1897 trenchgun shotgun ww2 by winchester?
- Thread starter cheapwillow
- Start date
I saw one recently that sold for $4000 CDN. They are exceedingly hard to find. And, most that are offered for sale are fakes. The best way to determine the authenticity is:
- the serial number (has to be in the right range to be manufactured between about 1910 and 1930)
- the heat shield (has to have the correct number of holes in a row and the correct number of rows)
- the markings (has to have the US Armory "flaming bomb" and "US" stamps on correct part of the receiver)
- depending on the condition of the stock, may have the US cartouche branded into the wood
Hard to give good advice for this model/configuration. If you rush in, you're likely to buy an expensive fake. If you hesitate, you'll be too late.
Good luck.
BTW, they were made for the first World War, most were still in service during WWII, and many were still in use during the Vietnam War.
- the serial number (has to be in the right range to be manufactured between about 1910 and 1930)
- the heat shield (has to have the correct number of holes in a row and the correct number of rows)
- the markings (has to have the US Armory "flaming bomb" and "US" stamps on correct part of the receiver)
- depending on the condition of the stock, may have the US cartouche branded into the wood
Hard to give good advice for this model/configuration. If you rush in, you're likely to buy an expensive fake. If you hesitate, you'll be too late.
Good luck.
BTW, they were made for the first World War, most were still in service during WWII, and many were still in use during the Vietnam War.
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You ask about one "in good condition". This is very subjective - most are pretty beat up, especially the stocks. But, whatever you do, if you find one, don't 'clean it up' or refinish it in anyway. Collectors want the skull dents in the butt plate and the blood stains on the stock. These are a special piece of history.
You may or may not know that, during WWI the Germans protested to the International Court at the Hague against the use of the 1897 trench gun because it was "cruel and inhuman". This, during a war where poison gas was routinely used and not protested by the Germans. The reason they hated it so much was because of it's "trench sweeping" ability. An allied soldier would crawl across no man's land on his belly. Once close to the German trenches, he would leap to his feet, and cycle the action as fast as he could pump it (slam firing). Doing so would launch approximately 63 - .30 caliber balls at the men caught off guard in the trench (using buck shot shells).
On their own side of the front lines, the shotgunners would load the 1897s with bird shot. When the Germans threw hand grenades, the gunners would knock them down like ducks coming in for a landing.
You may or may not know that, during WWI the Germans protested to the International Court at the Hague against the use of the 1897 trench gun because it was "cruel and inhuman". This, during a war where poison gas was routinely used and not protested by the Germans. The reason they hated it so much was because of it's "trench sweeping" ability. An allied soldier would crawl across no man's land on his belly. Once close to the German trenches, he would leap to his feet, and cycle the action as fast as he could pump it (slam firing). Doing so would launch approximately 63 - .30 caliber balls at the men caught off guard in the trench (using buck shot shells).
On their own side of the front lines, the shotgunners would load the 1897s with bird shot. When the Germans threw hand grenades, the gunners would knock them down like ducks coming in for a landing.
This may help also
http://ww2.rediscov.com/spring/VFPC...g/DETAILS.IDC,SPECIFIC=17563,DATABASE=objects
Don't forget they did repos of these also which I would bet the farm that is what you are looking at
http://ww2.rediscov.com/spring/VFPC...g/DETAILS.IDC,SPECIFIC=17563,DATABASE=objects
Don't forget they did repos of these also which I would bet the farm that is what you are looking at
