Winchester 1897 Copies

DeathGrip

DeathGrip

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I really like the 1897 but anything nice is out of budget and I wouldn't want to use it.

Anyone here have exp. with the copies? Cimarron, EMF or others?

Thanks,
 
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I have no personal experience with them, but believe they're all made in China.

From what I've read, they tend to be somewhat rough, at least the non-name branded ones, but clean up relatively well. I suspect the Cimarron guns are probably better than some of the others.

I'm mildly interested in a repro trench gun, but currently have no place to shoot a shotgun, so it's a moot point.
 
You missed out....a few years back AIM Surplus had TTN Model 1897 "Old west" riot-guns 'American walnut stock' for $199 plus freight.

This when other Norinco/Chinese Model 1897 clones were selling for $300-$400 plus.

I bought one and was surprised to see it was tube-equipped(imp cyl tube)..however it didn't include a wrench. Has a chrome bore! Not too bad a gun for the price.

Worked the action some with plenty of lube..plenty of lube!..And it smoother up quite a bit. If it gets too dirty will stick shells in the chamber and not extract...works fine otherwise.

Really the only work I did to it besides pumping the action 10,000 times to smooth it out..was refit the plastic buttplate..it was really badly fitted from the box...could see daylight under it..hung over the edge of the stock a bunch.

It ain't a Winchester...but it does make a fair decent truck-gun during quail season..
 
I have a old refinished winchester 97. I DONT have much experiance with it even though I have owned it many years. My dad gave me a word of caution when I bought it. He said he was with one of my uncles that had one, fired it and something let go in the action letting the bolt fly back slashing him up bad and almost loseing a eye! Maybe it`s due to that story, I am not sure, but it seems I have always grabbed a different shotgun out of the safe when I needed one.

 
I have 2 Winchesters, 1 from 1904 and 1 from 1954, Both are take-down models. I never use the 1954, aside from the acc-u-choke it is like new, it was common in the fifties for them to install these chokes at the factory, they would grab a bunch of barrels from the biggest pile of choked barrels , cut off the choke solder on the new choke and not mark the barrel in any way, either way it ruins the collectors value. My 1904 is cut off at 18" and has no finish left, but works great (as long as it is clean). I use it for cowboy action, but have carried for SD in a couple of bad situations. My 870 and 500's do the SD work now, but that old '97 gets people to behave real quick! Ivan
 
Has anyone ever heard or verifed the old story (or fabel?) that those guns were also used in war 1 as a means of shooting those potato mashers in the air as the heinies tried to lob em in the trenchs? Actualy even if you got lucky and hit a grenade in the air with buckshot would it explode the grenade or just possibly knock it off target? I read too many comics!
 
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Stevie, The TTN is what got me thinking. There's one on GB. NIB

No bids yet but is opening at $350 with a buy it now for $485.

Where were they made?
 
feralmerril said:
Has anyone ever heard or verifed the old story (or fabel?) that those guns were also used in war 1 as a means of shooting those potato mashers in the air as the heinies tried to lob em in the trenchs?
Click to expand...
They discussed that on a "Triggers" rerun on the Military Channel today.

Seems plausible, although I can't recall a verified contemporary account.
 
Fired an original 97 a few times as a young man. Kicked like a sonofagun with high brass loads! Hardest kicking twelve I ever shot.

(Except the time when I was a kid testing an old double hammer gun and like the green little twerp I was, cocked both hammers. Doubled on me...)
 
Deathgrip,
Grandpaw had one of those he rabbit hunted with and it is
the first gun i ever remember falling for. I been looking for
a nice 1897 all original but they are steep like you said if all
is correct on them. Thought about buying a good used one
and having it dolled up and refinished and then i would'nt
mind taking it out and hunting with it. I also like the shorter
barrel versions. About 20 inches would be a mean looking
shotgun would'nt it? Good luck on your search.
BTW, as someone else stated the originals with high brass
loads would kick the snot out of ya'.

Chuck
 
I looked at a Texas Brush Popper by Cimarron Arms the other day, 45LC, I was impressed by fit and finish. I know a couple of guys that shoot Navy Arms Winchester repops and they don't have any problems with them, parts are readily available. The new Winchesters and Brownings are made in Japan, some of the changes made don't lend them shooting lead bullets very well they have too fast a pitch designed for jacketed bullets. The Browning BPCR has a barrel made by an American company called Badger, it has the proper twist for black powder, cast lead bullets and shoots very nicely in 45-70 or 45-90. I shoot a couple vintage lever action rifles but keep my loadings to smokeless and within the safe limits of the rifle, the 1886 is a very strong action and handles smokeless loads very well as long as you use lead bullets, the steel was not proofed until the 20's and is mild enough that even a jacketed bullet will cause significant wear in time.
Pedersoli does very nice work, I know guys that shoot black powder through them and never have any problems. I have a couple of Remington pistols that are made by Uberti, no problems, keep them clean and have fun.
 
DeathGrip said:
Stevie, The TTN is what got me thinking. There's one on GB. NIB

No bids yet but is opening at $350 with a buy it now for $485.

Where were they made?
Click to expand...

I'm positive it's a Norinco...Chinese factory triangle 26 wherever that is in China

TTN itself was some company set up as a cowboy action shooter's supply. I believe they went out of business..probably about the time Aim sold the last of the shotguns dirt cheap.

If I remember right..as far as M1897 shotguns go..TTN was one of the few importers that supplied US wood(walnut) to the factory for the guns. Fajen or Boyd's or such supplying the stocks.

The wood ain't that whoopee.. just plain walnut...and not just expertly fitted either...but I guess the Chinese wood was pretty ugly!
 
We had some 1897 Winchesters in inventory when I started as a LEO in 1969. Not long after I started they were traded for Ithaca mod 37's. I could have gotten one of them from the dealer for a low price but I didn't see any value in them then. (hit forehead with palm)
 
feralmerril said:
I have a old refinished winchester 97. I DONT have much experiance with it even though I have owned it many years. My dad gave me a word of caution when I bought it. He said he was with one of my uncles that had one, fired it and something let go in the action letting the bolt fly back slashing him up bad and almost loseing a eye! Maybe it`s due to that story, I am not sure, but it seems I have always grabbed a different shotgun out of the safe when I needed one.

Click to expand...

Sounds like like your uncle fired an 1893 Winchester. Those were prone to have problems. Most were recalled and upgraded to 1897 specs.

I have owned two '97s and love 'em. My current one is wearing a 18 1/4" barrel and is my home defense shotgun. I also carried it in my patrol car for a number of years, back in the day.
 
Mine was my Grandfathers. Made in 1954. The gentleman that bought it had a Simmons rib added and shot trap with it a couple of years before Grandad bought it from him. Grandad used it for his pheasant and rabbit gun. During a less than amicable divorce from the "lady" he married after the death of my grandma he hid it in his camper in Florida where it rusted badly and pitted on the outside. After getting it cleaned up, Grandad brought it back to Ohio on Greyhound bus and left it with dad with instructions to give it to me when he was gone. I took it home the day of his funeral - Someone else will get it after mine.
 
There's a 12 gauge Coach Gun sitting down at the LGS for a while now. A real nice looking scatter gun from across the room. Up close, it's a Made in China junker. Fit and finish is lousy, and I wouldn't take it home as a freebie.
 
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