Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

winchester model 97 trap gun?

c.shimer
i have recenly purchased a 1940 vintage model 97 12 ga. takedown model shotgun. It has a plain 30" full choke barrel but unlike other 97's i've seen the receiver has a matte groove on top without the dish cut most 97's have. A friend swears this is a standard model trap gun. I got it for the excellent condition barrel to put on another 97. the action is a little loose but could be brought back to life with a left side extractor (it is broke)and it needs reblued
no rust or pitting on the metal. Anyone have any info? to remove barrel or not to remove that is the ?
c.shimer@sbcglobal.net
0

Comments

4 comments

Date Votes
  • bobski
    leave it original. besides, it would make a horrible trap gun these days. the kick alone will make you flinch.
    0
  • Bert H.
    Hello c.shimer...

    Unless the gun is clearly marked "TRAP", it isn't. It sounds to me like a standard Field grade gun.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
    0
  • rcarlboxer
    Should say trap gun on the bolt
    0
  • only winchesters
    Good morning c.shimer: I would say you most likely have a standard field gun. However there is always the possibility. According to R. Stadt, author of "Winchester Shotguns and Shot Shells" they stopped marking the breech bolts in 1926. What you don't say, is anything about the stocks!! All Trap grade guns came with higher grade stocks, and were checkered. If yours has those, then indeed you may have one of the Trap grade guns that they offered. Since a lot of 97s end up with a crack or two in the wrist area, a replacement "field grade butt stock" could have been put on at some time. Factory replacement stocks, (Trap grade) were still available from Winchester at least up until, 1969, (my last original parts list from them). Tell us about the stocks on your gun? If I recall correctly from an earlier post, Bert said this was a $2.00 or $5.00 option offered from Winchester, the matted groove.

    I would fix this gun. Unless you plan on using this barrel on another 97 that was made between 37-40. The barrel stampings changed quite frequently, and that barrel would stick out like a sore thumb on an older or newer gun.

    Regards Dave
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity