Winchester 1897 question

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  • Zorros

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 10, 2017
    1,407
    Metropolis
    I dug out of the safe a winchester 1897. It is ser no 40xxx made in 1897 or ‘98, 30” barrell, solid not take down. Don’t know choke but assume full. Wood very good, metal mostly blue. Has been taken care of. Belonged to an older friend’s grandfather forever until he inherited it and later sold it to me. I don’t hunt, but shoot clays once in a while. Its not a gun i would shoot. does this old gun have any market value beyond its listing in the Blue Book? Is it a collectable, say like SAAs or old 1911s?
     

    bbrown

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Oct 10, 2009
    3,032
    MD
    Does it have the bayonet lug and heat shield? Does it slam fire?
     

    Augie

    Ultimate Member
    Sep 30, 2007
    4,504
    Central MD
    It really depends on how original it is, if it has never been refinished, wood or bluing, stock has not been cut, barrel has not been cut, etc, and depending on the model,it might have some value to the right buyer. If it has been modified or in poor condition it's probably a 300 to 400 gun at most.
     

    tallen702

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Sep 3, 2012
    5,102
    In the boonies of MoCo
    Does it have the bayonet lug and heat shield? Does it slam fire?

    They all slam-fire, that's what makes them so much fun.

    As to OP's original question, the real money is in trench guns and riot guns in the 1897 line. No flaming bomb or police markings means no appreciable money. As a rule of thumb, take-downs garner more money than solid frames. Non-full choke factory barrels garner more money than full choke factory barrels. Shorter factory barrels garner more money than factory 30" barrels. Sounds like you have a run-of-the-mill 1897. The fact that it's not cut actually helps it though. $300-$400 is what I've seen most like that go for in recent years. Why wouldn't you shoot it? They're fantastic guns.
     

    Zorros

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 10, 2017
    1,407
    Metropolis
    They all slam-fire, that's what makes them so much fun.

    As to OP's original question, the real money is in trench guns and riot guns in the 1897 line. No flaming bomb or police markings means no appreciable money. As a rule of thumb, take-downs garner more money than solid frames. Non-full choke factory barrels garner more money than full choke factory barrels. Shorter factory barrels garner more money than factory 30" barrels. Sounds like you have a run-of-the-mill 1897. The fact that it's not cut actually helps it though. $300-$400 is what I've seen most like that go for in recent years. Why wouldn't you shoot it? They're fantastic guns.
    Wood is very good. Metal very good. Not a takedown 30”bbl. field gun. Why wouldn’t i shoot it? I don’t hunt any more. I have a 1937 made winchester 21 skeet 26 bbls i did shot at clays recently. Fun. 3 browing citoris,an extrema, an 870 wingmaster like new, a savage stevens 410 and a wnchester mod 50. I may do clays some more than i have, and i may take this out once, but its not in the rotation. Ave had it 8 yrs and haven’t shot it. May be time to divest and give someone the pleasure of owning it.
     

    Zorros

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 10, 2017
    1,407
    Metropolis
    Full choke, 30"... might be a fun gun at turkey shoots. I LIKE the exposed hammer 97's. :thumbsup:
    There’s a hitckock 45 video where he shoots a cut down 97. A hoot. I think it may have been approx 22. He’s laughing all the way. Was used for cowboy action. But i would hate to see this one altered.
     

    tallen702

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Sep 3, 2012
    5,102
    In the boonies of MoCo
    I may do clays some more than i have, and i may take this out once, but its not in the rotation. Ave had it 8 yrs and haven’t shot it. May be time to divest and give someone the pleasure of owning it.

    Makes sense.

    Here's my cut-down take-down model I picked up about 3 years ago. I paid $275 for it from a dealer out in KS. Whoever cut it down did an amateur job at it. I need to have a smith cut it flush and re-thread for tubes since the prior owner botched it (still safe to shoot, just picky about it). Luckily I have enough meat left on the bone to cut it more and keep out of NFA territory.

    Anyway, here are some pics for comparison so you have at least some real-world price and condition to base yours on.

    20180822_213304.jpg

    20180822_213247.jpg


    The stock was an unfinished replacement from Fajen that has been roughly "finished" by the previous owner. Again, amateur job. I shaped it and cleaned it up the best I could and then finished it, so the wood condition on mine was not the best when I bought it. I turned out nicely though:

    20180822_213350.jpg


    Wish I had the scratch to put together a fair offer for you if you're looking to sell yours. I've been wanting an uncut one for a bit now. If it's in as good a condition as you say it is, I'd say $350/$400 on a regular day, maybe more if you find the right buyer.
     

    TargetGrade

    Banned
    BANNED!!!
    Aug 13, 2017
    2,970
    Pensultucky
    There’s a hitckock 45 video where he shoots a cut down 97. A hoot. I think it may have been approx 22. He’s laughing all the way. Was used for cowboy action. But i would hate to see this one altered.

    Cut it down it's a makeshift coach gun, I'd use it for turkey... or turkey shoots.
     

    Augie

    Ultimate Member
    Sep 30, 2007
    4,504
    Central MD
    Until you know what you have do not alter it, if it's an unmolested original in good condition it would be the quickest way to turn an 800 dollar gun into a 200 dollar gun.
    If you shoot clays take it out and shoot a round of trap with it, you might be surprised. I take mine out every couple of years and usually run 25 with it and with that Winchester fixed full choke it's 25 smoke balls.
     

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    TargetGrade

    Banned
    BANNED!!!
    Aug 13, 2017
    2,970
    Pensultucky
    Until you know what you have do not alter it, if it's an unmolested original in good condition it would be the quickest way to turn an 800 dollar gun into a 200 dollar gun.
    If you shoot clays take it out and shoot a round of trap with it, you might be surprised. I take mine out every couple of years and usually run 25 with it and with that Winchester fixed full choke it's 25 smoke balls.

    THAT is the Model 94 of pump shotguns. :thumbsup:
     

    Zorros

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 10, 2017
    1,407
    Metropolis
    I am not familiar with these guns but 8 think its all original and in good plus condition. Seems a lot of blue and the stock is good. I will post some pics this weekend and maybe some will sa what the think of this 120 yr old gal.
     

    Zorros

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 10, 2017
    1,407
    Metropolis
    1897 or 1898 build
     

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    Zorros

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 10, 2017
    1,407
    Metropolis
    Couple more pics
     

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    Zorros

    Ultimate Member
    Dec 10, 2017
    1,407
    Metropolis
    Thats a nice looking early gun, does it have it's original butt plate? Picture of the butt of the gun?

    I don’t know ennuf to say what was orig. this one is steel, 2 screws, projects a slight bit across the top of the stock and that is neatly inletted.
     

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