hi guys and gals i'm new here.just signed on today.i have a winchester model 1897 made in 1911.it was handed down to me from my dear old dad.i need to know an idea of what its worth.i had it restored 25 years ago.reblued and wood work refinished.i didnt know at the time that this really puts a damper on the value but i wanted it as a shooter not a wall mantle piece.
winchester 16 gauge
- Thread starter trento
- Start date
$500 sounds about right, but it could be more or less depending on condition. The reblue and refinish is unfortunate, but not critical (unless you wanted to sell it exclusively as a collector, not a shooter). There's a mountain of 1897's out there and precious few of them could ever qualify as collectors - largely because of the sheer number of them still available. (16's are more rare, though.)
Don't expect that situation to change, either. This is one of John Browning's designs that are built to last.
By coincidence, my Dad left me an 1897 in 16 gauge, too. Mine was purchased new by my Grandfather and handed down from there. Value is something I've never considered before, as there's no way this gun will ever be sold - not now and not in a future generation, either.
Since you plan to shoot it, you should know that this gun was chambered in 2 9/16ths. Unless compromised by damage, the barrels are more than strong enough to handle the heaviest 2 3/4" loads for decades to come. But, using 2 3/4" shells will generate more felt recoil because the crimp is opening into the forcing cone and partially obstructing the shot exiting the shell.
If you care, you can get Gamebore shells in 2 1/2" from Kent Cartridge in Canada (contact "Fassteel" on this site). Besides being shorter, these are loaded for lower pressures, which also mitigates recoil. Used only for hunting, 1 or 2 flats of those should last the average hunter a long time.
If you get a chance, I'd love to see pictures of yours.
Don't expect that situation to change, either. This is one of John Browning's designs that are built to last.
By coincidence, my Dad left me an 1897 in 16 gauge, too. Mine was purchased new by my Grandfather and handed down from there. Value is something I've never considered before, as there's no way this gun will ever be sold - not now and not in a future generation, either.
Since you plan to shoot it, you should know that this gun was chambered in 2 9/16ths. Unless compromised by damage, the barrels are more than strong enough to handle the heaviest 2 3/4" loads for decades to come. But, using 2 3/4" shells will generate more felt recoil because the crimp is opening into the forcing cone and partially obstructing the shot exiting the shell.
If you care, you can get Gamebore shells in 2 1/2" from Kent Cartridge in Canada (contact "Fassteel" on this site). Besides being shorter, these are loaded for lower pressures, which also mitigates recoil. Used only for hunting, 1 or 2 flats of those should last the average hunter a long time.
If you get a chance, I'd love to see pictures of yours.
MauserMike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- SW Ontario
$200 eh? I've had an itch to get an 1897 since I saw "No Country for Old Men"
There are MANY of these guns pretty much anywhere in North America. A great number of them have been refinished or "fixed" by bubba. Many more have had the barrels hacked. The riot models and the trenchguns command impressive sums, so unscrupulous scum turn a few into frankenguns in an attempt to fake them.
Those that have been modified, those with stock adjustments, polished receivers, mis-matched serial numbers, or those with the hideous flat-bottomed forends will not sell to anyone who knows their stuff. We do a disservice when we include junk in our comparatives for valuation purposes.
It's just like Enfields, Garands, etc. You don't want to lump rare configurations or minty originals into the same price class as the run of the mill "bubba'd" pieces.
This one has been refinished, I know. And, $500 may be a bit steep, depending on condition, more than any other factor. Unless the refinish was obviously amateurish, it won't seriously detract from the value, because of the gauge.
i was woandering around the net and came across an auction site in the states.i have it bookmarked i think.an unfinished 97 16 gauge pigeon gun went for 4000 bucks.i couldnt believe it.so i started linking around and had some correspondence with an appraiser and he said it could go for 1500 on a good day.
Must have been engraved, with a solid rib, with history on the Win engravers, and in excellent condition to get $4k.
As a teenager I had a 16ga 97, full choke. I loved it and shot a lot of ducks over decoys. It's far more like a 20ga than a 12.
Just good'ol guns and good'ol times
Americans have appreciated 1897's longer than have Canadians. Consequently, the available supply in the States has been snapped up, causing the supply and demand curve to flip. They come up here on a regular basis and buy up all those they can find. There's good money in it for an American FFL dealer.
With the recession in the States, fewer dealers are willing to come north for the auctions, so prices here are softening for a while. In the States, prices haven't changed much because, along with the drop in demand, they've had a drop in supply, too.
The States are no different than here when it comes to paying more for rare configs.
Pigeon grade = $4000+
Black Diamond = $3000+
Trench gun = $1500+
Riot model = $1000
16 ga field = $500
12 ga field = $400
Current Canadian market in CDN funds. All assume VG to excellent condition.
Like I said before, crap is crap - there's no point in comparing fair to good condition with anything anyone would actually want to buy.
Black Diamond = $3000+
Trench gun = $1500+
Riot model = $1000
16 ga field = $500
12 ga field = $400
Current Canadian market in CDN funds. All assume VG to excellent condition.
Like I said before, crap is crap - there's no point in comparing fair to good condition with anything anyone would actually want to buy.
