'97 Winchester at LGS

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Below hopefully are the finished product that I so laboriously worked on. It still won't post the pics as it states I've already posted them in the other post "Formby's Tung Oil" go figure.
 
lose noose: It looks to me like You did a great job, on Your new 97 Win shotgun. My Son and I like Win 97`s so much that we bought two of thoes Chinese copys. And both of them have worked just great. I was raised shooting my Grandfather`s 16 gauge 97 Win, so I have had a love affair with the 97 Win Pump, since I was just a kid. Again I hope You enjoy Yours and never let it get away from You.
ken
 
Thank you cpt-t, I plan on holding on to it, I've always liked the older Winchester guns, in fact I've got a Model 12 made in 1931, and Winchester model 62 .22 rifle made in 1941. I've been looking for a model 1893 Lever Action Shotgun, but they are far and few between, the ones I've found want a small fortune for them.
 
That might be a Winchester Model 1887 lever-action shotgun you are looking for?
Or a Model 1901?

The 1887's were all black powder 10 ga or 12 ga guns.
Neither were strong enough for smokeless powder.

The 1901 was made in 10 ga only.

rc
 
I believe you're right there RC, any way it's been a long time since I've even seen one, and like I said the price was out of this world. I was aware of the black powder, as I do have an ample supply, and have loaded bp for my CAS days shotgun, rifle, and handgun.
 
Winchester 1897

I bought a '97 after watching the movie "The Wild Bunch". This is by far my favorite shotgun of 6, I own. It is a blast to shoot and friends always want to use it. Mine is a take down with an 18" barrel (bought it that way) made around 1931.:)
 
My 97 is about 25 years newer but was used in WWII and later became a guard gun( wish it still had the trench barrel.)

It uses 2 3/4shells and I can shoot 4 before the 1st hits the ground.

Be aware the hammer can be cocked by a tree/bush branch if woods/brush hunting.
Debris can also block the hammer if carrying hammer back.

Great buy on a fine old shotgun that is definitely a piece of American history......the Germans tried to get them declared "Against the rules of war" as the 97 was very potent in trench warfare.
 
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Content, not too many trees out here in the desert, but thanks anyway. I took it out early Saturday morning and patterned it. I don't believe I'll be using it out here for shooting quail as it shoots a really tight pattern with it's full choke. They must have really made them extra tight back then. I used 7/8oz. as well as 1oz. and they both patterned right in the center at 30 yards with about 65-70%, reckon that's why I use a .410 and a 20ga. for quail.

I noticed right after I got it and took it out and shot some (10 rounds) of trap using my Trius One Step, that the vast majority of targets I hit were really smoked, and it didn't seem to make much difference on how far I let them go out either.

I still might be able to use it for Chukar later in the season when they start flushing way out there. My Lab is getting a bit old so I think he might be getting a bit senile in his flushing ability, not quite as quiet as he usesd to be.:D
 
loose noose: Your 97 should make a great Chukar shotgun. I have never been where they hunted them. But I use mine alot for Pheasents and Parrie Chickens, with that long full chock barrel, I usually can take all the time that I need, even if the birds are flushing wide late in the season. I have used my 97 for just about everything and it performs extremly well on every thing, I have used it on. I am a snap shooter with a shot gun , so I have to watch it for some times my Old 97 just gives me to much time, to think about things, and I will make the shot to comlacated and I will miss. Just because I have to much time and I am mentally making to much out of a fairly easy shot. I am really happy for You, that You got your old 97.
ken
 
Those tight full chokes made a lot of sense back in the day when shotgun shells were loaded with fiber & card wads with roll crimps.
Lots of stuff in the shot column to scatter the pattern.

Not so much now with plastic shot cup wads, harder shot, star crimps, and maybe even shot buffer.

rc
 
Wish we could get a large enough Quail population to start hunting them.(hunt on private 60 acres)
Only 2 smallish coveys so far and the predators are keeping them in check.

That is very good shooting with a full choke on your part, experience is everything!

I like the finished product very much. Looks as good as many I've seen much newer
, well done.
 
Never thought of that RC, but you've got a good point, as always. I'm truly getting an education here in my old age. :D

Incidentally Content, the secret to keeping a good population of quail, out here is keeping the coyotes in check. I used to hunt quail with a Savage model 24, the .222/20ga version. Naturally I used the 20ga for quail, and the .222 for coyotes. Seemed to work really good, not to mention just hunting them on the side, as we used to get any where from $10.00 to $30.00 for a good pelt. One thing I don't have any control over is the Road Runners, they definitely take a toll on the young quail, and they are protected. Believe me they are a vicious bird if ever I saw one. BTW thanks for the compliment on my "97.:)
 
Our quail started declining here in eastern Kansas when the state introduced wild turkeys.
There are practically none now, where there used to be several coveys in every hedge row, on every farm.

The state says the turkey's have nothing to do with the decline.

But ever see a flock of turkeys line up and march across a field eating everything that gets in front of them?

Baby quail & eggs in nests wouldn't stand a chance!

I'm not convinced coyotes even make a tiny impact on them.
We had coyotes everywhere back on the farm 50 years ago.
And more quail then you could shake a stick at every year.

Hunting quail & coyotes was about all I got done growing up.

The quail are gone now, and the Turkeys have replaced them!

rc
 
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If you want a top notch restoration, I recommend Simmons in Olathe, KS. They specialize in Winchester '97's and 12's. They brought my M12 back to life. They are however neither fast nor cheap.


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Sorry to hear that RC, too bad the illustrious fish and game with their highly educated guesses, would stay out of the conservation game. There would be a lot more game in this country for sure. If this wasn't a gun forum I'd tell ya what they did here on the Colorado River a few years ago.

jfurlong, I do believe I did a top notch job on that 1897, as well as on a model 12 I did about a year ago, but thanks for the advice.
 
Thanks for the tips.

We just started seeing Coyote sign last year and usually try to lure them in after it is too dark to hunt deer. No success yet but we are all beginners!

We are "blessed" with several flocks of Turkey. Roughly three groups of 25-30.
Get my limit every year. They are amazing to watch crossing the creek.
Scouts, flankers then the rest cross, very organized.

The land owners wife does not let us hunt Coons and they may be eating the Quail eggs and young too.

I like to carry the Savage in .30-30/20ga on walks after deer season to thin the Crow population and hopefully bag a Coyote.

Good luck with the 97, hope it serves you well.
 
Loose Noose, my comment was not intended to disparage your work, and i apologize if it was taken as such. I was simply passing on my satisfaction with a restorer whose work exceeded my skill and expectation. Congrats on the '97.
 
IIRC, the original finish on those guns was rust blue, which is an easy (but a bit tedious) finish to apply. Done right, it gives a very nice appearance to an older gun.

Jim
 
Jim K, I'm not entirely certain but I believe that is what he did, a rust blue. I'll find out for certain Tuesday when I have to go back and see him, on a different project altogether.
 
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