U.S. M97 trench gun-manufactured in 1943.

[drm3m]

This gun has a 1942 barrel date marking but was probably manufactured in 1943.
The photos show the U.S. and ordnance flaming bomb on the left receiver as well as the Winchester proof markings and flaming bomb on top of the barrel.
The stock shows the final acceptance stamp G.H.D. for inspector Guy Drewry together with the ordnance crossed cannons escutcheon.

These guns were fitted to take the pattern 1917 bayonet.
Shown below is a Remington manufactured bayonet with the U.S. markings.

David

 

[Paulinski]

Very nice sir...

 

[Capt.Canuck]

Very nice, thanks for posting. Great bayonet too.

 

[mbogo3]

Whoever faces that will come out runner up..............Harold

 

[fugawi]

Thanks for posting. That's a nice bayonet as well. A trench gun has been on my list for a long time.

 

[papy]

Superb... Congrats.

 

[plinker 777]

......hOLy smokes....can you post a pic from butt to bayo tip, with the bayo attached?

 

[djankle]

wow I have that same bayonet!

I always thought that it went to a M1917 Eddystone rifle... hmmm i'm going to have to look this up.

 

[drm3m]

plinker 777,

How is this?

David

 

[plinker 777]

Fantastic! Thanks David; That would certainly put the run on me if I saw an unfamiliar uniform attached to this set up coming through my trench!
Q: What's better than a 12ga "demoralizer" for close work?
A: A 12ga with a 17" bayonet attached

David, is that a 4 rd magazine? 4+1? P.S.......love the sling....saddle soap will be your friend there.

 

[bellero]

Looks like it was made yesterday. Nice find

 

[Klunk]

OK-really cool

....but.......shouldnt a genuine trench gun have 6 rows of holes in the heat shield?

regardless-outstanding example-do want!

 

[cote_b]

Wow, what a beauty! Definetly on my milsurp need-to-buy list

 

[drm3m]

Klunk,

Handguards manufactured for World War 1 period M97 Trench Guns had 29 holes arranged in six rows (6x29)

World War II period Trench Gun Handguards will be either the 6x29 hole configuration or have 19 holes arranged in four rows (4x19)

The latter Handguard appears to have been substituted by Winchester for the 6x29 Handguard from between December 1941 and February 1942 to the end of production.
(From Joe Poyer’s book ‘U.S. Winchester Trench and Riot Guns'.)

The Trench Gun shown below is the late war configuration as it was manufactured in 1943.

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Plinker 777

It is a 5 rd magazine.

David