Quest
 

I have to thank/blame Mr. Day for a post he did about two years ago showing a very nice 1897 Win. with a Damascus barrel. I found one by chance at a local gun show after looking for over a year wherever I went. Brad Bachelder worked his magic on the barrel. A Winchester letter shows it was made in 1900 with fancy checkered stock and fine Damascus barrel. I shot my first Pheasant with an old 97 of my dads fifty eight years ago.

Looks like you have a trap style forend on that 97. Great find, nicely done.

I now look over every 1897 since I saw Mr. Days post. I have not seen a Damascus barrel one yet though.

Is your 97 a dimond grade.

97
 

It's not marked as a Trap or Diamond grade either on the bolt or at the head of the stock. The letter makes no mention of grade either. I guess it is a special order but no indication of who ordered it. The letter just says "Shipped from warehouse on November 15, 1900, Order number 79484"

I've been collecting Model 1897 and 97 Winchesters for decades and have not seen one as nice as yours.

Wonderful gun.

Gary,

A Silver pad would dress that gun up even further.


Destry

Silvers*

Gary,
Nicest pump gun I've seen. Beautiful ! I agree with Destry on the pad.
Now I too can start looking for a damascus 97'

Kind regards,

Jeff

You can buy an original S.W. Silver pad from Galazan's, but just as good a pad and identical is the Silver reproduction pad sold by Griffin and Howe.

The Griffin & Howe pads I've seen had a flexible back plate which will actually bend on the edges when it's mounted on the gun. The real Silvers are the only way to go as far as I'm concerned. Galazan is "out of stock" on them about 85% of the time but you can call the actual company over in England and they'll take your credit card over the phone without a problem.


Destry