Gunsmithing Any antique shotgun gurus here?

[BattleAxe]

I'm looking for someone that is familiar with antique shotguns. What I have is a Winchester model 1897 that may be an early production model. The gun is my father-in-laws. He is 70 years old and the gun was passed to him by his grandfather so at a minimum it has to be an early 1900's model and it looks ancient.

There are several patent dates on the barrel going back to 1890 with a latest patent date of 1900. Anyone familiar with these?

 

[colchester]

Re: Any antique shotgun gurus here?

Heres what I know, if you have big hands or thick thumbs dont grip it too far forward on the butt stock. When you rack a round in that bolt assembly comes to the rear and will cripple you in short order. These are very cool old guns and have found favor with the cowboy action shooters in recent times.

 

[BattleAxe]

Re: Any antique shotgun gurus here?

I also understand that they tend to go bang when they're not suppposed to. Is this true?

 

[MAGUA]

Re: Any antique shotgun gurus here?

They all do that 'no disconnector'. They only go bang if your finger is on the trigger

 

[MAGUA]

Re: Any antique shotgun gurus here?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 73 fastback</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Heres what I know, if you have big hands or thick thumbs dont grip it too far forward on the butt stock. When you rack a round in that bolt assembly comes to the rear and will cripple you in short order. These are very cool old guns and have found favor with the cowboy action shooters in recent times. </div></div>

They don't call em knuckle buster for nothing.

 

[WhiteDingo]

Re: Any antique shotgun gurus here?

This should help you in determining the age, if you're interested in that.

http://marauder.homestead.com/Model97sn.html

If you are to clean it up (if it needs it), be sure to pay careful attention when disassembling the bolt assembly. There are some parts in there you may find tricky to get back together.

 

[BattleAxe]

Re: Any antique shotgun gurus here?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WhiteDingo</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This should help you in determining the age, if you're interested in that.

http://marauder.homestead.com/Model97sn.html

If you are to clean it up (if it needs it), be sure to pay careful attention when disassembling the bolt assembly. There are some parts in there you may find tricky to get back together. </div></div>

Wow...according to that web site this thing was manufactured likely early-to-mid 1904. Thanks.

 

[RMPSTRAT]

Re: Any antique shotgun gurus here?

they're an artillery piece but a pretty durable shotgun. Is there a screw about mid way on the receiver with another matching on the other side? If so it's an earlier model. PM me with a serial number and I'll look it up

 

[BattleAxe]

Re: Any antique shotgun gurus here?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Parga</div><div class="ubbcode-body">they're an artillery piece but a pretty durable shotgun. Is there a screw about mid way on the receiver with another matching on the other side? If so it's an earlier model. PM me with a serial number and I'll look it up </div></div>

Yes, matching screws on each side of the receiver. There are also 3 screws holding the slide wood on.

 

[RMPSTRAT]

Re: Any antique shotgun gurus here?

yeah that's an earlier one, I'll get you the yr of manu a bit later this morning

 

[RMPSTRAT]

Re: Any antique shotgun gurus here?

Looks like it was made in 1904, there only about 22,000 of them made that year

 

[Jerry m]

Re: Any antique shotgun gurus here?

Have a gunsmith check the chamber length, early 1894 shotguns were manufactured with a 2.5 inch chamber instead of the more common (since then) 2.75 inch.

Good luck

Jerry

 

[hero's machine]

Re: Any antique shotgun gurus here?

Agree on chamber length. I would get to hunting that sucker before steel shot rules make it a hanger. I shoot a Belgian guild SxS 16ga that is dated 1896 and I love it. I shoot about 10 boxes of shells a year in it.

 

[BattleAxe]

Re: Any antique shotgun gurus here?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: hero's machine</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Agree on chamber length. I would get to hunting that sucker before steel shot rules make it a hanger. I shoot a Belgian guild SxS 16ga that is dated 1896 and I love it. I shoot about 10 boxes of shells a year in it. </div></div>Actaully this thing looks like it belongs hanging on a wall. I probably couldn't find time to do much shotgun shooting without cutting back on rifle.