point and you can see this by 2 different serial #s (receiver & barrel) and someone cut a cheek weld into the stock (was nicely done)

Now put aside nostalgia, fond memories, and the need to possibly restore it to its former glory. For $150 are they worth the money as a constant shooter of 12G buck and shot? Will it handle modern loads or would it be better just to get something more modern
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Old 08-07-2012, 08:21 PM
Armyphotog Armyphotog is offline
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With all the cowboy shooters driving the prices out of sight you were lucky to find one at any price. $150 is a steal even with the replacement parts.
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Old 08-07-2012, 08:25 PM
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A correct Mod 97 "Riot Gun" would have the barrel choke marked "CYL". They are worth well over $150 in workable condition. I recently sold one for closer to $600, but it was all original, little bluing left, and butt plate missing, but no rust and tight.
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Old 08-07-2012, 08:25 PM
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Some riot guns came without a disconnector and could be fired by pumping them and holding the trigger. There are a lot of fakes, and homemade versions.
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Old 08-07-2012, 08:31 PM
Arik Arik is offline
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A correct Mod 97 "Riot Gun" would have the barrel choke marked "CYL". They are worth well over $150 in workable condition. I recently sold one for closer to $600, but it was all original, little bluing left, and butt plate missing, but no rust and tight.
This has the CYL marking but the #s on barrel and receiver dont match. I would say bluing is about 70% the bolt is has some brown pettina but no rust anywhere i could see. And stock has a cut on the side where the cheek goes. Basically a cutout for a cheek

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Old 08-07-2012, 10:06 PM
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what year?
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Old 08-07-2012, 10:11 PM
11B Lifer 11B Lifer is offline
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Got an absolute beauty when I retired-only issue...Dove hunting will cripple you for life. I'm so sore I can't salute, after 75 rounds.
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Old 08-07-2012, 10:27 PM
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BUY IT! I just put money down on a late model '97 w/26inch barrel mod. choke-$400! And it's in pretty decent shape to.
And none of the '97s had a disconnector, they will "slam-fire" if you hold the trigger back while working the action, same for model 12s and Ithaca 37s. Dale
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Old 08-07-2012, 10:34 PM
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what year?
Dont know. Couldn't find a date. Where would it be?

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Old 08-07-2012, 10:47 PM
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I would have had my money out has soon has I heard $150.00. I think that is a real good price. You can't touch a chinese replica for that.
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Old 08-07-2012, 11:14 PM
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....
Now put aside nostalgia, fond memories, and the need to possibly restore it to its former glory. For $150 are they worth the money as a constant shooter of 12G buck and shot? Will it handle modern loads or would it be better just to get something more modern
They hold up well. The ejector is about the most fragile part of the 97. It is it's own spring and is attached thru the left side of the receiver with a screw. Easy to replace and aftermarket ejectors are available inexpensively.

Some actions are a bit stiff to operate and can stand some work to ease that.
The mainspring can be lightened some and that helps a great deal in relieving the hammer pressure upward on the withdrawn bolt.

You most likely have a complete different barrel and forend assembly from another 97,,not original to the receiver. The bbl itself can be changed out with the right tools but that'd leave the #'d extension the same.
Not uncommon to see at all on any of the TD Winchester shotgun models.

97 take down models have the standard method for taking up looseness in the bbl/receiver joint as it occurs over time.
Riot guns came in both TD and non-TD actions. Trench guns were Non-TD only IIRC.

$150 is a great price for a fine condition 97 dispite the non-matching ser# I believe.
The CYL marked bbl is a plus on todays market especially if resale is in the future plans.,,most are mearly cut down FULL or MOD bbls (check the choke marking carefully for a re-mark).
There are inexpensive finished field grade aftermarket stocks available for the 97 from places like Boyds that are bolt on replacement.

I have a 3 97's,,they all see a great deal of use. One gets shot over 5000 rds a year and has done so for the last 8 years or so. The others not quite as much.
I've had a couple of ejectors break, no other parts loss. One had firing pin disconnector problems,but was just dirt & crud caked inside the bolt parts.
Mine are all mfg 1905 and before. But they were continuously mfg till 1957.

Keep them clean and lubed. Lots of cams surfaces and springs inside.

An 870, Ithaca 37, or any number of more modern design pump guns will serve you just as well. Perhaps even better if it comes to repairs (can be expensive on the older, complicated 97) and the fact that some people just have a tough time shooting them as the retracting bolt seems to rake over the knuckle of their right thumb. I've never had the problem, but some folks do.
Thought it worth mentioning. No nostalgia there..
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Old 08-08-2012, 07:57 AM
Tom C Tom C is offline
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Dont know. Couldn't find a date. Where would it be?

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The serial number will tell the tale. There are websites which have serial number/year of manufacture for the '97.
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Old 08-08-2012, 08:00 AM
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The earliest of the 12 gauges are chambered for 2 5/8 12 gauge shells, not 2 3/4 inch. I ran into this when I bought one, I am not sure what year they stopped doing this but there are alot of good smiths out there that can ream it out a bit more for those shells.
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Old 08-08-2012, 08:13 AM
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Be leary of all 97 chambers, even the ones with the barrel stamped 2 3/4 inch as the old paper shells made then did not open up to the longer length that the new hulls do. I have a few 97's and the ones my son and I shoot I have lengthened the chamber and forceing cone. I have a reamer and chamber length gauge I bought from Brownells. I really like the old 97 and we pound hard on a couple in CAS. If set up right they really run great and they can be made slick.

I would not be afraid to use one for a house gun, but if I had a more modern choice I would pick it.
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Old 08-08-2012, 04:34 PM
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If you have the chamber lengthened, be sure the person doing it realizes to take the 'chamber ring' length into consideration in the math.
Since it sits inside and is attached into the receiver, it can go un-noticed and many 'smiths have simply reamed the bbl out, measuring as they go till they reach the 2 3/4" depth mark.
The 'chamber ring' now adds about an additional 1/4" to that when assembled,,, for a 3" chambered M97.


I have a tendency to leave the older 2 5/8cham guns alone or in the least just lengthen the forcing cone a little to take the older abrupt taper out.
The more metal left in there the better I feel.
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