Winchester 1897 Riot Hammer Modification
Looking to pick the brains of any expert M1897 riot gun collectors....
Does anyone know of any SOPs used by either US Navy Armorers or Law Enforcement/Prison armorers that modified '97s hammers to allow them to fall to a sort of "half cock" position when the slide was operated to the forward position (thus requiring a manual hammer cock using your thumb)?
My local gunsmith tells me the cycling of the slide back and forth on this model, should fully cock the hammer in the rear position, and leave it there even after you pump the slide forward. On this particular model, when you pump the slide to the forward position, the hammer moves to a sort of "half cock" position, about 1/4" from the pin face.
The gun is a 859XXX s/n which dates to a 1939 yr of mnfr. The gun was used by the USN then transferred to the NC Board of Prisons, and ultimately to the estate sale of a retired prison guard. My follow on questions are:
1. Is this normal operation for a '97 Winchester riot shotgun?
2. If not, does this mean the gun was modified and by whom?
3. WOuld it destroy the historical significance to have the hammer restored?
My gunsmith can restore the hammer to work as originally designed with the hammer remaining in the full cock position at each "pump" of the slide action, but we are afraid to do so if they represent a historically significant modification that could impact it's value.
Deeply appreciate any information. My apologies for the long winded questions.
v/r
Steve Z.
(406) 750-5002
Does anyone know of any SOPs used by either US Navy Armorers or Law Enforcement/Prison armorers that modified '97s hammers to allow them to fall to a sort of "half cock" position when the slide was operated to the forward position (thus requiring a manual hammer cock using your thumb)?
My local gunsmith tells me the cycling of the slide back and forth on this model, should fully cock the hammer in the rear position, and leave it there even after you pump the slide forward. On this particular model, when you pump the slide to the forward position, the hammer moves to a sort of "half cock" position, about 1/4" from the pin face.
The gun is a 859XXX s/n which dates to a 1939 yr of mnfr. The gun was used by the USN then transferred to the NC Board of Prisons, and ultimately to the estate sale of a retired prison guard. My follow on questions are:
1. Is this normal operation for a '97 Winchester riot shotgun?
2. If not, does this mean the gun was modified and by whom?
3. WOuld it destroy the historical significance to have the hammer restored?
My gunsmith can restore the hammer to work as originally designed with the hammer remaining in the full cock position at each "pump" of the slide action, but we are afraid to do so if they represent a historically significant modification that could impact it's value.
Deeply appreciate any information. My apologies for the long winded questions.
v/r
Steve Z.
(406) 750-5002
0
-
SteveZ.,
Try Steve Young:
http://www.stevesgunz.com/
Steve Young
4525 Alamosa St.
Port Arthur, TX 77642
(409) 984-5473
steve@stevesgunz.com
Sass# 6765
alias Nate Kiowa Jones0 -
Hello Steve,
Somebody other than Winchester modified it (and I sincerely doubt that it was the U.S. Navy or any other official entity), or it has something wrong with it. Your 'smith is correct... it should stay at full cock after cycling the action, and I would suugest having him make the repair.
In answer to your questions;
quote:1. Is this normal operation for a '97 Winchester riot shotgun?
2. If not, does this mean the gun was modified and by whom?
3. WOuld it destroy the historical significance to have the hammer restored?
1. No, it is not.
2. Not necessarily, and there is no way to say.
3. In my opinion, there is no historical significance to destroy.0 -
I would guess that the sear is worn, or the "cock" notch in the bottom of the hammer is overly worn. What ever it is it ain't right.
W.D.0 -
This happens from normal wear, the bolt rails and the slots in the reciver that they ride in get worn (and the top of the hammer)and the bolt will not push the hammer down far enought to 'catch' in the full cock notch (pump the action to the full open position, then push down on the top of the breach bolt and you will hear a 'click' as the sear enguages the full cock notch in the hammer). The easy 'fix' is to build up (weld) the top of the hammer or the bottom of the bolt (it only takes a little), proper 'fix' is to install new parts. 0 -
Gents, (all of you who responded),
Thanks so much for the helpful insights. Deeply appreciate the info.
v/r
steve z0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
5 comments