Norinco 1897 Trench Gun... whatcha think?

I want one too, they just look cool. But sorry never owned or fired one.

I have one. Its not exactly a Remington 870 but it is a workable and cool shotgun. Mine has a solid buttpad and recoil is a a little rough but it functions smoothly. They do slamfire so its addictive to hold the trigger down and pump the handle as fast as you can. They have pretty nice wood and they look really cool. If I was getting a shotgun purely for defensive purposes I would probably get a Rem 870 or a Mossberg but if you just want a cool shotgun the Norinco is a good buy. It will do double duty for defense but the modern shotguns are slightly better.

I got one several years ago at a gun show in Denton, TX. Works great -- not as smooth as an old '97 (naturally). It's also heavier than you'd expect -- the barrel is thicker than the originals, and the heat shield adds quite a bit of weight. Makes it able to absorb recoil better, but, yeah, it'll leave you with no doubts as to whether the shell went off or not!

Ditto on the coolness of the "slam fire" capability.

Norinco! You're kidding, right!?! LOLOL...

there in lies the problem...

there in lies the problem...

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Care to elaborate? Norinco is known for making good copies of a lot of pistols, rifles and shotguns.

I've never had any trouble with mine. I've used it for years in SASS and it's worked fine. SASS #9662



The 1897 in the photo has the bayonet adapter added for Wild Bunch Competition. It has to be removed for SASS competition.

My Norinco Model 37 clone is actually a decent shottie...and makes for a very good HD firearm.

I too have noticed some disdain for some Norinco stuff...considering how durable my shotgun was built, I don't think I would have any doubts about getting another model of their manufacture. I know you won't see one sitting on someone's shoulder in a trap and skeet club...but hey, I don't belong to a trap and skeet club.

Care to elaborate?

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Just more of the centuries old "Yellow Scare." The xenophobes and folks that don't understand global economies and international relations are best ignored.

I've eyed them for a long time. The one I handled had an action that was very far from anything I would call smooth. I'd imagine that could be remedied fairly easily.

One sees a fair number of the 1897 clones in cowboy action shooting where they seem to do well.

I love my Norinco, purely for the cool (slam firing ) factor.

My Norinco (IAC) is the 1897 Riot model that lacks both the heat shield and bayonet lug but is otherwise the same shotgun.
This shotgun is indeed on the heavy side since it uses no aluminum alloys or polymer in its construction (no surprise as its essentially a clone of the original).

Mine has functioned perfectly from the get-go, though the action is a bit stiff. Though this doesn't affect the function, it does require a bit more attention when pumping (which contributes to a louder "cha-chunk!", a good or bad thing depending on your preference).

I'm not certain what kind of choke this shotgun uses, but perhaps modified or improved cylinder from what I've read. It will product fist size groups at hallway distances with #4 buck, so it's what I use. Overall, I'm quite happy with this shotgun. However, if I were wanting something strictly for defense and had no interest in any historical value, I'd eye something a bit more modern, perhaps a Mossberg 930 SPX (which is next on my list).

Bottom line, Norinco makes decent shotguns, just as they did with the SKS, AK and 1911 clones.

One is next one my firearms wish list

there in lies the problem...

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Says the guy wearing Chinese clothing, Korean shoes, watching a Japanese TV, promotes ITALIAN shotguns (lets not forget what side of the war they were on), and drives a car made in Mexico or Canada or probably Japan. I wonder what american company makes Glocks? (Hmmmm) I don't give any credence to that nonsense. The fact is the Norinco weapons are and have always been decent quality copies of the originals they were patterned after. As it is the Winchester originals are out of the price range for most of us and the Norinco 97 is a quality copy of it. If an American company made a decent copy of it I would have bought that one but there isn't that option. I own weapons made in the US, China, Russia, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Germany. I buy good weapons because I like them and they work. The Norincos are used quite a bit in CAS and they work. Its a fun weapon to own and shoot.

There are about four generations of the Norinco shotgun. Gunsmiths refused to work on them when SASS shooters bought the first gen guns. They have improved considerably. The first gen Noricos had wood that looked like poplar.
I have a M97/93. Shoots great. Rough action and stiff. They all take some polishing and deburring to get really right. Straightening the mainspring will reduce cycling effort quite a bit.
The fourth gen is a very good gun. Same for the 1887s lever guns.

Jon, you can pick up original M97s for $375.00 to $600.00 around here. Since I cut back in SASS competition I have sold four. Average price around $450.00.

I have a 1st Gen, serial in the 400's, and it was a dog, basically unusable off the rack. So I'd say don't go looking for one of those, but they've come a long way. Current guns are supposed to be much better.

About a year or two ago, eight of us went together and made a deal with a gun store that we would each buy one of these shotguns and we received a very good price. None of us has had a bit of trouble with any of the guns. They did tend to break in and smooth up with use. I think it is unfair to label them the rather nasty label that has been thrown around. My opinion is that it is nicer than I thought it would be. Jim

Just added one to my "ignore list". Some "people" have nothing to add to the conversation. Ironic that his signature sums it up pretty well.


Red Cent. I stumbled on a Norinco 97 Trench at a local pawn shop. It was LNIB for $225.00. I've only shot it a couple times but its smoother than I expected and it shoots great.