Price check - Winchester 1897
- Thread starter czechitout
- Start date
An orginal trench gun or riot will set you back at least $600 today, maybe more. There are quite a few field guns that have been shortened to riot gun lenght for cowbow shooting and these can be had from $200 to $400. I bought a field gun for $150 in the EE last year but it is a little rough on the outside but the inside is like new.
thanks ckid .. I will probably pic up a beater 97 as well at some point. I don't think $500 or $600 is too much for an original trench in good condition. Looks like they fetch about double that in the US.
Paid $875 including 1917 bayonet w/scabbard for mine (pic in your other thread as of this morning). $750 of that was for the gun, $125 for the bayonet. I haven't seen one in better shape or for less money (certainly not both) since then, so no regrets. In fact, judging by the upsurge in interest in recent years, I may have just got in under the wire.
My opinion is that these guns (1897's in general, but trench models in particular) will appreciate significantly in coming years. I base that opinion on the fact that there are not many 100+ year old models that offer both provenance and safe, reliable shooting with modern nitro loads. Collecting is great, but most of us want to shoot what we collect. The rich history of the 1897 is just a bonus.
- Location
- Downtown Vancouver, BC
Paid $875 including 1917 bayonet w/scabbard for mine (pic in your other thread as of this morning). $750 of that was for the gun, $125 for the bayonet. I haven't seen one in better shape or for less money (certainly not both) since then, so no regrets. In fact, judging by the upsurge in interest in recent years, I may have just got in under the wire.
My opinion is that these guns (1897's in general, but trench models in particular) will appreciate significantly in coming years. I base that opinion on the fact that there are not many 100+ year old models that offer both provenance and safe, reliable shooting with modern nitro loads. Collecting is great, but most of us want to shoot what we collect. The rich history of the 1897 is just a bonus.
I personally love the slamfire, and the 'end of the war' the trench gun signifies to me.
Yeah, they're very cool. I traded mine off like an idiot, so now I'm looking for another. - dan
Real thing. Some days, I just hit all the stupid bells on the first try. - dan
I want to find a nice original riot model .. but from what I have read, it looks like a few places in the states actually sell the "bomb" stamp (trench) and other marking stamps that enable someone to mark a field model up to look like a trench or riot. That worries me a bit .. if they are on the ball, it would be pretty tough for a newbie like me to know the difference. There was a guy at the Calgary gun show trying to sell a trench knock off for $800!!!!
Yeah, and what a POS that one was!! Field model '97 in poor condition with a chopped barrel and a Norc heat shield added. He didn't even try to fake the sling swivel. The flippin' crook wanted $500 for the M1917 bayonet to go with it.
For anyone who doubts what the prices of 1897's are doing, the Calgary Gun show would have been an eye opener. There was a severely beat up field model 12 ga going for $275. There was a mint field model 12 ga going for $795. And, there was a guy there selling a minty field model 16 ga (with presumably aftermarket engraving) for $3250 !!?!!!!
Bittermansbro
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
For me same as straightshooter, got a 1942 specimen for $750 and spent a $100 on a Winchester bayo for it. Very fun old dog indeed!
Seems that everyone has found a nice trench model except me! .. I have only started to look though. I would like to find either the trench or riot model before things go up even more! I would even settle for a Model 12 riot to start with!
I did buy a fantastic 1897 shooter (field model) from Straightshooter at the Cow Town gun show. First one in my collection!
I did buy a fantastic 1897 shooter (field model) from Straightshooter at the Cow Town gun show. First one in my collection!
There were some pretty stupid prices at the show, deals were few and far between. Some dealers believe the old saying, "A fool and his money are soon parted". For those that didn't do their homework before they went down, if you bought because it was "bright & shiney", well it sucks to be you.
I have 3 Winchesters, a 1945 Trench Gun that I bought when Wholesale sold them for $500.00 back in '98. A 1906 that I bought as a $100 junker and put $250 into rebuilding it as my backup cowboy gun and a 1913 that I bought for $350 and put $75.00 into. They are great guns for competition.
1) 1945, 2) 1913, 3) 1906
Shot with FinePix E550 at 2007-12-26
I have 3 Winchesters, a 1945 Trench Gun that I bought when Wholesale sold them for $500.00 back in '98. A 1906 that I bought as a $100 junker and put $250 into rebuilding it as my backup cowboy gun and a 1913 that I bought for $350 and put $75.00 into. They are great guns for competition.
1) 1945, 2) 1913, 3) 1906
Shot with FinePix E550 at 2007-12-26
nice guns Garand ... that '45 trench is VERY nice! As you stated, pretty tough to believe there are that many 100+ year old guns that are shiny and new looking. Now that they are worth something .. fakes will pop up even more as well. Not good for us newbies!
thanks for showing us your 3 brothers!
thanks for showing us your 3 brothers!
I have 3 Winchesters, a 1945 Trench Gun that I bought when Wholesale sold them for $500.00 back in '98. A 1906 that I bought as a $100 junker and put $250 into rebuilding it as my backup cowboy gun and a 1913 that I bought for $350 and put $75.00 into. They are great guns for competition.
1) 1945, 2) 1913, 3) 1906
Shot with FinePix E550 at 2007-12-26
Good info for those who have doubts about prices. Leaving the trench gun out of the discussion (since it's value will go nowhere but up), you have $350 into one and $425 into the other. While it's true that what you paid to refurbish a gun doesn't translate directly into market value, one has to accept that you wouldn't have spent the money if you could buy one in equivalent condition for less.
