WWII U.S. Winchester M97 Trench Gun.

[drm3m]

Somewhat recent purchase....December 2011.
Barrel dated 42....probably assembled in 1943.
Serial number 955352.

David

 

[plinker 777]

LOVE IT!! the bayo is the "bomb" ......get it? .....

 

[hacer2]

what a find almost a dream to have

 

[drm3m]

plinker 777,

Glad you liked the bayo bomb.
Here is the rest of it.

The handguard/ heatshield.

Not a great photo of the 42 barrel date.

David

 

[jwhc]

Very nice example of a take down Model 1897 trench gun !
Cheers
Joe

 

[ATOM]

Very nice example of a take down Model 1897 trench gun !
Cheers
Joe

I'd be interested in learning more about the take-down feature on this example.

The frame is certainly take-down. I have one myself, not a trench gun, just a fairly common police gun. The take-down is activated by a fairly large pin at the very front of the magazine. It was pushed through and the entire magazine given a quarter-turn before being pulled forward a couple of inches, allowing the barrel assembly to be removed from the frame.

This is a beautiful piece and I'm most jealous, but it certainly looks like taking it apart would be a fair bit of work with the bayonet fitting in place.

 

[drm3m]

Atom,

I have never taken this gun down.
Perhaps someone else might jump in to answer your question.

David

 

[ATOM]

drm3m - That old girl is lovely. From the quality of the bluing, I would suspect that it was a commercial gun converted to military use; that happened a fair bit, I gather. Is the strap original, too?

 

[plinker 777]

OP Just gorgeous. 5 rd mag?....

 

[drm3m]

plinker 777 ....5 round magazine.
----------------------------------------
Atom,

The quality of the M97 Trench Guns were commercial grade finish.
This old girl was a military gun from the get go.
All of the markings and serial number attest to that.
WWII M97 serial numbers run from 915,000 to 956,000. (Ref. U.S. Winchester Trench and Riot Guns. written by Joe Poyer)

U.S. property marking with Ord. flaming bomb.

Final acceptance inspector's stamp G.H.D. with Ord. crossed cannons escutcheon on the stock. (Guy H. Drewry)

The sling came on another WWII M97 Trench Gun which I have since sold.
It is a Boyt 44 marked M1907 sling.

David

 

[jwhc]

I'm thinking that you would probably have to take the bayo lug off? but I'm not to sure? as mine is a solid frame. Not near as nice as drm3m's but non the less a trench gun

Cheers
Joe

 

[bellero]

Gorgeous trench gun DRM3M. Nice find!

 

[kohr varik]

amazing ! In superb condition moreover

 

[scott585]

these have a safety sear in them dont they? i.e. you can hold the trigger and it fires with every pump

 

[drm3m]

Yes.

 

[WaffenMitUns]

Probably end up mustering a Norinco clone...

 

[drm3m]

IMHO, these U.S. WWII Winchester M97s are handsome guns and difficult to find in Canada in any condition.
I consider myself fortunate to own one of the two shown above.
Not long ago I used to own both of them.

David

 

[found_fish]

Such a great gun!

 

[drm3m]

I don't have a large WWII U.S. collection, however I am quite pleased with these three pieces.

David

Winchester M97 Trench Gun- Sn 955352. 1942 barrel dated 1943 assembled.

An early M1A1 carbine 12-42 barrel dated. Sn 123829.
This M1A1 was part of the First Contract October 1942-October 1943.

The underside of the pistol grip on the First Contract M1A1 Carbines was marked 'OI' along with a small Ordnance Department crossed cannon escutcheon.
The early stocks typically had a circled 'P' proofmark stamped on the rear of the stock. This marking was not generally found on the later stocks.

This gun has both of these markings as is shown in the photos below.

A M1911A1 Colt rig 1942 manufactured. Sn 785826. W.B inspected.

 

[jwhc]

Very nice firearms drm3m! excellent photos as well

Cheers
Joe