Help with early WW2 M97 trenchgun!

[trenchcrazy]

Just got this with a 3 day inspection. M97 trenchgun #930,xxx. Its a U.S. only stamped receiver, WB stamped stock. Open top flamming bomb on top of barrel, with a 41 barrel date. Everything looks correct, bayonet adapter, buttplate, stock inletting, heatshield and so on.
My question is the U.S. on receiver looks a bit off from Mr. Canfields photo in his book.
Also open top bomb on top of barrel has a open circle in the middle of it, the photo in the book looks like closed circle in the middle.
Does anybody have photos of U.S. marked receiver they can share?
Thanks for any info or help.

[trenchcrazy]

A few more.

[Scott Wilson]

Is that a four row handguard, or six? How does the barrel blue look under the flashlight test?

[trenchcrazy]

Scott,
Its an early unmarked six row handguard. It looks correct. What am i looking for with the flash light test? The rust blue? Thank you!!

[wayne]

I'm about as illiterate on shotguns as a person can be, but the U.S. on the receiver just does not look right. Personally, I would have to pass.

[Scott Wilson]

Take the shotgun to a dim area and play the beam from a mini maglight on the blue. The barrel and magazine are of course rust blue and will show some browning underneath. The receiver not so much. Pay particular attention to the flaming bomb and Winchester proof on top of the barrel, as they should be stamped through the finish. It is my understanding that the U.S. (and on later guns the U.S./flaming bomb) were applied at the factory before the receiver was finished.

[Tom Doniphon]

Nothing wrong with the open flame mark. The inner circle on these usually has a gap on the upper left side.

As far as the US mark, although it looks a bit skewed, if you look at a lot of these early WW2 97 shotguns you will find that they are not quite uniform in the placement of the mark. Not sure why. The period after the S does seem a bit lower than normal.

[trenchcrazy]

Scott,
The barrel did not show rust underneath with flashlight test? I tested a couple other M97 trenchguns i have and can see the rust blue easy. The winchester proof and flaming bomb on top of barrel look to stamped after finish.
Is the US on the US only receiver the same font and size as the US on the US with bomb receivers?

[SPEEDGUNNER]

This just doesn't look right. The stampings seem a little "off".

[Scott Wilson]

Trenchcrazy, This is a quick shot to show what I meant by the "flashlight" test. Notice the brown undertones on the barrel and how it differs from the receiver. Notice also how the flaming bomb and Winchester "PW" proof really stand out. If a gun that was originally rust blued, even in part, does not show some brown undertones.....Beware. On the other hand, the W.B. and crossed cannons that you show look legit to me.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q230/isky_bucket/Model97detail004.jpg

[Scott Wilson]

Here is my W.B.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q230/isky_bucket/97TrenchWB.jpg

[da gimp]

looks to be small area of heavy pitting beside/on serial #'s on receiver & barrel extension, but shows what appears in that pix to be lightly bufed & professionally reblued by someone who knew what he was doing. Does the barrel date match up with serial # date?

just not sure here guy, sorry.

da gimp

[trenchcrazy]

Da gimp, Barrel date is 41, serial # 930,xxx. Any info?

[scosgt]

The stock looks absolutely right to me.
The US on the receiver does not.
There is an easy test to see if it is a real trench barrel.
Take the adaptor off and see if there is a shim underneath.
The only Winchester that was built with the proper taper to take a trench hanguard was the trench barrel. So if it is not shimmed or sleeved, it is a real trench barrel which gets you halfway home. CAn not explain the US markings, they don't look right.

[scosgt]

On further examination, I think they are OK
The markings on a 97 are not stamped, they are cut in by an engraving type machine. You can see that in the photo, and that is the way all the US only ones are.
Gun looks good.