Winchester Pump Action Model 1897 16 Bore/gauge Pump Action

This is a decent Winchester Model 1897 in 16 gauge full choke.

Designed by the famous American firearms inventor John Moses Browning and introduced in November 1897 it has been used by hunters, police and the military since its introduction. In World War One it was used with a shortened barrel as a trench gun and has the distinction that the German government made diplomatic overtures to the US government to abandon it as an "inhumane" weapon as it caused unnecessary suffering! Part of the German argument was that it could be "slam fired" so if you kept the trigger depressed it would shoot as fast as you could cycle it. Pot calling the kettle black if you ask me!

This shotgun has not been restricted so is a Section One firearm but can be restricted to be purchased on a shotgun license.

All 16 Gauge Winchester 1897's were made as a take down version but the number manufactured were only a fraction of the number produced in 12 Gauge. This particular gun is tight, cycles fine and is well in proof and has much original colour. The factory stamping is clear and bright. The take down functions flawlessly with no erosion to the interrupted threads so it assembles and disassembles easily. This particular gun has a 24" barrel with full choke. The serial number dates the gun to being manufactured in 1910 so it is 105 years old! I have a customer who successfully shoots this model at game but it would equally suit a Western Shooter or of course a Winchester collector.

This is quite a scarce shotgun in the UK. Eventually the 1897 was superceded by the Model 12 with an internal hammer and I was told by an old timer whose father was a Winchester sales representative in the early 1900's that this was because Winchester were getting sued by people not mounting the gun properly and pinching their hand on the action what it was pulled back. This is the reason why so many Winchester 1897's have the butt plate cut off and a thick rubber replacement pad added to increase the length of pull. To find untouched 1897's is getting more difficult as un-butchered examples are avidly collected. A scarce gun.