Please help - winchester m1897 trench gun

[anton67]

Hi,
I am looking at possibly buying this trench gun. Any thoughts on it would be appreciated.
Also, is the any other area where the serial number should be located other than in the photos?
Does it look to be a legit trench gun?
Thank you in advance.

[anton67]

more photos

[anton67]

Last ones

[SPEEDGUNNER]

Serial number puts it post WWI. Not a U.S. military shotgun. Could be a commercial gun sold to a PD in 1920's. What's the backstory?

[scosgt]

Actually, it is right on the edge of WWI. Remember those guns that turned up, what, 8 or 10 years ago? 705,000 seems possible.
Having said that, it has condition issues. Especially the stock.
And the lug is correct, but missing the guard.
It will cost a small fortune to make it right, and even then some folks will say the serial is too high.

[SPEEDGUNNER]

I think it is just outside the range of the Ivanhoe guns...

[scosgt]

I think it is just outside the range of the Ivanhoe guns...

That's what I was thinking of. the Ivanhoe guns. I recall they seemed to have higher numbers than were generally accepted...

[SPEEDGUNNER]

That's what I was thinking of. the Ivanhoe guns. I recall they seemed to have higher numbers than were generally accepted...

Correct, the Ivanhoe guns did have higher serial numbers than were generally accepted to be the correct range for WWI Winchester Model 1897 trench guns. This gun is outside even the Ivanhoe guns, not by much, but it is not one of them. It has another story, and I would love to know it...

[scosgt]

What was the highest number on those?

[Tom Doniphon]

The highest Ivanhoe trench gun was 705639. Its receiver was serialized in very early 1919, and appears to be the only Ivanhoe serialized that year. There are some other Ivanhoe guns in the 705xxx range that were serialized in late 1918, probably after Armistice Day.