Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Zachow
While looking at the 97s, you may get lucky and find a 1893. Predecessor to the 1897 and much scarcer. The 1893 was basically too weak in the frame to consistently handle the early smokeless powder shells. Winchester made about 20,000 before the problems became too numerous to ignore. Winchester offered to replace any 1893 with a new 1897, grade for grade. All returned 93s were destroyed making them one of the scarcest Winchester pump shotguns around. The only scarcer one would be the model 61 .22 shot. 93s and early 97s came with plain, uncheckered steelbuttplates which had a small peak.
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Over the years I have seen a few 93s at gun shows and they garnered little interest. I'll bet people don't know the story just related. Some were damascus. I see more Marlins than Winchesters tho.
When young I attended local carnivals where you got ten shots at little zinc bottles for a dime. We shot those little 61's shooting shorts. Does anyone shoot 22 shorts today? We used to all of the time.
I enjoy my 97, but I haven't shot it much. It just looks great.
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