Does anyone have these stock markings on a WWII Winchester M97 Trench Gun?

Hi JP,

Thanks for sharing photos of your trenchgun with us. This is taken from Joe Poyer's book:

"WB" = Lt. Colonel Waldemar Broberg. Broberg was the goverment inspector up to mid-1942. The serial number range for the Model 97 Trench & Riot Guns he inspected fall in the 915,000 - 927,000 range. The highest confirmed serial number with his inspection stamp is 926,809, and it is marked "42" on the barrel.

"GHD" = Colonel (later Brigadier General) Guy H. Drewry. Drewry relieved Broberg upon his retirement in mid-1942. The lowest known serial number Model 97 with his inspection stamp is 926,140, and it is also marked "42" on the barrel. The serial range of the guns inspected by Drewry is from 926,000 - 956,000.

It appears at some point yours received an earlier stock. I'm sure these guns required a fair deal of maintenance and it may have been switched while still in service but no way to know for sure. The 'WB' marking appears very deep while the ordnance wheel appears faint and maybe refinished over, it could just be the photos?

Just a total guess - The electro-pencil '82000' could be a Canadian prison rack number? I've seen this on M1911A1's used in Canadian prisons post-WWII. Again, hard to say for sure.

Regards,
-Steve
 
"It appears at some point yours received an earlier stock. I'm sure these guns required a fair deal of maintenance and it may have been switched while still in service but no way to know for sure. The 'WB' marking appears very deep while the ordnance wheel appears faint and maybe refinished over, it could just be the photos?"
Yes But I see one on the web that have an upper serial number and have the WB Marking
And I don't know why the WB mark is deeper than the ordnance wheel? But not a fake for sure

About the 82000 , the person who sell it to me said that gun comes from cinema business ?
 
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DSC_0844.jpg

How about this one?
 
Wow! that's beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
I have a serious desire to own an Ithaca 37 trench gun... it would be easier finding a unicorn.
 
Bruce Canfield’s comments on stock markings on military shotguns.

The presence or absence of stock inspection stamps on WWII U.S.military shotguns is dependent on the type of gun. The Winchester Model 97 and Model 12 shotguns made under government contract were stamped on the left side of the stock with the ordnance "crossed cannons" escutcheon and either "WB" (Waldemar Broberg) or "GHD" (Guy H. Drewry) depending on the vintage of the gun. The Remington Model 11 and Sportsman government contract shotguns were marked on the left side of the stock with the crossed cannons and "FJA" (Frank J.Atwood). Other than a few early Remington Model 31s (which had a small crossed cannons only), no other types of WWII military shotguns left the factory without inspection stamps on the stock. The absence of such markings on a WWII Winchester military contract shotgun indicates that the stock was either replaced or refinished, thus obscuring the markings.

The determining factor of whether the 'GHD' or 'WB' inspection stamp is correct for a specific gun will depend on the serial number of the gun.

The 'GHD' cartouche was correct for a certain serial number range same thing for 'WB' inspected guns.

From what I understand these stocks 'sometimes' broke at the wrist and the stock was replaced.

If the serial number on this gun is outside of the range of the 'WB' inspection period then the stock was changed for some reason.

As Steve suggested 'WB' inspected guns ran from serial numbers 915000 to 927000.

David

As an example this M1911A1 Colt is 'WB' inspected ---it is serial numbered 785826 manufactured in 1942.


W.B. Waldemar S. Broberg, Colonel
Hartford/ Springfield Ordnance District
Army Inspector of Ordnance.
July 1 1941-June 16, 1942.

Colt M1911A1 pistols:
Serial nos. 750500-861000



 
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No W's. oldguns.net/sn_php/us_inspectors_lookup.php
That shotgun in that condition is worth a big pile of money Stateside. No importing 'em though.
 
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