Winchester 1897 - please comment

March 17, 2009 15:18

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7 comments

rufe-snow

March 17, 2009 15:31
Keep it in the family, treasure it as a heirloom. It appears to have led a long hard life, i.e. ridden hard and and put up wet, a bunch. As a item of handed down family history, you can't put a value on it.
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br549

March 17, 2009 17:33
belonging to your grandfather and being passed down to you, i would say it's priceless. i'd get some forearm screws though before the wood breaks.
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lkannes

March 17, 2009 17:39
As an heirloom it's priceless. I have my Grandfather's 97. It too has been "rode hard and put up wet" it has no finish left on the metal or wood but it is in fact a first year production 97. It brings back fond memories of my Grandpa. I also killed my first pheasant with it. Once a ye?r I get it out and shoot a round of 16 yard trap with it. I can say with certainty that I will own that old shotgun the day that I die and hope that my son will feel the same way. What's it worth? Doesn't really matter. You just can't put a price on some things.
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Bert H.

March 17, 2009 18:45
quote:Originally posted by kangstankfudang
Wondering if anyone thinks this gun is worth anything. It is worth alot to me as it was my great great great grandfathers. all comments welcome.

You must be a real real real young fellow... your great great great grandfather's Model 1897 was manufactured late in the year 1903. While it is undoubtedly quite valueable to you as a family heirloom, its intrinsic value is only about $350.

Somewhere in its past history, someone added the checkering on the butt stock wrist and pistol grip, and they also installed a different (non-factory original) butt plate. It is possible that the butt stock was trimmed or cut-down slightly to installed the butt plate.
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BigLoop22

March 17, 2009 21:28
kangstankfudang,

That is beautiful! What a great inheritence. I wish that I had something like that. You are blessed to own such a treasure.
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Bert H.

March 18, 2009 06:08
quote:Originally posted by Barzillia
Many factory letters oten only show a particular hardware store as the destination buyer, but if your ancestor came from a limited area or very small town, it might be worth the $100 to get the letter.

Factory letters for Winchester firearms almost never give or show who bought or where the gun was shipped. In the several hundred thousand record entries I have personally looked at, less than (10) list the shipping destination or person who bought the gun. The cost of a factory letter is $60 for non-members of the Cody Firearms Museum. If you are a member, a single letter costs $35. Please use the web link that follows my signature line for complete details.
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Bert H.

March 18, 2009 20:33
quote:Originally posted by Barzillia
quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
quote:Originally posted by Barzillia
Many factory letters oten only show a particular hardware store as the destination buyer, but if your ancestor came from a limited area or very small town, it might be worth the $100 to get the letter.

Factory letters for Winchester firearms almost never give or show who bought or where the gun was shipped. In the several hundred thousand record entries I have personally looked at, less than (10) list the shipping destination or person who bought the gun. The cost of a factory letter is $60 for non-members of the Cody Firearms Museum. If you are a member, a single letter costs $35. Please use the web link that follows my signature line for complete details.

Bert H., Sorry about the price misquote, but the website seems to indicate letters are not available for the 1897 ? At least no price is given for it, and now that I'm ready to go at the "reduced " price for a couple, I don't see a way to do it ?

Your focus is too narrow... the listed price is for all Winchester Models except the Model 21.

http://www.bbhc.org/firearms/CFMSerialNumberList_2008.pdf
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Winchester 1897 - please comment

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