Anyone still shoot an 1897?

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Olon said:
I do have its descendent, the Model 12 though
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They are fine guns in their own right. I have a M12 field grade 16 gauge that was built in 1940. A finer squirrel hunting shotgun was never made, IMO. Sadly, mine has had a red Ruger butt-pad cobbled on. One day I'd like to have it replaced with a Silvers or something that would at least be closer to correct.

Mac
 
I’m on my second ‘97. I bought the first for use in cowboy action shooting matches. Eventually my wife joined me; I bought an aftermarket stock and cut it to fit her. That gun developed headspace issues so I sold it for parts and bought another to replace it.

I also use the ‘97 for Wild Bunch Action Shooting. The rules were changed to make the Model 12 a legal shotgun; I got a good Model 12 but I feel more confident shooting the ‘97.
 
Picked up this 12 gauge at a garage sale for $300 last summer.
Used it twice in a cowboy action shoot.

Thinking about cutting the barrel but may see if I can find a cut one to even trade for. Winchester 1897.JPG
 
drobs said:
Picked up this 12 gauge at a garage sale for $300 last summer.
Used it twice in a cowboy action shoot.

Thinking about cutting the barrel but may see if I can find a cut one to even trade for. View attachment 940293
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Please don't cut it! There is a gunsmith (I forget his name now) that will trade barrels with you, or better still, fit a second cut-down barrel to your gun. Original length 97's are getting somewhat hard to come by these days. I saved mine from a guy who was wanting to cut it off for HD by trading him an 870 Police I had. I feel like I got the better end of the bargain and saved a piece of history in doing so.

Mac
 
Officers'Wife said:
Not pretty???

Can you not see the classic lines? The fit of the stock to the receiver? Are you unable to hold it in your arms and not feel the hundreds if not thousands of rounds that have gone through it? Not to mention all the chores it has completed successfully?

The person that can say it is not pretty… Is either blind, completely void of imagination or a man.
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In the eye of the beholder, all are pretty some are prettier.

OP The stock seems in excellent finish, well cared for or refinished............
 
whughett said:
OP The stock seems in excellent finish, well cared for or refinished..........
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That's probably because its at the right angle in the photo! The PO had varnished it. Its now flaking off, ,mostly around the wrist and forend. There's also a nice crack in the wrist, that's been in need of gluing and pinning for a while. Long story short, the old gals had a rough life. But she still gets the job done.

Mac
 
I have three of em and have shot one. Two 12g's from my dads side, and a 16g takedown I bought with an 1873 in 32-20 for a good deal. The two 12s are pretty rough, and I think one is inoperable at the moment. One might be a takedown. The 16 shoots perfectly, though I dont shoot it much.

The design lines are the classic lines for a shotgun in my opinion. Just watch that action when you slide the pump back!
 
John Joseph said:
I sold mine awhile back and I wish I hadn't.:(
The only drawback I see is the lack of available parts.
Something breaks and there's a good chance you've got a wall hanger
1897's are too good for that!:fire:
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Many of the 1897 parts can be substituted with Winchester Model 10 parts.
 
I think they are cool as the are a JMB design. I don’t own one however.

Does anybody else find the fit of old shotguns a bit odd? I know the average American is shaped a bit differently now but seems like they have a ton of drop.
 
The Rattler said:
Winchester Model 10 parts.
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Did you perhaps mean Model 12? Even so, I can't see too many things interchanging between the two. I could be wrong, however.

HB said:
seems like they have a ton of drop.
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Well, sorta. The old guns were shot differently than we're used to. Modern sportsman tend to lay their cheek on the comb of the stock when aiming. In the Golden Days however, you shot with your head "up". Hence, the steep drop in old gunstocks. I'm one of the hangers-on that still shoots a shotgun with his head up and both eyes open. Three of us shot 150 targets yesterday, and I managed to eke out a 47/50 (the high score) shooting this same old 1897, the way I described. Seems to work for me, anyway.

Mac
 
I can't think of any parts that interchange between the Model 97 and the Model 12 either. I looked at the Numrich schematics and couldn't find any mutual parts.
You almost have to shoot the Model 97 that way, the Model 12 not as much.
 
My grandpa's 1897. The one he used to use to threaten my aunts' boyfriends and stuff. My dad and I used to use it for cowboy action. Needed a little work awhile back, but overall still running fine. Has been in the safe for the last few years. Going to be passing it on to my cousin soon.

IMG_0726.jpg
 
Finally found my pic. 3 '97s and two '12s. From the top, 16ga, 3 12ga, and 20ga on the bottom

index.php
 
Thank you. Thats the only 97 ive shot, and it shoots as nice as it looks. I got it and a 32-20 1873 (1883 mfg) with special order 30" full octagon barrel in a package for a good price a while back because a friend was upset with his adult son about something and didnt want to give em to him. We said if he ever wanted em back we would do the same deal back. Both of em shoot very nicely. I need to get some low power 16s for it. I dont have a 16ga reloader, but I was contemplating researching using the full brass hulls and some black powder. I think that would be the cat's meow!
 
I backed into a '97 in the '70s. The local small town police department was changing out their shotguns and I was offered a 12ga '97 riot gun for free. It was in pretty sad shape, but a local gunsmith reblued and resurrected it for me. Since then I have picked up one with a shortened 19 1/2" barrel and one with the original l-o-n-g barrel. All nice, but heavy as already noted.

One problem with the '97s was with a tendency to crack at the wrists.
 
MacAR said:
@BigBlue 94 that 16 gauge '97 is nice. I'm envious of it! Heck, they're all nice!

Mac
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I talked with my pops, and he said the bottom '97 was the 16ga and the top one was his grandpas'. Doc, as I "know" him, was sheriff and vet of a small town in central KS. He bought it used in 1902. The other '97, second from the top was my grandpa's, who died in 1985, three years before i was born. The 12ga model 12 is my dads, and the 20ga was bought by my grandpa on my moms side. Got my whole lineage right there, in wood and steel.

I really want to restore the two 12ga '97s to working condition at some point. Well, not restore, but repair. The finish, or lack thereof, is not getting touched. Other than a light wiping of oil of course.
 
BigBlue 94 said:
I got it and a 32-20 1873 (1883 mfg) with special order 30" full octagon barrel in a package for a good price a while back
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Now I'm double jealous! I love the 32-20, such a wonderful cartridge but practically in obtainable here.

MI2600 said:
One problem with the '97s was with a tendency to crack at the wrists.
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Yep, mine has a neat crack in the wrist. Most I've seen do, unless they're safe queens. I've been meaning to fix it, but part of me wants to refinish the metal and restock it with a straight grip stock and checkered fore end. Probably won't happen.

Mac
 
MacAR said:
Now I'm double jealous! I love the 32-20, such a wonderful cartridge but practically in obtainable here.



Yep, mine has a neat crack in the wrist. Most I've seen do, unless they're safe queens. I've been meaning to fix it, but part of me wants to refinish the metal and restock it with a straight grip stock and checkered fore end. Probably won't happen.

Mac
Click to expand...

The 32-20 is a perfect little round. Big enough for whitetails and small enough for rabbit. A couple years later i purchased a Colt New Navy in 32-20 to compliment it. I got it for about half the low book value through Cabelas of all places, because the lockwork is loose. Some day ill go about trying to fix it. And ammo can be had through midway pretty consistently.

Im a youngin at 32, but I sure do enjoy the old cartridge firearms the most. Levers and wheels get my blood pumping. Being in cowboy country doesnt help that im sure haha!

Edit: I see you are about as far from midway as i am. I love that part of the country too.
 
I have my grandfathers 16ga '97, dated 1910. He used it to kill geese on the shore of Lake Geneva, WI during the depression. It was meat on the table.
I've shot skeet and pheasant with it. Pheasant are better eating.
Used the '97 in my years as a member of SASS.
Winchester 1897 7.jpg
 
I have a primary and backup for shooting Wild Bunch Competitions.

It sure is fun to stoke the tube and run the 97 at speed on knock down targets!
 
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