I have been looking for a WINCHESTER M97 RIOT issued to Uncle Sam either during WW1 or WW2. There is a website I just checked and the Weapon serial Number is
936044 stamped both on the bottom of the receiver and barrel. It has the ( u.s. ) and a ( flaming bomb ) on the left side of the receiver. The inspectors stock marking is a boxed [ W.B. ] over a CROSS CANNON ACCEPTANCE STAMP.
I believe there is, or should be a FLAMING BOMB and an Interlocking WP on the top of the barrel. I am going to ask for more pictures of the top of the barrel and the butt plate. He does say the butt plate is black with logo ( I assume Winchester logo ).
Can someone tell me the year of manufacture and if this looks like the real deal. It has some patina on the barrel but that really does not bother me.
The thing that confuses me, is in Mr. Canfields book on page 281 ( table 4 )
MODEL 1897 SERIAL NUMBERS CITED IN GOVERMENT DOCUMENTS.
It doesn't show this particular number, but the left hand column, there are numbers that are close to 936044 and it shows 97R ( riot gun in the legend ) with dates of 1942 USMC New River Training CTR ( SRS ).
Am I reading this info wrong?
I appeal to the resident experts in this field to shed some light on this. I have been wanting to trade my STEVENS M520 TRENCH towards a WINCHESTER 97 RIOT GUN of WW1 or WW2 period, but I don't know enough about what is real and what is not.
HELP POR FAVOR
BOB IN AZ
http://s661.photobucket.com/user/THI...OTOS/WRA97RIOT
They are asking $1950 and I feel my 95% STEVENS is worth more if I went to sell it, actually, I was offered the $2500 that I wanted for my trench, but didn't want to sell it because I don't know enough about Winchesters and what is original and what has been done to them to purchase outright. just my thoughts, or am I off base with the price on mine. I can send beaucoup photos of mine if it would help in determining a price.