Winchester Model 97
 

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Beautiful gun, Bruce. I love the Model 97's.

I have one in the box, last year and unfired. love em

Unused unfired
 

wow that is so rare and cool

Bruce, is that your 2012 pheasant gun?

I was asked if the 97 was my pheasant gun. No. It is owned by a friend who suggested I post the photos of his gun in order to bring items of interest to the forum.

My usual pheasant gun remains a PHE 16 ga that I inherited from my paternal grandfather, along with his duck gun, a 12ga. Because that gun is similar to the Mod 97 pictured, I'll post photos of that. For many years until I became fortunate to acquire a small Parker collection, I took the Parker P and this Model 1912 for hunting trips. When these guns were made, a Mod 12 listed for $18, a Parker PHE for $75, so a person could purchase several quality made guns for the price of one Parker.

I think a great thread subject could be inherited guns, as I know they are special to our members and viewers.

My well used, plum 97. Not pristine by a long ways and the wood is dinged, but she is tight and bright inside. I love the color. http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...tguns002-1.jpg

Bruce; what a wonderful Nickle Steel Model 12! I've seen a lot of those early model 12s but never one as nice as yours. I own one like new model 12 and it is a 1962 gun, made the year before they stopped regular production.

Have you checked the chamber length on your gun? I read that some of the very early guns were made for the 2 9/16 shell. (I think that's the length.) I had my 1923 gun looked at and the smith said it was short and he lengthened the chamber.

My gun and she is not exactly pristine! http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/P1010576.jpg

I think the early "Corn cobb" forends are the most atractive of them all. Both my 12's have them.

I enjoy late season goose hunting with an old M 12 Heavy Duck. With Hevi-Shot it just crushes geese further than I want to shoot.