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Value of 1897 Winchester Riot?

Clipper47
Attached are 3 photos of a 12 ga. Winchester 1897 shotgun with a "Cyl" bore 20" barrel and solid frame which I have owned and used for about 35 years. I acquired it from a small town police department when they bought a newer model riot gun. I believe the barrel is original and not cut. the story goes that the gun was bought by the police from a security company in the 1920's. The bluing on the receiver is weak but still mostly covering the metal. the barrel and mag bluing is almost all there and bright. I think the stock may have been revarnished at some point. It has a few minor dents but no wood missing. It works very smoothly , the action is tight and bore is shiny. I would appreciate an estimated value.
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • 45er
    Howdy Clipper,


    Having a '97, (Ser.# E7347**), in very similar configuration, the resident Winchester expert here on Gunbroke, Bert H., helped date it to quote, "July/August of 1920", so yours is at least earlier than that. Hopefully, he'll come along and provide more info for you.

    An interesting history you provide for it, too. Yet, hope you know, as common sense dictates that without official paper work, well, any story comes out to be a dime a dozen with firearms. If you still have a receipt from the P.D. purchased from, then all the better. Though still I cannot tell you how this would affect the going $$$ value?

    Click on over to the auction side and search for similar '97's. Then registering there, you can then view completed prices for closing auctions at current value. Been a while since I priced mine, so the market has changed probably quite a bit and wouldn't be much help.

    Welcome here your first postings.
    45er
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  • Clipper47
    45er, Thanks for the welcome and the advice. I have no proof of the guns provenance other than my own. I aquired the gun from the police chief in a trade so no paperwork and the gun has no police markings. This was a 6 man police department. I have a pretty good idea about what the gun is worth but the prices on online sites vary greatly so I am posing the question here. I really like this site!
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  • Floyd58523
    If you have a relationship with the police dept. Have someone type on their letter head the history of the gun. You will then have provenance for the firearm.
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  • slumlord44
    I am not sure of current price but a correct original riot gun is not cheap today. The real experts here should have an idea. I am thinking around $1,000 but check the auction side. I understand your providence issue. I have a Winchester Model 12 military marked riot gun that I bought years ago from an active Air Force officer at out local Air Force Base. He told me he bought the gun from the Air Force when he was stationed in Germany in the late '60's. It had been refinished by the Air Force. The parkerized finish and the mis-matched serial #'s on the barrel and the reciever supported this. Unfortunately he had lost the original paperwork from the Air Force in the process of moving many times. The gun would be worth a lot more withe the paperwork. Without it, it is just an interesting story. Think I paid $200 to$300 for it at the time so I am in good shape. It has the correct US and flaming bomb stampings. Nice example you have there.
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  • Bert H.
    Hello Clipper,

    It is a 1917 vintage commercial sales Riot Gun. Being a small town PD gun adds no "collector" value to it, even if you had the supporting documentation.

    Based on what I can see of the condition, it worth somewhere in the $900 - $1200 range.
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  • 11b6r
    BTW folks, the term is provenance if you mean the history of an item.
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  • Clipper47
    Bert and others, Thank you very much for all your advice. It is appreciated.
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  • rong
    When I was a kid
    there were prolly
    half dozen of theses pumps
    at the station and they were
    getting rid of 'em.In those days
    to friend, relatives etc.. I wanted
    a couple but the ole man had this
    thing about long guns and exposed
    hammers, so he wouldn't let me take 'em.
    The chief was a close famiy friend and
    it was fine with him but not the old man.
    Oh well.My dad bought me a Topper 158 instead
    which I treasured. I wish to God now ,I had never
    sold it.
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