Winchester Model 1897 WW2 Trench Gun 12 Ga 21” Pump Action Shotgun MFD 1942
SOLD FOR: $6,975.00
Make: Winchester Repeating Arms Co.
Model: 1897, Trench Gun
Serial Number: E 947362
Year of Manufacture: 1942
Caliber: 12 Gauge
Action Type: Pump Action Magazine Fed Shotgun
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked, “MODEL 97-WINCHESTER-12GA. / —TRADE MARK— / 2 ¾ CHAM / CYL.” The right side of the barrel is marked “MADE IN U.S.A. WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO.” and patents. The left side of the receiver is marked U.S.” and with the “flaming bomb” symbol of the Ordnance Corps. The stock is stamped “GHD” in a rectangle and with the ordnance corps cartouche. The buttplate is marked with “Winchester Repeating Arms Co”.
Barrel Length: 20″ Nominal, 20 3/4″ Measured
Choke: Cylinder Bore, Fixed
Sights / Optics: There is a silver-colored bead mounted to the bayonet lug assembly, the barrel is not drilled for a bead. The top of the receiver has a shallow groove for a sighting plane.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece walnut with 18-groove slide handle, semi-pistol grip, straight comb and checkered black hard rubber Winchester buttplate. The left of the stock has a boxed “GHD” and crossed cannon Ordnance cartouches. There is a sling plate mounted in the belly (the forward swivel is mounted to the bayonet lug assembly). The stocks have scattered nicks, scuffs and scratches. The LOP measures 13 ½ ” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. Overall, the stocks are in Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blue
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright. There is no erosion visible in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 10 out of 10.
Overall Condition: The shotgun retains about 95% of its original metal finish. There is a dime-sized loss from corrosion on the left side of the receiver, thinning at the front of the barrel, and patina forming along the length of the barrel shroud. There has been some cold-blue used to touch up the barrel shroud. The barrel also shows light handling marks with a small scrape mark through the finish on the right side of the bayonet lug. The magazine tube shows operational wear and thinning at the rear where it rubs on the slide, and a small spot of wear at its front underside from rubbing on the sling swivel. The receiver shows finish wear on its edges with thinning on its barrel extension, its sides at the front, its underside and trigger guard. There are light handling marks in the receiver with light corrosion pitting near the forward left edge. The screw heads range from sharp to moderately tool marked with usable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun rates in Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. This shotgun will slam-fire as designed. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: This is a Winchester Model 97 Trench Gun made for the U.S. Military in 1942 during WWII. It has the correct serial number, proof marks, handguard and stock cartouches for a trench gun made then.
When the United States entered World War One, officers experienced in the Philippine Conflict knew the utility of the shotgun for close range trench warfare. The Army asked Winchester for a Model 1897 that would “slam-fire”, or shoot repeatedly as one held the trigger and cycled the pump action. This necessitated the use of a heat shield on the barrel if one wanted to use the bayonet after he had rapid-fired the 6-round magazine. And the “trench gun” was born.
This particular version of the trench gun is a very collectible World War II variant, easily recognizable with its four-row heat shield (the earlier WWI models had six rows). Other features of the WWII variant are that it is a takedown model and has thicker wrists and shorter combs than the earlier WWI models. It has the “GHD” inspection stamp of Col. Guy H. Drewry, who inspected Winchester guns bound for the military between 1942 and 1945. It also has the Ordnance Corps cartouche on the left side of the stock where one would expect it.
In his book The World’s Fighting Shotguns, Thomas Swearingen wrote:
The United States Marine Corps was the largest and most serious user of shotguns as combat weapons. The (Marines) found shotguns to be ideal for use in the Pacific jungles. The only weapons superior to it in dealing with the Japanese banzai attack was the water-cooled machine gun. During patrols or attacks in the foliage, typical of Southwest Pacific islands, shotguns had no peer.
If guns could talk, this one quite likely would have an interesting tale to tell. -C.B.
