I made a trade with a friend of mine in Ohio for his Model 97 Winchester. His photos didn't do much justice; this gun is (considering it is a 1941 vintage) in excellent condition. It has a cylinder choke, 20" barrel, sling swivels; all indicators that it is a factory made Riot Gun.

It was sold in 1976 by the Adjutant General's Office as surplus military equipment; my friend's father-in-law bought it; and until my friend received it, it was behind the master bedroom door, ready for action! There is a 4 digit number punched in the wrist of the stock; I suspect it may be a property or rack number. I think I got a fair deal considering what I had in the M1A and the condition of the shotgun...here are my pictures that don't do a lot of justice ever.

That 97 is very cool. Alot of history there. CONGRATS!!!

Oooh, that's nice!

Man, I could have some fun at the Skeet range with that!

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Due to the shortage of anything weapon related, they bought everything the could. The military m-97 trench-gun, wasn't a take-down, and had the ventilated hand guard with bayonet lug. It wouldn't surprise me, that if you lettered the gun that originally it was sold to Ohio Department of Corrections, or The Ohio Highway Patrol and transferred to the ONG, for the ONG to handled the sale for them.

A friend of mine has/had a 97 that was for transfer to LE. But it was never shipped before being sold off as surplus. The crate had a 20" 97 trench gun, sling, 1917 Bayonet w/ scabbard and frog, and ammo pouch. All this was in unissued condition and dated from late 1918.

The ONG transferred hundreds, if not a thousand, M1A1 Thompson SMG's to Law Enforcement and Corrections. Then in the 80's those agencies sold them to Class III dealers. The bidding was, "How many Ruger AC556K guns will you pay for this particular lot of SMG's." At the time M1A1's sold for $800 retail +transfer (condition "Fair"). A friend of mine bid "3" for a lot consisting of 18 M1A1's and lost by one, to a dealer up by Cleveland. (I'm pretty sure all dealers had to pay a $200 transfer per weapon if they were not for L.E./sales samples, so the could be sold to the public, and then John Q. Public had to pay again) With transfer, the dealer would have a little over $400 to $425 in each Thompson!

Ivan

That's a ripper shotty you have Mate, Pity we can't have them here in Australia. I saw a LGS here had a early 45ACP Thompson smg for sale for $25.000 last week which i guess is reasonable if you consider a second hand Colt AR15 costs $5.000 over here!

That is an interesting scatter gun you have. The sling swivels are like none I have ever seen Winchester ever supply, so I am assuming they are after market. The front swivel intrigues me and wish the OP would take a couple close up photos of it. Early Winchesters are just superb.

Better put a coat of oil or CLP on that. I see rust forming under the name.

Very Nice !
Give it a little TLC , a trip to the range and a nice new home.
Gary

Sling Swivels pictures



Front Sling Swivel



Rear Sling Swivel


Patent Images

Link to the patent drawing for the rear swivel, patented February 13, 1940

The paperwork is the provenance. It doesn't matter what it could or should be, with the paperwork it is a surplus Ohio National Guard Winchester 97 Riot, which is very cool.

Thanks CWO for the pictures. That is an interesting front swivel. Great gun you have there.

I think it is a 1947 manufacture gun

http://www.winchesterguns.com/conten...-Documents.pdf

This is a soild frame from the 1930's:

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Bushmaster1313 - according to the Winchester Collector's Association Serial/Model number lookup it is a 1941 made gun; the barrel has the "40" date on it as well.

It also falls into the Serial Number range of 920,000 to 960,000 which is the generally accepted range of 1897s built during WWII.