[stevenb]

I have a 97 that was made in 06 or 07, depending on what site I check the serial numbers. The blueing is in great shape and I dont think it was standard field grade because of the fancy checkering(that is almost worn off). Since the stock checkering is so shallow I wonder if the blueing is original or if it has been reblued? Because of the good condition of the blueing. Could it have been carried more than anything? Anyone??

Heres a couple of picts of this ole girl. SHe shoots a good tight pattern too. Has(I think) 30" barrell full choke, takdown model 12 guage.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/steveb3006/97resizedcloseup.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/steveb3006/forearmtubenutWIN97resized.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/steveb3006/97pgresized.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/steveb3006/97resized.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a199/steveb3006/buttplateWIN97.jpg

[Gordon]

On your beautiful shotgun I would bet that it IS reblued. How ever,with the markings as far as I can see, they did a good job and didn't over polish it. Almost all Winchester guns of that vitage, unless they were sealed in a climate controlled area, have started to plum. Certainly with that much checkering wear you wouldn't have that finish. BUT I repeat, VERY nice gun and I'd be proud to own it!:)

[Hypnogator]

Definitely a reblue, but a good job. Might actually enhance the value of the gun, depending on what it looked like "before." :cool:

[bakert]

That is one nice shotgun. I'll agree it's probably been reblued. When I was a much younger man in the late 50s and 60s an older man I hunted with used an old model 97 and they were still seen pretty often in the hunting fields.

[ALACHARGER]

The wear spot on all of these I see is the receiver. You will occasionally find one with blueing on the barrel, or on the magazine tube, but rarely will you find one that old with any original blueing on the receiver.

Yours does appear to have been an exceptional job of reblueing. Mine looks like it's been drug down 9 miles of dirt road, but it shoots every time!:)

[BigG]

If they've been cycled much, the magazine tube gets white as does the little action bar that operates the bolt - the one marked "Winchester." HTH