Winchester 1897 Black Diamond Trap

Bittermansbro

Bittermansbro

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Calgary, AB
I'm pretty excited, I just bought a Winchester M1897 Black Diamond Trap gun made in 1912. Its the first time I have seen a Black Diamond ever 'in the real' and I am just wondering how many others there are out there?

Anyone got one? Or seen any others up here in Canada? 1897's or Model 12s?
 
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Alot of the 97 Trap gun Black diamonds that I've seen, and i haven't seen many, have been reblued and completely reworked. They are a fabulous find, congrats, that and the model 12 Trap guns are a real great throw back and they represent the sport of Trap Shooting through the years. What great history some can tell, including when trap was shot with glass balls instead of clay targets.
 
Sorry, I was excited when I posted, but I have pics now:

Overall pic
97BD1.jpg


Bolt still is pretty well blued, and marked/etched/engraved(?) with Trap Gun
97BDbolt.jpg


The forearm. Overall the stock set is in pretty good condition for 97 years old, its got scratches and dings, but still looks pretty good overall. Only problem is that someone in the past put on a 'Decelerator' butt pad...oh well.
97BDpump.jpg


97BDdiamond.jpg


The top has this nice and unique....etched area(sorry I can't think of the right term for it)
97BDtop.jpg


Overall the most blueing loss is on the receiver, specifically the bottom, top and left. The right side still has ok blue. The barrel is pretty goot except around four/five inches from the muzzle, and the missing blue looks consistent with being held by a right handed shooter with the butt on the ground.

I shot it a few days ago and its in surprisingly good condition, everything functions well and properlly and the fit between the receiver and barrel/magtube is still pretty tight, with only minor wiggle.
 
Spectacular! Looks as to not have been ever reblued as well. Wood is in fine shape for a hundred year old shotgun. Finds like that are rare in Canada as we are in the land of "utility grades"!
 
I've only ever seen 1 in the flesh. I've seen pictures of another that is still for sale - asking price $3600. That one appears to be in very good to excellent condition, but it's impossible to tell from the pictures if the bluing is original or refinished.

The one I was able to handle was at the Calgary Gun Show last spring. I would have rated it in FAIR condition. It was over priced for the condition it was in.

Yours looks to be in very good condition and, with the exception of the decelerator pad, original. Nice score! The Black Diamond Trap is the only model and/or gauge of 1897 that I don't have. Depending on what you paid for it, I may have to join soulchaser in envying you for this.

EDITED to Add: BTW, they're called "inlays".
 
Inlays....got it.

Thanks for the feedback, this is definitely the world of the utility grade 1897.

It doesn't look to be refinished in anyway, the barrel has good normal wear from use, the remaining blue on the barrel is dulled like lots of old blues. Unfortunately, anytime I take pics, it never presents the blue in the correct light, its always different in person.

As for what I paid, it wasn't expensive. I had to check it over a few times to make sure I wasn't missing anything at the time.
 
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