Interwar period trench gun

[GA-Dave]

I just got this trench gun on Thursday. The seller told me that it is a 1922 vintage gun. The gun has been reblued as expected and I think the stock is a replacement. Unless the interwar stocks did not have sling swivels.

The side of the receiver has been polished or reworked and it broke through to the screw hole under the ejection port.

What about the bayonet adapter? I think it may abe a replacement. It has seams on the top and bottom like it is cast.

The barrel is 20" and Cyl marked with a six-row heat shield.

I didn't pay much for the shotgun, more than a Chinese copy, but far less than a collector quality trench gun.

Any opinions?

[Tom Doniphon]

Hart to tell from the photos, but the bayo adaptor finish looks wrong.

What is the serial number?

[SPEEDGUNNER]

What is the serial number? Interwar commercial would have a brass buttplate. Look closely at the barrel behind the action bar close to the receiver, there should be a two digit barrel date.

If you got it cheap don't worry.

[GA-Dave]

Serial number is:E732380. I can't find a date on the barrel. There is a 100 stamped on the frame opposite of the action bar.

Black plastic butt plate. What photos would help?

[Tom Doniphon]

It's not in the serial number range of the WWI Military contract trench guns. It was made after WWI, probably around mid 1920. Trench gun stocks all were inletted for the swivel, even the commercial Model 1897 trench guns.

How many holes are drilled in the forward end of the magazine tube?

Will the bayonet lug accept a Model 1917 bayonet, or has it been modified to accept the Winchester made M1895 Russian bayonet?

And, are their any marks on the bayonet adaptor?

[Scott Wilson]

The closeup photo of the front sight area of the handguard looks parkerized. I am thinking that it should be blued.

[SPEEDGUNNER]

from the side opposite the action bar you should be able to shine a light down in between the barrel and magazine tube. Right above the mag tube on the underside of the barrel where it screws into the receiver you should be able to see a 2-digit number, that is the barrel date.

Yes, bayonet adaptor looks parked.

[Tom Doniphon]

I think it may be too early of a gun to have a barrel date mark.

[SPEEDGUNNER]

Too early to be a commercial too...sorta falls into that serial range right after the known WWI shotguns. I was curious if there was a barrel date, ya never know.

[trenchcrazy]

I see serial #'s all in the 700,000 to 800,000 range, cited in government documents. Where do they fit in?
I herd that Winchester started dating barrels in 1922, is that true?