Post by oldhippy on Oct 21, 2019 6:59:14 GMT
the Winchester model 1897
I’ve only ever shot a couple of 1897′s and that was back in the 60’s when they were still plentiful. I’ve never owned one because I’ve never found one at a price I was willing to give. I like ‘em, and like all Winchester’s of that era they were really well made. I don’t think you could ever shoot one enough to wear it out. Most of the problems I’ve seen have been caused by owner neglect and not use. For me, they compare really well in handling and function with my Mossberg 500 A. I do get a bit more versatility from my 500 but that is only because of the availability of extra barrels and their easy interchangeability.
Of the 1897’s I’ve shot, the one I enjoyed the most was a Military Model that an old gunsmith friend of mine had acquired in the late 1930’s. He told me it had been made before WWI and may have been carried into Mexico with Black Jack Pershing’s troops to hunt for Pancho Villa (when you trade guns, you hear a lot of stories and a few of em may even be true, he had known the guy and believed him, who am I to doubt ). This was the only military issue I ever encountered that had been blued, even including bluing the barrel shroud and bayonet mount. All of the other military models I’ve seen were probably manufactured later and everything was parkerized. His 97 shot beautifully, good pattern, and handled well, but I still don’t think I care to be skeet shooting incoming hand grenades out of the trenches with it.
I think the last shotguns that were available new with a slamfire feature was probably some of the Ithaca’s, probably a mod 37 back in the 50′s or early 60’s. Slamfire shotguns are a lawyers wet dream for a product liability case and they aren’t likely to ever be made again . I love the feature myself on my Mod 1912 Winchester when shooting clays. It great to have when you know and train around it. When you are accustomed to the feature it makes semi auto shotguns seem like they have the fire rate of a break top single barrel, however it’s not something I want in a house or personal protection shotgun. Once again , it’s like waving a red flag at a lawyer and screaming “Sue Me!!”, even if you didn’t use the feature, ambulance chasers will line up to make life rough for you. It’s just not worth it to me.
If you do get an 1897, I believe you’ll enjoy it. They are great old guns, just remember you’re holding a piece of history and for most of us just that alone is a bunch of fun.
Of the 1897’s I’ve shot, the one I enjoyed the most was a Military Model that an old gunsmith friend of mine had acquired in the late 1930’s. He told me it had been made before WWI and may have been carried into Mexico with Black Jack Pershing’s troops to hunt for Pancho Villa (when you trade guns, you hear a lot of stories and a few of em may even be true, he had known the guy and believed him, who am I to doubt ). This was the only military issue I ever encountered that had been blued, even including bluing the barrel shroud and bayonet mount. All of the other military models I’ve seen were probably manufactured later and everything was parkerized. His 97 shot beautifully, good pattern, and handled well, but I still don’t think I care to be skeet shooting incoming hand grenades out of the trenches with it.
I think the last shotguns that were available new with a slamfire feature was probably some of the Ithaca’s, probably a mod 37 back in the 50′s or early 60’s. Slamfire shotguns are a lawyers wet dream for a product liability case and they aren’t likely to ever be made again . I love the feature myself on my Mod 1912 Winchester when shooting clays. It great to have when you know and train around it. When you are accustomed to the feature it makes semi auto shotguns seem like they have the fire rate of a break top single barrel, however it’s not something I want in a house or personal protection shotgun. Once again , it’s like waving a red flag at a lawyer and screaming “Sue Me!!”, even if you didn’t use the feature, ambulance chasers will line up to make life rough for you. It’s just not worth it to me.
If you do get an 1897, I believe you’ll enjoy it. They are great old guns, just remember you’re holding a piece of history and for most of us just that alone is a bunch of fun.
