FIREARMS INFORMATION

   These models were a open hammer, pump operated shotgun.  The forearm was made with circular grooves around it.  One nickname for this gun was the "cornshucker".

    The model 1893 was the predecessor to the 1897, with about 34,050 being made.  It originally used 2 1/2" black powder ammo, later lengthened to standard 2 5/8" in use at that time.   I know of a gun with an A series prefix in the 23,000 range, with a "B" stamped above the "A", which would indicate even a modification the the "A", so possibly this could have been the longer cartridge. ???

    It can be readily identified by a "thumb cut" on the top LH side of the receiver, somewhat  like the model 98 Mauser rifles.

    The model 1893 was Winchester's first pump shotgun, using a Browning patent.  This gun had limited sales because of mechanical weakness developed when shooting smokeless powder ammo.  At one time, Winchester offered a brand new shotgun of their choice when they returned their model 1893.

    There is not a lot known about this model.  However in my comparing 93 parts to 97 parts, the 93 breech bolt is about .093" longer than the 97.  The 93 firing pin was a non retracting type and of course longer to match the bolt.  It seems that when the 97 was made, using many of the 93 parts and configuration, that part of the way to achieve the 2 3/4" longer length of the 12 ga. ammo was to shorten the bolt face along with whatever it took to modify the receiver to accept this length of ammo.

    The Model 1897 was originally offered in solid frame until April of 1898 when the Take Down was introduced.

    Winchester manufactured just shy of one million Model 1897 shotguns, with the production taking place from July 1897 to September 1957.

A & B Series :

   In June 1897, the model 1897 was born & the following changes were made to the 1893.  Then the gun was called the Model 1897, with the serial numbers of the guns continuing from the 1893 at approximately 34,051.  Apparently the series A & B relate to the 1893.  Not sure if all "B" guns had rounded end magazine plugs.  All 1897 guns, if 12 gauge only utilized a 2 ¾ chamber.

(1)  New firing pin lock put in breech block.
(2)  Screw put in receiver to hold magazine from turning.
(3)  Release pin and plunger (for action slide lock)
(4)  Top of cartridge ejecting opening in frame made straight.
(5)  Spring placed on inside of action handle encircling magazine.
(6)  Collar put inside of magazine to keep spring and follower from coming out.
(7)  Top of breech block made straight.
(8)  Receiver holding bolt made shorter.
(9)  Buttstock made longer, drop changed, and outside shape changed slightly.
(10)Friction spring put in under cartridge guide.

C Series :

     In February 1898, after about 47,000 shotguns had been made, more changes were made in the Model 1897.   After that date the gun was marked with the letter "C" over the serial number.

(1)  A small wire was put into the receiver and connected to the action slide lock release pin, to hold it from coming
         out when the gun was taken apart.
(2)  Receiver made 1 1/2 (one and one half) hundredths ??? thicker on each side. This was thought best on account of the increased cuts on the inside.
(3)  Action slide lock spring was changed.
(4)  The first Model 1897's had no ejector spring. (The ejector was a little block pinned to the LH receiver wall.) 
        This spring is a small thin "L" shaped spring with a screw hole that is attached from the outside LH side of the
         receiver immediately in front of the "ejector".  

D Series :

   The end of the magazine plug was flat on "D" guns.

E Series :

   In April 1898, after about 50,000 shotguns had been made (Model 1893 & 1897) some more changes were made, and the model 1897 detachable barrel and magazine put on the market.  These were known as the "E" series guns.

"E" guns had slightly deeper 5/16 wide grooves on the receiver ring.

Prior to "E" guns, cartridge stops were fastened with screws through the receiver sides and shells were difficult to release from the magazine. For unloading, most shooters worked them through the action. On E models, the cartridge stops fastened through the bottom of the action and providing buttons which could be pushed to retract the cartridge stops.

These are not all the changes. Madis stated that 37 major and 52 minor changes were made in the first 12 years of production of the Model 1897.

The new 16 gauge with a 2 9/16” chamber was introduced in 1899,  Take Down only.

Other items that may be of some interest:

1. Standard shotgun stock was 13 3/4 inches.
2.  Frame altered  on 1897 to use 2 3/4" ammo.
3. Brush gun was made available November 1897 to 1931. It had shorter stock with more drop and 26 inch barrel.
4. Standard gun was made with rolled steel barrels, full choke standard. Cylinder or modified choke on special order.
5. Standard barrel length 30 or 32 inch. 30 inch shipped if not specified.
6. Trap Gun 12 and 16 gauge (1897 to 1931). The gun had 30 inch rolled steel barrel, select fancy walnut handmade
        stock. Straight checked grip with oil finish and black diamonds in the grip, and checked rubber butt plate.
       It was first listed at $47.
7.  Trap Gun was engraved on the breech block and could be had with matted barrel.
8.  Within certain limits, purchasers could specify stock dimensions.
9.  Solid frame and takedown trap guns were made. After 1926 Trap Gun was not always engraved on the breech
         block.
10. Receivers on Trap, Tournament, Pigeon, Standard Trap, and Special Trap guns had matted groove.

                      Winchester 1897 Shotgun  

       Manufacture Date / Serial Numbers

The following serial numbers were assigned at the end of the years shown below

     1897     32,335*                   1931   830,721

    1898     64,668*                   1932   833,926

    1899     96,999*                   1933   835,637

    1900   129,332*                   1934   837,364

    1901   161,665*                   1935   839,728

    1902   193,998*                   1936   848,684

    1903   226,331*                   1937   856,729

    1904   258,664                     1937   856,729

    1905   296,037                     1938   860,725

    1906   334,059                     1939   866,938

    1907   377,999                     1940   875,945

    1908   413,618                     1941   891,190

    1909   446,888                     1942   910,072

    1910   481,062                     1943   912,265

    1911   512,632                     1944   912,327

    1912   544,313                     1945   916,472

    1913   575,213                     1946   926,409

    1914   592,732                     1947   936,682

    1915   607,673                     1948   944,085

    1916   624,537                     1949   953,042*

    1917   646,124                     1950   961,999*

    1918   668,383                     1951   970,956*

    1919   691,943                     1952   979,913*

    1920   696,183                     1953   988,860

    1921   700,428                     1954   997,827*

    1922   715,902                     1955  1,006,784

    1923   732,060                     1956  1,015,741*

    1924   744,942                     1957  1,024,700*

    1925   757,629

    1926   770,527

    1927   783,574

    1928   796,806

    1929   807,321

    1930   812,729

* Estimates

The author does not have any source of parts for any of the firearms listed above

Copyright © 2004 - 2023  LeeRoy Wisner  All Rights Reserved

Back to the Main Ramblings Page

t's been my understanding that the letters were added after a design change - The 1893's started without a letter and had an 'A' added when the carrier/locking block designe was changed (and possibly more was changed), late in 1893 production a 'B' got added. The first 1897's are usually found with a 'C' but I have seen some that looked to never have had a letter. 1893 and 1897 serial number ran together and data I have seen on them suggests there was a mixing of the two over a range of several hundred numbers.