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Military Firearm Restoration Corner

Model 97 Winchester


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I have a Model 97 Winchester 12 gauge in the shop for a consignment sale. The gun is mechanically sound, and the wood seems OK, but somewhere along the line it was used as a prison gun, and the handguard or barrel shroud was removed. What kind of money would a gun like that be worth to the cowboy action folks?

 

Bill Jacobs

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Clemson hard to even speculate. Its lost its desirability as a collector's item missing parts. Might get some attention from a collector if it has and stampings, tags or anything to link it to the prison. As a shooter for the CAS crowd you will have to compete against the Chinese clones. I had a Chinese 97 Trench gun. I paid a little under 300 ten or so years ago. It was a good solid gun and the action really smoothed out with use. I sold it along with a repro US 1917 bayonet for 550 about a year ago to help fund an AR-10 purchase.

 

My guess your 97 due to its age the action is slick and smooth and would appeal to a shooter. I think most CAS shooters would rather have a US made gun and would probably be willing to pay a few more bucks than a clone. It would probably be easier to sell to a shooter if you replaced the missing parts. Numrich did and hopefully still have a good supply of parts for the 1897 Winnie.

 

I've found the best way to estimate a used gun's value is to check Gunbroker or other online auction. Check out the completed auctions of guns that actually sold. Disregard the foolish listings with a ridiculous opening bid or reserve that never sold.

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I think around 350 would make it a fair return to the owner and a good buy for a shooter. An original would have to be better than a Chinese copy. It actually looks good.

 

Thanks for confirming this in my mind.

 

Bill

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