97 yr old 97'

[RBHarter]

Mom handed me a box and says "the rust is bad , I didn't know the 97' was still in the box ."

Like all things there's more to the story. Circa 1960-62' when 97' Winchesters were still cheap and everywhere my Dad picked one up , being a quite reliable arm , he felt it would be a good fowler for Mom and it fit her pretty well . Of course the full choke was lopped of at some point and a Poly Choke fitted . The Poly Choke is of course stuck as of now . The bluing wasn't great 40 yr ago but wasn't a collector then either . Just another working gun built in 1927.

Dad made the take down sized but very spacious box with brass fittings from the leftover birch plywood he built the cabinets from in our first house circa 1969-70' . 6 sides all mitered together with perfect fit top and bottom. A little free hand art and a couple of coats of Vari-Thane . Red flannel and upholstery foam rubber lined . I didn't get those skills .

Basically this stuff has been around as long as I can remember. It might have a little personal connection.

The rust wasn't more than 10% of the anticipated horror . No barrel pits , dabbing the moving parts in Kroil brought overnight gratification for those that wouldn't move 0000 steel wool and 3 in 1 fixed most of what remained. Lots of dark spots but no depth . Well none deeper than the adjacent beauty marks . The woods not much to look at just basic factory mostly straight walnut .

There's just nothing really remarkable about it other than being a 97 yr old serviceable 97' Winchester. Maybe it does have something. As I marvel at the old girl something looked off about the line . Sure enough I picked her about a minute ago and she has about 3/8-1/2" of cast off ....... Yep somewhere along the line the stock got either by age , accident or a deliberate act fitted for a lefty .

 

[Gary]

I just recently acquired a '97' in 16 gauge. Only got it because I remember my first Praire Chicken hunt when Dad rented one for me and my brother to use. Brought back a flood of memories; had to own one. Mine was birth'd in 1936 so not quite as old as yours.

 

[Bret4207]

One solid hunka shotgun! Haven't shot mine yet, it's a riot gun.

 

[smokeywolf]

Splendid example of a Model '97. My father was gifted with the artistic flair and woodworking knack also, and I also did not inherit those.
With the memories from the Winchester and the box, a truly wonderful gift.

 

[oscarflytyer]

Knew I would NEVER inherit a '97. Dad told me the one he fired, hammer split his thumb and he hated the things! I also remember that with all the I have and shoot! But I would like a 97 if I found one like yours at the right price. They are cool.

 

[fiver]

you mean 'cast on' if bent to the left.
the 'off' side is to the right.


that isn't in any worse shape than the 20 YO SXS Norinco I use grouse hunting all the time.
it has 2 full chokes and i don't bother thinking about it.

 

[300BLK]

that polychoke might free up if you soak it in Kroil, or older Hoppes, or maybe another solvent

 

[Rex]

I always liked the Poly Choke, don't have one anymore, just wish I did.

 

[david s]

I've had a dread of Winchester 97's ever since I shot a round of trap with an early on that had a razorblade comb that didn't agree with my cheek bone at all. After 25 light trap rounds, I admitted defeat and have avoided them since. One of mister Brownings neater designs but I'll let you have them all. When in my early teens a good friend received a Christmas shot gun, Savage or maybe Mossberg that had a Poly Choke you could have colored me green with envy. Not too much later the patent for screw in chokes must have expired as the Poly Chokes seemed to disappear overnight to be replaced by everyone using swapable choke system.

 

[Rushcreek]

The 97 looks like the farm implement that it is when pumped! Never a “pretty” gun but by golly they work!

 

[Rex]

My 97 was a gift from a family that I had helped a bit. By serial number it was made in 1912. It is a Black Diamond Trap that a previous owner had shortened the stock with his hand saw and at some point in history it had a Weaver choke device installed.
Not the greatest modifications but I still shoot a round of 16 yard trap about once a year with it. Lots of fun.

 

[RBHarter]

Fiver it is in fact pushed left to accommodate a lefty .

I need to get the M12s out . They span almost the full run .

 

[oscarflytyer]

or maybe cast for a cross-eye dominant shooter?

 

[fiver]

it'd have to have about 3"s of bend in it for that to work, and that much bend would have tried to straighten itself out by now.

 

[RBHarter]

It's just enough to see it if you're looking for it . 3/8 inch at the butt from the barrel center line .

 

[Petrol & Powder]

I would be thrilled to own the wooden box that 97 was stored in!

Nicely done.

 

[fiver]

that 3/8's is easily enough for a smaller statured person, especially if the length of pull is also correct.

 

[RBHarter]

Mom was 5'7" and 120# then . She's more suited to the youth 870 20 ga now . I was the only cross dominant lefty .

 

[RBHarter]

P&P it's just a plywood box made by a 1 eyed plumber and pipe fitter.
An antique now and of personal value similar to the bedside table built by a 3-4 great circa 1830 .

 

[CZ93X62]

I have only fired one Model 97 Winchester--a 16 gauge with full choke, 25 shots on a round of trap at age 16 just before dove season in late August. I was doing a lot of shotgunning in high school, and I hit well with it--shot a 22 or 23 if memory serves.

The 97 belonged to my neighbor and hunting buddy. It was a significant event--the first time Mike and I had used my newly-acquired '53 Ford pickup to go shooting, fishing, or hunting with--instead of his '58 Alfa-Romeo 2-seater. With Duchess (his black Lab) on board, the Alfa was a crowded proposition for a ride to Thermal for the dove opener; the F-100 was far better.