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Buck13 · June 6, 2012, 05:48 PM

I have an 1897 12 gauge full choke serial # 3838xx, which according to
http://oldguns.net/sn_php/winmods.htm
is 1908 vintage. It belonged to my great-uncle, probably since new. I've never seen it fired, and I'd be a little nervous to do so except with light loads (just based on its age).

The action seems to work OK, and the bore looks good. Almost no bluing left, but not horrible rust either (one of the advantages of living in the Mountain Time Zone: no humidity!) The stock and foreend are intact but a bit worn. There's a small spot of pale paint that overlaps the stock and back of the receiver.

The worst thing about its condition is that the mating of the receiver to the barrel/magazine assembly is not very tight: The barrel can move laterally a good 1/2" at the muzzle. I assume they were not like that when new, and this indicates a fair amount of wear? I've never handled another 1897.

Does this gun have any value? I have a couple of old family guns which are shooters, that I want to keep, but this is not one of them. What would you ask if you wanted it to sell fast? Would typical gun shops want to buy this for resale, or would that need an antique specialist?

June 6, 2012, 05:48 PM	#1
Buck13 Junior Member Join Date: May 15, 2012 Posts: 8	Valuing a Winchester 1897? I have an 1897 12 gauge full choke serial # 3838xx, which according to http://oldguns.net/sn_php/winmods.htm is 1908 vintage. It belonged to my great-uncle, probably since new. I've never seen it fired, and I'd be a little nervous to do so except with light loads (just based on its age). The action seems to work OK, and the bore looks good. Almost no bluing left, but not horrible rust either (one of the advantages of living in the Mountain Time Zone: no humidity!) The stock and foreend are intact but a bit worn. There's a small spot of pale paint that overlaps the stock and back of the receiver. The worst thing about its condition is that the mating of the receiver to the barrel/magazine assembly is not very tight: The barrel can move laterally a good 1/2" at the muzzle. I assume they were not like that when new, and this indicates a fair amount of wear? I've never handled another 1897. Does this gun have any value? I have a couple of old family guns which are shooters, that I want to keep, but this is not one of them. What would you ask if you wanted it to sell fast? Would typical gun shops want to buy this for resale, or would that need an antique specialist? Last edited by Buck13; June 6, 2012 at 06:00 PM.