doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Vintage Guns

I am rather like Researcher in my personal experience with M97. They definitely are not for me. However, I will admit to smiling at the disbelieving looks from fellow hunters when I show up with ancient hammer doubles and then proceed to kill plenty of birds, especially ducks and geese.

Niklas

The bad guy for sure hears it when you rack the slide.I love em but don't have one now but wish I did.

Climbing into the saddle of a spirited warhorse; a time-proven horse that then promptly and thoroughly bucks you off into the dust has proven only one thing.
Your own inability to ride this horse!

NOTHING about the true quality of the horse has been determined by this rider.

Jagermeister,

As you dust yourself off, know this is a moment to listen; not a time to speak!

I believe the 97 was made into the early sixties as I found one that for a friend that was "in the box" and I thought was a 1961 made gun. Anyone know what the production dates were?

Gun design like most everything else mechanical is an evolutionary process. Comparing a Model 97 to newer models is really like comparing apples and oranges. Many people on this forum like to use older firearms even with the understanding that there are some drawbacks and limitations associated with this. For me it takes me back to a far bygone era and that's reason enough to use them.
The oldest shotgun in my collection is a W C Scott which was made in 1898. I don't feel in any way handicapped while using it.
Jim

I can think of a gazzillion guns that are more poorly designed than the 97 Winchester. Take the Marlin approximation of it. Good for tattooing yourself, but little else.

A 97 beats any over-under, built-wrong ever made.

The fascination with the model 12 I don't understand but you can keep'em so far as I'm concerned.

Having large hands, I don't see any problem with it and yet to be bit by mine.

Most of all, it works every single time. What's wrong with that?

per the records, the last '97 was made in '57. there could have still been some new ones sitting on a shelf in '61.

the only one that ever bit my thumb had a late model 12 butt stock on it instead of the original. with the original wood, there's no problem with the bolt clearing the shooters thumb. if it doesn't that's operator error. the m12 stocks mostly fit but position the thumb higher - too high.

roger

Great shotgun, I've owned several and have never know one of mine to fail...
As my friend John Barsness has been known to say, "the're called the 97 'cause they have 97 moving parts."

Currently own a M-12, 16.
Note the ball cap from my alma mater!

Nonsense, quite recently I have used my 67 vintage 37 "Trenchie" + Kmart bought Remi 6s to clear wood path of locust saplings. It was great fun shootin' from the hip matter of fact almost took me back to my craaazy high school days. Before that I shot up some pumpkins using ole' #4 Activ buck and did a good job on ole' picnic table too. I can work that pump pretty good I just wish that 20" cyl barrel could be replaced with something longer, but it can't be removed (it's a fixed barrel thingy).
Next thing I'm buying is one of them sword bayonets with plastic grips and scabbard to go with that gun.

Sometimes I wonder why I post stuff...The pic was about a great guy enjoying a "Vintage" gun. Then some dweeb, in an alcoholic fog, decides to use it as a reason to run the gun down, and tell us about vandalizing picnic tables...GEEZ! Sorry I brought it up..