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Help Identifying Shotgun - Early Winchester 1897?

nhshooter
Hello,

Hoping someone here can help identify this shotgun.

My Uncle recently gave me this shotgun which was my great-grandfather's (and possibly my great-great-grandfather's as well). He has been told it is an early Winchester 1897, but after reviewing pictures of other 1897's on-line, I am not sure.

What appears to be a serial number (3696) stamped in two places, and 1898 stamped on the barrel. There are no other markings anywhere on the gun. If it is a Winchester 1897, was this manufactured in 1898?

Thanks!

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Comments

6 comments

Date Votes
  • Hawk Carse
    The illustrated pump shotgun is not a Winchester.
    It is apparently a Marlin Model 1898. I don't know why it is not trademarked, perhaps it was made for a distributor.

    Marlin recommends they not be shot and SASS does not allow them.
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  • rufe-snow
    I think it might be a early Marlin pump, rather then a Winchester. They made a number of different early versions with a external hammer that had rebated surface just forward of the hammer at the rear of the receiver.
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  • upjumtddebl
    Look again.the lettering on this model tends to be very small and lightly stamped on the top of the barrel
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  • Emmett Dunham
    These shotguns were tools and yours looks like it got plenty of work. Someone took care this shotgun most of these have the butt plate broken the stock cracked and the forearm falling off. The first Model 1898 Marlin shotgun was not marked. The other way you can tell the shotgun is early it does not have the hot shell feature, you can open the action on a hot shell on the first model. Yours does not have a button up on the right hand side of the receiver next to the hammer to release the bolt so it can be opened after a miss fire. Marlin made the statement on not shooting these shotguns to limit their liability not because all old Marlin shotguns are unsafe. I think if you have the shotgun checked which is a process were 5 different features of the shotgun is checked, get the right sized shells for it that are light loaded it will be safe to shoot. These are very accurate shotguns!
    Remember if your shotgun does not have the hot shell feature and you hammer down and just hear a click do not open the chamber for 30 seconds.


    Emmett
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  • MIKE WISKEY
    "These are very accurate shotguns!".........isn't that an oxymoron?, shotgungs by nature 'barf' all over the countryside[}:)]. Marlin made engenering changes to the design almost evry year or 2 until they just 'gave-up' on it. They, for good reason, advise that they not be fired.
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  • Emmett Dunham
    I was talking about the shotgun feeling more like shooting a rifle and I also like the way it puts a pattern down. You can say what you like about the danger of the shotguns, I put a few rounds throught the shotgun I have a year, there are a lot of people that shoot them no matter your point of view or Marlin's, personel choice!


    Emmett
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