1897 Project

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CaptMorgan

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So I have started working with this Model 1897 Winchester 12ga pump shotgun. It's from 1908, has a 28" barrel, and a full choke. It's fairly weathered from, well, being 107 years old and not having been restored at any point so I hope to change that. I plan to get a pro to do the bluing but I want to get it up to that point so any hints or tips on that would be appreciated! Currently have Reliable gun finding a mag tube and possibly a stock for me as well. Cheers.
 
Lots of parts available for those 97's. I love the twig whittled down to form a crude wood dowel plug! Restoring the old M12's and 97's is such a great project. Just expect to spend many more times what the piece will be worth to get them looking nice. Good luck and please do post your progress!
 
It's your gun to do with what you want, but here's something to give thought to before you proceed.

If you had to duplicate the honest weathered appearance to your 1897; you'd be hard pressed to do it as only time can produce that look and that's what makes it attractive. . Why not clean the gun up with solvent and oil and put it all back together in it's original finish. . Just something about a 107 year old Winchester that looks just right. . . Once it's been reblued and all, it's no longer what it is. .

Here's a picture of one of mine . . 1901 two barrel set . . all original and correct.


 
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Give it love and maintain the gun but don't restore it to look new. Lipstick on a pig as they say.
Can't simulate 100 years of honest use
 
Clean up your stock without being too radical. Always difficult to tell what condition the wood is in from a photo. You should look into treating the stock to remove the oil. If the wood is oil soaked it breaks down easier. I am currently working on a 1910 double that belongs in the family. Pretty messed up gun. Researching stock repair got me into oil soaked stocks. Pretty common problem. The book I was reading also mentioned guns should be stored barrel down to reduce the incidence of oil soaked stocks. Interesting concept. Anyway do a cleanup on the stock and have a good look before proceeding further. You might just like it as is.
 
Lots of folks believe your shotgun should be left as it is...which is honourable. I have done several M12's total rebuild high gloss finish etc... Look really good and catch a lot of eyes. Not destroying any "collector value" as most are nothing more than daily shooters. If you want to take a 300 dollar piece of shotgun history and spend another 400 buck restoring it to new condition then IMO go ahead!

But while your at it I would advise to have the choke opened up to a light modified as most are full choked which is useless for most shotgunning capacities these days. You will enjoy shooting the odd bird with it... as the pleasure of putting the bead on a critter overtop a nice parkerized receiver top will never get old...
 
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I don't think a '97 would have enough meat to the bbl to open it up to modified.
Bro-in-law has a glossy re-blued one, looks like spinners on a Model 'A' Ford.
Just my opinion
 
They are all right ! Do not re blue . Any value , either $ or atheistic will then be gone for ever.

I have a view Relic guns , with more rust than anything . Wood is either gone or badly weathered.
They will stay in that condition as the thing they are . Trying to change them into something better
is not possible . ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Frank
 
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