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ANYONE KNOW THE VALUE?

boatgod
I RECENTLY AQUIRED A VERY OLD WINCHESTER MODEL 97. ACTION SEEMS TO WORK GREAT, BUT HAS A COUPLE CRACKC, ONE IN STOCK AND ONE IN FRONT GRIP. THE SERIAL # IS 143156 WHERE THE BARREL MEETS THE ACTION THE NUMBER 12 IS STAMPED, I ASSUME ITS A 12 GAUGE.THE BARREL SAYS AS BEST I CAN READ: MANUFACTURED BY THE WINCHESTER REPEATING: AND UNDER THAT READS:HEW HAVEN CONN. USA PAT. NOV.25 90, DEC.6 92, JULY 21 96, FEB.22 98, AND JUNE14 98 I ASSUME THESE ARE PATENT DATES? THE ONLY OTHER MARKINGS I CAN FIND ARE ON THE LEFT SIDE UNDER THE BARREL ON THE SLIDING PUMP ACTION WHICH READS MODEL 97, -WINCHESTER-, TRADE MARK REG US PAT OFF & FGN. SO THIS IS WHAT I HAVE, IF ANYONE HAS ANY INFO ON THE AGE AND OR VALUE OF THIS SHOTGUN I WOULD APRECIATE IT. THANKS, JOE
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Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • Herschel
    The book Winchester Dates OF Manufacture 1849-1984 by Madis shows that the model 12 with that serial number was made in 1918.
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  • matwor
    According to the 23rd edition of the "Blue Book", using the SN# for this model 97 you have, it was made in 1901.

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    "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

    Edmund Burke
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  • chumchum
    I second that 1901
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  • boatgod
    THANKS FOR THE INFO, WOULD ANYONE KNOW IF THIS SHOTGUN IS OF ANY VALUE, OR JUST A DECORATION ON THE WALL? THANKS AGAIN, JOE
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  • Bert H.
    Hello Joe...

    First, please turn off the CAPS LOCK.

    Second, the date of manufacture is most likely a year or two later than 1901. If you really want to know the exact date, contact the Cody Firearms Museum - http://www.bbhc.org/firearms/records.cfm and they (for a fee) can tell you exactly when it was manufactured and shipped.

    You are correct in that it is a 12 gauge, and about the dates stamped on the barrel being patent dates (the first two dates were granted to John M Browning for the predecessor Model 1893). It should actually say "MODEL 1897" on the slide bar versus "MODEL 97", and there should also be a "C" stamped above the serial number.

    Collector value for the Model 1897 is primarily a function of the graded condition, and yours sounds like it has seen better days. Without seeing it, my guess is that it is about a $300 gun.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • jnmiller75
    According to http://oldguns.net/sn_php/windateslookup.php?file=win1897.dat the gun was manufacteured in 1902, But I don't know if the dates on that site are accurate or not.
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by jnmiller75
    According to http://oldguns.net/sn_php/windateslookup.php?file=win1897.dat the gun was manufacteured in 1902, But I don't know if the dates on that site are accurate or not.


    Hello jnmiller75... most of the time the DOMs on that site are not accurate for Winchester made firearms... they are close, but not accurate. As of this date, there are NO published documents (either in book form or on the internet) that are accurate. The only way get an accurate manufacture and shipping date is to contact the Cody Firearms Museum.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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