Winchester 1897 ’97 E Series Trench Gun Style 12 GA Pump Shotgun 1918 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,025.00
LSB#: LSB260422RS007
Make: Winchester
Model: 1897, E Series (Trench Gun Style)
Serial Number: 691099
Year of Manufacture: 1918 / C&R
Caliber: 12 Gauge with 2 3/4” Chamber
Action Type: Pump Action Shotgun with Tubular Magazine, Exposed hammer
Markings: The action bar is marked “MODEL 1897 / -WINCHESTER- / TRADE MARK REG. IN. U.S. PAT.OFF.”. The bottom of the receiver is marked “E / 691099”. The left side of the barrel has a two line Winchester Address/Patent Dates as well as “12 GA. CYL”. The top of the barrel and receiver are both marked with Winchester WP proofs.
Barrel Length: 20 ¼”. Likely cut from a 26″ barrel.
Choke: Fixed, CYL
Sights / Optics: There is a bead mounted to the top of the vent-shield. There is no tapped hole under the heat shield.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two piece walnut with flat bottom semi-pistol grip, fluted straight comb, Pachmayr White Line vented rubber buttpad, 18-groove pump grip, sling ring installed in the belly of the buttstock, and heat shield with bayonet lug and sling ring. The LOP measures 14 1/2″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttpad. The stocks have been sanded and refinished. There is a crack on the right side of the handguard. There are compressions and scratches. Overall, the stocks are in Good condition as refinished.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright. There is no erosion. There are three small dents where the heat shield screws have pushed the metal upwards. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 7.5/10.
Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 90% of its current finish. The parkerization is heavy and uneven at the front of the barrel. There is some surface marring around the end of the magtube. The magtube has mostly worn to white and taken to a mottled patina. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads are sharp and unmarred with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun rates in Good condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly, and is smooth. This shotgun will slam-fire as designed. We did not fire this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 1897 is one of America’s classic exposed-hammer pump-action shotguns, known for its rugged construction, takedown design, and long use in sporting, law enforcement, and military-style configurations. This E Series example was manufactured in 1918 and has been configured in a trench-gun style with a 20 ¼” barrel, heat shield, bayonet lug, sling rings, exposed hammer, and cylinder bore. While it has the look and handling characteristics associated with Winchester trench gun patterns, the barrel appears to have likely been cut from a longer barrel and the shotgun has been refinished, making it best described as a trench-gun-style Model 1897 rather than a high-originality military trench gun.
This shotgun is in Good condition as refinished, retaining about 90% of its current parkerized finish with heavy and uneven parkerization at the front of the barrel, surface marring around the end of the magazine tube, and the magazine tube mostly worn to white with a mottled patina. The refinished walnut stocks show compression marks, scratches, and a crack on the right side of the handguard, rating in Good condition as refinished. The bore is bright with no erosion, though there are three small raised dents where the heat shield screws have pushed the barrel metal upward, rating 7.5/10 in this writer’s opinion. The action functions correctly and is smooth, and this shotgun will slam-fire as designed. We did not fire this shotgun, but it should appeal to collectors and shooters looking for a Winchester 1897 with trench-gun styling and classic exposed-hammer pump-action character. Please see our photos for a better understanding of the condition and good luck with your bids! – L.S.