Winchester 1897 Black Diamond Trap

[charlie cleveland]

that hammer on the old 97 gives are some kinda carisma...i only have a good shooter in the old 97 my grandson barrowed it about 2 years ago and i aint seen it since...he must like it or throwed it in the creek .... charlie

[Stepmac]

Originally Posted by charlie cleveland

that hammer on the old 97 gives are some kinda carisma...i only have a good shooter in the old 97 my grandson barrowed it about 2 years ago and i aint seen it since...he must like it or throwed it in the creek .... charlie

When young lots of our guns had hammers and half cock was considered a reliable and easy to use safety. The 97 could be put on half cock and so could the early Ruger .22 revolvers and my .357 Blackhawk and yes, my ears still ring. The ubiquitous 30/30 Win and Marlin also used the half cock safety and they were about the only high powered rifles that I ever saw in Western Kansas. Some guys still used old Krags. I cannot recall, as I sit here, any rifle sporting glass, or even peep sights, but some must have.

As I peruse photos of bird hunters at the turn of the Century (19 - 20) I see lots of 97's and a few Parkers and Elsies. Other's too, of course, but the 97, in its day, was hot potatos. Hunters must have liked the extra shots and the modernity of the pumps.

[Bill Murphy]

I think that our friend, Dave Noreen, would know about Nash Buckingham's exposed hammer Winchesters. As I recall, he got a Winchester from Harold Money, but I don't know whether it was a 97 or a 93. I have my little covey of 97 Traps, but only one in extremely high condition. Kevin McCormack and I included that one in a "Competition Pigeon Guns" display at the Baltimore Antique Arms Collectors show a couple of years ago. Even though the display included some high grade Parker pigeon guns as well as other valuable pigeon guns, the old minty 97 Trap Grade drew the most questions and offers to purchase. Who knows what turns collectors on?

[Stepmac]

Originally Posted by Bill Murphy

I think that our friend, Dave Noreen, would know about Nash Buckingham's exposed hammer Winchesters. As I recall, he got a Winchester from Harold Money, but I don't know whether it was a 97 or a 93. I have my little covey of 97 Traps, but only one in extremely high condition. Kevin McCormack and I included that one in a "Competition Pigeon Guns" display at the Baltimore Antique Arms Collectors show a couple of years ago. Even though the display included some high grade Parker pigeon guns as well as other valuable pigeon guns, the old minty 97 Trap Grade drew the most questions and offers to purchase. Who knows what turns collectors on?

Feeling as if I should know, but who was Nash Buckingham?