I traded up a trench gun!!! *pictures added*

Andy Griffith

Andy Griffith

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*Pictures added* See page three.

A friend told me last week that he had a friend that had a pump shotgun he wanted to get rid of because he needed some money...

So, being the gun nut that I am told him I was interested in seeing what he had...he came over yesterday evening and I paid the man what he wanted for it without even closely looking at it (terrible, I know).

Anyway, I am now the proud owner of a WWI 1897 Trench gun. :D 662,xxx serial number. The only bad thing about it, is that it is parkerized.

Pictures to follow later. I have got to get some taters in the ground.
 
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Don't you just hate it when someone needs money and all they have to sell is some old relic like that.
Hope you don't forget the pics, would love to see it.
 
JayCeeNC said:
Why is parkerizing a bad thing? That's probably the original finish.
Enjoy it!
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No, that serial number would likely be 1918 production and so originally it had a blue finish. The Parkerizing probably came from a WW2 era rebuild. My question is: Do you have a trench gun configuration or riot gun configuration? The military bought both but they are obviously not the same thing.
 
Yes, it is a real-live trench gun with the appropriate heat shield, swivels and lug. All I need now is a real Winchester marked 1917 bayonet. ;)

I wish I could find a real riot gun for an amount reasonable to me. I have yet to find one in my price range or one that checks out to be anything other than a hacked barrel.
 
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JcMack said:
Forgive my ignorance. Are not the trench and riot guns the same accept for the add on combo heat shield bayo lug?
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;D Yes, and a Victory Model is just a M&P, except for the lanyard, special serial number prefix, military markings etc. etc. You have a very dry sense of humor.
 
Andy Griffith said:
Yes, it is a real-live trench gun with the appropriate heat shield, swivels and lug. All I need now is a real Winchester marked 1917 bayonet. ;)

I wish I could find a real riot gun for an amount reasonable to me. I have yet to find one in my price range or one that checks out to be anything other than a hacked barrel.
Click to expand...

While most cut barrels are just cut barrels not all are. In both the early stages of filling WW1 and WW2 contracts Winchester pulled existing shotguns out of inventory, shortened the barrels to 20" and otherwise converted them into either trench or riot configuration. IF you found an example with a 1918 or pre to early WW2 serial number it MIGHT letter out as having been one of the early contract pieces with a factory shortened barrel. There are probably other features an expert would know to look for, but I do not know what they are. My understanding is that a military purchased riot version is much rarer than a military contract trench version.
 
Even non "hacked" barrels have to be looked at closely. My Dads old Winchester 97 has two barrels. One is a 32" extra full and the other is a 20 cylinder bore. When my Grandfather bought the gun new he used it for ducks and pheasant, so the 32" barrel. When I wanted to use the shotgun for rabbits dad correctly felt the 32" barrel inappropriate so he ordered one of the $19 surplus Winchester riot barrels Numrich was selling at the time.

No one was trying fool anyone, at the time the $20 barrel was a cheap fix to a problem. However after almost 40 years the finish on the new barrel matches the frame pretty close. I'd bet there were many of those factory riot gun barrels purchased and installed. My brother inherited the 97 and it should never leave the family, but someone unscrupulous could probably pass it off as a factory riot gun.
 
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Good deal.
I was at an auction and they sold one of those about 6 months ago. I waited around and it brought 450.00. It also had the park finish. I thought it was a little too high of a price, so I passed.
 
Uh yeah, all of the conversation is riveting, but.... Where are the PICS?
 
If that is indeed an original trench gun, I suspect most folks here would be perfectly willing to pay you double what you paid for it. Wanna make some easy money? :D
 
Don't worry fellers...;)

No pictures right now, because it's broken down and soaking all the crud out of it.

It isn't going anywhere for a while...except to the range, and maybe a cameo appearance or two in pictures.

Is it me, or is the 1897 Trench gun in a bit higher demand than their other brothers (Savage/Stevens and the model 12)?
 
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