winchester model 1897 (pump-action shotgun)

7/27/2019 Winchester Model 1897 (Pump-Action Shotgun)

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Winchester Model 1897 1

Winchester Model 1897

Winchester Model 1897 shotgun

Winchester Model 1897 shotgun

Type Shotgun

Place of origin United States

Service history

Used by United States Army, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps,

Wars Philippine-American War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War

Production historyDesigner John Browning

Manufacturer Winchester Repeating Arms Company

Produced 18971957

Number built 1,024,700

Variants See text

Specifications

Weight 8 lb (3.6 kg)

Length 391

4in (1,000 mm)

Barrel length 20 in (510 mm)

Caliber 12-gauge

Action Pump-action

Effective range 22 yards (20 meters)

Feed system 5-round tubular magazine

The Winchester Model 1897, also known as the Model 97, M97, or Trench Gun, was a pump-action shotgun with

an external hammer and tube magazine manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The Model

1897 was an evolution of the Winchester Model 1893 designed by John Browning. From 1897 until 1957, over onemillion of these shotguns were produced. The Model 1897 was offered in numerous barrel lengths and grades,

chambered in 12 and 16 gauge, and as a solid frame or takedown. The 16-gauge guns had a standard barrel length of

28 inches, while 12-gauge guns were furnished with 30-inch length barrels. Special length barrels could be ordered

in lengths as short as 20 inches, and as long as 36 inches. Since the time the Model 1897 was first manufactured it

has been used by American soldiers,[1]

police departments,[2]

and hunters.[2]
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History

The Winchester Model 1897 was designed by the famous American firearms inventor John Moses Browning. The

Model 1897 was first listed for sale in the November 1897 Winchester catalog as a 12 gauge solid frame. However,

the 12 gauge takedown was added in October 1898, and the 16 gauge takedown in February 1900.[3]

Originally

produced as a tougher, stronger and more improved version of the Winchester 1893, itself a takeoff on the early

Spencer pump gun, the 1897 was identical to its forerunner, except that the receiver was thicker and allowed for useof smokeless powder shells, which were not common at the time. The 1897 introduced a "take down" design, where

the barrel could be taken off; a standard in pump shotguns made today, like the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500

series. Over time, the model 97 became the most popular shotgun on the American market and established a

standard of performance by which other kinds and makes of shotguns were judged, including the most expensive

imported articles.[2]

The Winchester Model 1897 was in production from 1897 until 1957. It was in this time frame

that the "modern" hammerless designs became common, like the Winchester Model 1912 and the Remington 870

and the Model 1897 was superseded by the Winchester Model 1912.[4]

However, the gun can still be found today in

regular use.

Improvements From the 1893

In the new Model 1897, many of the weaknesses that were present in the Model 93 were taken into account and

remedied.[3]

These improvements included:

The frame was strengthened and made longer to handle a 12 gauge 2-inch shell, as well as the 2-inch shell.[3]

The frame at the top was covered so that the ejection of the fired shell was entirely from the side.[3]

This added a

great amount of strength to the frame of the gun and it allowed the use of a 2 inch shell without the danger of

the gun constantly jamming.[5]

The gun could not be opened until a slight forward movement of the slide handle released the action slide lock. In

firing, the recoil of the gun gave a slight forward motion to the slide handle and released the action slide lock

which enabled immediate opening of the gun. In the absence of any recoil, the slide handle had to be pushedforward manually in order to release the action slide lock.

[3]

A movable cartridge guide was placed on the right side of the carrier block to prevent the escape of the shell when

the gun was turned sideways in the act of loading.[3]

The stock was made longer and with less drop.[3]

Of the improvements, the slide lock is the one that really made the gun safer. This improved slide lock kept the gun

locked until actual firing occurred which prevented the gun from jamming in the case of a misfire. The slide lock

"stands in such a relation to the body of the firing pin as will prevent the firing pin reaching the primer until the pin

has moved forward a sufficient distance to insure locking of the breech bolt."[6]

This prevents the action sleeve "from

being retracted by the hand of the gunner until after firing, and hence rendering the fire arm more safe"[7]
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Primer_%28firearm%29https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Firing_pinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Firing_pinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Winchester_Model_1912https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Remington_870https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Winchester_Model_1912https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hammerlesshttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mossberg_500https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Remington_870https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Takedown_gunhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Moses_Browning


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Description

Open action on an 1897 portraying the long slide that projects from

the receiver.

The Winchester Model 1897 evolved from the

Winchester Model 1893. The Model 1897 and 1893

were both designed by John Browning. The Model

1897 is an external hammer shotgun lacking a trigger

disconnector giving it the ability to slam fire. This

means that the user can hold the trigger down while

pumping the shotgun and once the pump is returned to

the forward position the gun fires.[8]

The gun itself is

classified as a slide action pump shotgun. It was the

first truly successful pump-action shotgun produced.

Throughout the time period the Model 1897 was in

production, over a million of the type were produced in

various grades and barrel lengths. 16-gauge guns had a

standard barrel length of 28 inches, while 12-gauge

guns were furnished with 30-inch length barrels.

Special length barrels could be ordered in lengths as short as 20 inches, and as long as 36 inches. Along with various

grades and barrel lengths, the Model 1897 came in two different chamberings. One was the 12 gauge and the other

was the 16 gauge.[8]

The shells should be of the 2- inch or 2- inch model.[3]

Any shells larger are not

recommended. An average Model 1897 held 5 shotgun shells in the magazine tube. After including the one shell that

could be held in the chamber, the average Model 1897 held a total of 6 shotgun shells. However, this would vary

from grade to grade.[9]

When working the action of the Model 1897 the fore end is racked and a long slide comes out

of the receiver and ejects the spent shell while simultaneously cocking the external hammer. This is why the gun is

classified as a slide action pump shotgun.

The Chinese company Norinco has made an effort to reproduce this firearm. The Norinco 97 is an almost exact copy

of the Winchester 1897, produced in both Trench and Riot grades, yet lacking in the fit and finish of the originals.[1]

Model 1897 and the reproduced Norinco
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Model 1897 adapter that allowed the attachment of the M1917

bayonet

This model was ideal for close combat and was

efficient in trench warfare due to its 20 inch cylinder

bore barrel. Buckshot ammunition was issued with the

trench grade during the war. Each round of this

ammunition contained nine 00 (.33-caliber) buckshot

pellets. This gave considerable firepower to theindividual soldier by each round that was fired.

[2]This

shorter barrel and large amount of firepower is what

made this grade ideal for trench warfare. The Model

1897 was used by American troops for other purposes

in World War I other than a force multiplier. American

soldiers who were skilled at trap shooting were armed

with these guns and stationed where they could fire at

enemy hand grenades in midair.[2]

This would deflect

the grenades from falling into the American trenches

and therefore protect American soldiers.[2]

Unlike most modern pump-action shotguns, the Winchester Model 1897 (versions of which were type classified as

the Model 97 or M97 for short) fired each time the action closed with the trigger depressed (that is, it lacks a trigger

disconnector and is capable of slamfire). Coupled with its six-shot capacity made it effective for close combat, such

that troops referred to it as a "trench sweeper". The slamfire allowed troops to empty the whole magazine tube into

enemies with great speed. The spread of the buckshot allowed the weapon to hit many targets with minimal aiming.[citation needed]

The Model 1897 was so effective, and feared, that the German government protested (in vain) to have

it outlawed in combat.[16]

The Model 1897 was used in limited numbers during World War II by the United States

Army and Marine Corps, although it was largely superseded by the similarly militarized version of the hammerless

Model 1912 (still slamfire-capable).

Other military uses of the shotgun included "the execution of security/interior guard operations, rear area security

operations, guarding prisoners of war, raids, ambushes, military operations in urban terrain, and selected special

operations."[16]

World War I Protests

Although the Model 1897 was popular with American troops in World War I, the Germans soon began to protest its

use in combat. "On 19 September 1918, the German government issued a diplomatic protest against the American

use of shotguns, alleging that the shotgun was prohibited by the law of war."[16]

A part of the German protest read;

"It is especially forbidden to employ arms, projections, or materials calculated to cause unnecessary suffering".[2]

"This is the only known occasion in which the legality of actual combat use of the shotgun has been raised." [16]

However, the United States interpreted their use of the shotgun differently than Germany. The Judge Advocate

General of the Army, Secretary of State Robert Lansing carefully considered and reviewed the applicable law and

promptly rejected the German protest.[16]

France and Britain considered using shotguns as trench warfare weapons

during World War I. The shotgun in question was a double-barreled shotgun, which was not used because they were

unable to obtain high powered ammunition and that type of gun is slow to reload in close combat.[16]
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German Response

The rejection of their protest greatly upset the German forces, because they believed they were treated unjustly in the

war. Shortly after the protest was rejected, Germany issued threats that they would punish all captured American

soldiers that were found to be armed with a shotgun.[2]

This led to the United States issuing a retaliation threat,

stating that any measures unjustly taken against captured American soldiers would lead to an equal act by the United

States on captured German soldiers.[17]

Other uses

After the war, a shorter-barrelled version of the Model 1897 was marketed by Winchester as a riot gun. Messengers

of The American Express Company were armed with this weapon as were various police departments throughout the

US.[2]

The differences between this riot version and the trench version were the riot version lacked the heat shield

and bayonet lug,[1]

and all trench guns were equipped with sling swivels, whereas most riot guns were not.[8]

References

[1][1] Davis (2006)[2][2] Williamson (1952) p. 158.

[3][3] Henshaw (1993) p. 49.

[4][4] Miller (2005) p. 694, Miller.

[5][5] Farrow (1904) p. 335

[6][6] Smith (1911) p. 5

[7][7] Smith (1911) p. 4

[8][8] Hager (2005)

[9][9] Farrow (1904) p. 337

[10][10] Wilson (2008) pp.214-219

[11][11] Miller (2006) p. 98

[12][12] Miller (2006) p. 99

[13][13] Wilson(2008). p.220

[14][14] Carmichel (1986) p. 78-79

[15][15] Lewis (2007) p. 162

[16][16] Parks (1997)

[17][17] Williamson (1952) p. 159.

Bibliography

Boorman, Dean K. (2001).History of Winchester Firearms. The Lyons Press. ISBN 978-1-58574-307-0.

Carmichel, Jim (1986). Guns and Shooting, 1986. Times Mirror Magazines, Incorporated, Book Division.

pp. 7879. ISBN 978-0-943822-58-7.

Lewis, Jack; Robert K. Campbell and David Steele (2007). The Gun Digest Book of Assault Weapons (http://

books.google.com/books?id=P75lJjon9yoC&pg=PA162&dq=requirements+for+a+combat+shotgun&

cd=3#v=onepage&q&f=false) (7th ed.). Krause Publications. p. 162. Retrieved 2010-04-20.

Miller, David (2006). The History of Browning Firearms (http://books.google.com/

books?id=Th_O1NSZWVoC&pg=PA98&dq=the+history+of+the+winchester+model+1897&cd=2#). First

Lyons Press Edition. pp. 9899. Retrieved 2010-04-19.

Miller, David (2005). The Illustrated Directory of Guns. Collin Gower Enterprises Ltd. p. 694.

ISBN 0-681-06685-7.

Davis, Phil (2006-08-07). "Sangamon County Rifle Association Winchester Model 1897" (http://

sangamoncorifleassociation.org/phildavis/Winchestermodel1897.html). Retrieved 2010-01-23.

Farrow, Edward S. (1904).American Small Arms (http://books.google.com/books?id=8NKEAAAAIAAJ&

pg=PA315&dq=describtion+of+the+winchester+model+1897&cd=2#v=onepage&q&f=false). New York:

The Bradford Company. pp. 335337. Retrieved 2010-04-20.
http://books.google.com/books?id=8NKEAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA315&dq=describtion+of+the+winchester+model+1897&cd=2#v=onepage&q&f=falsehttp://books.google.com/books?id=8NKEAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA315&dq=describtion+of+the+winchester+model+1897&cd=2#v=onepage&q&f=falsehttp://sangamoncorifleassociation.org/phildavis/Winchestermodel1897.htmlhttp://sangamoncorifleassociation.org/phildavis/Winchestermodel1897.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:BookSources/0-681-06685-7https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=International_Standard_Book_Numberhttp://books.google.com/books?id=Th_O1NSZWVoC&pg=PA98&dq=the+history+of+the+winchester+model+1897&cd=2#http://books.google.com/books?id=Th_O1NSZWVoC&pg=PA98&dq=the+history+of+the+winchester+model+1897&cd=2#http://books.google.com/books?id=P75lJjon9yoC&pg=PA162&dq=requirements+for+a+combat+shotgun&cd=3#v=onepage&q&f=falsehttp://books.google.com/books?id=P75lJjon9yoC&pg=PA162&dq=requirements+for+a+combat+shotgun&cd=3#v=onepage&q&f=falsehttp://books.google.com/books?id=P75lJjon9yoC&pg=PA162&dq=requirements+for+a+combat+shotgun&cd=3#v=onepage&q&f=falsehttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jack_Lewis_%28screenwriter%29https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:BookSources/978-0-943822-58-7https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=International_Standard_Book_Numberhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:BookSources/978-1-58574-307-0https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=International_Standard_Book_Numberhttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=American_Express


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Hager, Michael C. (2005-01-25). "The Winchester Collector A Timeline History of Winchester" (http://www.

winchestercollector.org/guns/w-history.shtml). Retrieved 2010-01-20.

Hager, Michael C. (2005-01-09). "The Winchester Collector Model 1897 Shotguns" (http://www.

winchestercollector.org/guns/1897shot.shtml). Retrieved 2010-01-23.

Henshaw, Thomas. The History of Winchester Firearms (6th ed.). Winchester Press, 1993. pp. 4850.

Parks, W. Hays (1997). "October 1997 The Army Lawyer" (http://lawofwar.org/Parks_Combat_Shotguns.

htm). Retrieved 2010-04-10.

Smith, Morris F. (1911-12-14). "United States Patent Office" (http://www.google.com/

patents?id=bFg_AAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&source=gbs_overview_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&

f=false). PIBEABM Patent Search. pp. 45. Retrieved 2010-03-20.

Williamson, Harold F. (1952). Winchester(1st ed.). Washington DC: Combat Forces. pp. 158159.

Wilson, R. L. (2008). Winchester: An American Legend. New York: Book Sales, Inc. pp. 214220.

ISBN 978-0-7858-1893-9.

External links

Olive-Drab: Winchester Model 97 Shotgun (http://www.olive-drab.com/od_other_firearms_shotgun_m97.

php)
http://www.olive-drab.com/od_other_firearms_shotgun_m97.phphttp://www.olive-drab.com/od_other_firearms_shotgun_m97.phphttps://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:BookSources/978-0-7858-1893-9https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=International_Standard_Book_Numberhttp://www.google.com/patents?id=bFg_AAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&source=gbs_overview_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=falsehttp://www.google.com/patents?id=bFg_AAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&source=gbs_overview_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=falsehttp://www.google.com/patents?id=bFg_AAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&source=gbs_overview_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=falsehttp://lawofwar.org/Parks_Combat_Shotguns.htmhttp://lawofwar.org/Parks_Combat_Shotguns.htmhttp://www.winchestercollector.org/guns/1897shot.shtmlhttp://www.winchestercollector.org/guns/1897shot.shtmlhttp://www.winchestercollector.org/guns/w-history.shtmlhttp://www.winchestercollector.org/guns/w-history.shtml


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Article Sources and ContributorsWinchester Model 1897 Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=558462033 Contributors: 1337Intellect, A Werewolf, Agamemnon2, Ahoerstemeier, Allens, Alucard365,

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Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsFile:Winchester 1897.jpg Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Winchester_1897.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Original uploader was Asams10 at en.wikipedia

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