Winchester Model 1897 Shotgun

Parts Legend
Winchester Model 1897 Shotgun
By Thomas E. Wessel
1890 Winchester Repeating Arms
Co. of New Haven, Conn., purchased a patent from the Browning
brothers of Ogden, Utah, covering a
slide-action shotgun with visible hammer and side ejection. In June 1893
this shotgun was placed on the market
as the Winchester Repeating Shotgun
Model 1893. The Model 1893 did not
prove entirely satisfactory for use with
I
N
THOMAS E. WESSEL of Whippany, N. J.
is a technical illustrator long interested in
firearms.
the smokeless powder shells then coming into popular use, thus its manufacture was discontinued in 1897.
In November 1897 Winchester offered an improved ver~ion of this shotgun designated Model 1897. Initial offering was in 12 ga., solid frame only.
The takedown model in 12 gao was
added in October 1898, followed by
the 16-ga. takedown in 1900. Various
other grades and types were eventually
introduced, including the 12-ga. Trench
Gun issued to U. S. troops during
World War I. This unique 20" barrel
shotgun had a perforated metal barrel
jacket and was adapted for use with
rifle bayonet.
Until 1914 Damascus barrels were
optionally available at extra cost for
the Model 1897. Serial numbers were
a continuation of the Model 1893
series, with the first Model 1897 gun
bearing the number 34151. Manufacture of the Model 1897 was discontinued Jan. 1, 1957. Serial number of the
Jast Model 1897 shotgun was 1024700
and it was shipped from the factory
on Sept. 27, 1957.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
B.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
80.
81.
Barrel
Magazine band bushing
Magazine band bushing screw (2)
Magazine band
Extension
Adjusting sleeve
Barrel chamber ring
Adjusting sleeve lock screw
Adjusting sleeve lock
Magazine plug screw (2)
Magazine plug
Magazine locking pin
Magazi"e locking pin spring
Magazine plug stop
Action slide sleeve screw cap
Action slide spring
Action slide
Magazine tube
Magazine follower
Magazine spring
Action slide lock release plunger pin spring
Action slide lock release plunger pin
Cartridge guide stop screw
Trigger pin
Cartridge stop spring (2)
left cartridge stop
Right cartridge stop
Cartridge stop screw, left
Cartridge stop screw, right
Action slide hook
Firing pin lock screw
Extractor, left
Extractor pin, left
Extractor plunger, right
Extractor plunger spring, right
Extractor, right
Action slide hook screw
Firing pin lock spring
Firing pin stop pin
Breech bolt
Firing pin
Firing pin lock
Trigger
Guard bow
Trigger stop screw
Trigger spring
Buttstock bolt
Buttstock bolt washer
Receiver shank
Carrier pin
Receiver
Ejector spring
Ejector spring screw
Barrel chamber ring retaining screw (2)
Sear spring screw
Sear spring
Cartridge guide rivet
Cartridge guide
Mainspring
Mainspring pin
Cartridge guide friction spring
Hammer pin
Action slide lock release plunger
Sear pin
Sear
Hammer stirrup pin
Hammer stirrup
Carrier
Carrier pin stop screw
Action slide lock spring
Action slide lock
Action slide lock joint pin stop screw
Action slide lock joint pin
Action slide lack spring screw
Mainspring strain screw
Ejector pin
Extension stop screw
Front sight
Buttplate screw (2)
Buttplate
Hammer
assembly
1 Since
takedown is a
of Model 1897 from field
bit more tricky than disassembly, sequence shown is for assembly.
First, insure that breech bolt (40) is in battery
and carrier (6B) is fully up. This will align
actuating groove on left side of carrier with
corresponding notch an arm of action slide
(17). Cutaway view shows action slide arm
just prior to engaging groove
5
Continue disassembly by removing carrier
pin stop screw (69), dropping hammer,
and pushing down carrier.' Cock hammer. and
drift out carrier pin (50). Remove cartridge
guide stop screw (23), and entire carrier
assembly may be lifted away from bottom of
receiver
Disengage breech bolt (40) from aelion
slide hook (30) by unscrewing action slide
hook screw (37). Breech bolt together with
aelion slide hook may now be removed, breech
6
Next (A), turn barrel (1) and assembly
0
90
left and insert into adjusting sleeve
(6) in receiver (51). Then (B), turn barrel as0
sembly 90
downward. Interrupted screw
threads will engage and tighten barrel assembly into receiver assembly
2
bolt from rear of receiver and hook from
side
or bottom
Remove 2 buttplote screws (79) and butt·
plate (80). Using a long-shanked screwdriver. remove buttstock bolt (47) and buttstock
boltwasher (48). Then. with a flat-nosed punch,
drift au' trigger pin (24). Remove guard bow
(44) and assembly from back end of receiver
7
Push in (A) on magazine plug (11) with
magazine locking pin (12) in position
shown. This will align threaded portion of
magazine tube (18) with corresponding threads
in lower half of receiver. Turn (B) the locking
pin clockwise to engage threads
3
Reassemble Madel 1897 in reverse order.
When reassembling trigger (43) and trigger spring (46), use a piece of smooth nail (A)
as a temporary trigger pin. Cut it to width
of guard bow as shown. When this assembly
is replaced in receiver and trigger pin reinserted, it will drive aut slave pin. This reassembly knack will facilitate operation._ _
8
4
lock magazine assembly into receiver by
pressing up on magazine lacking pin as
shown. Disassemble in reverse order
313