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Message
Gifted some heirloom 12-gauges
Posted on 10/14/25 at 8:30 am
Posted on 10/14/25 at 8:30 am
I was given some cool family heirlooms this weekend, Winchester Model 97s. They were my Great Grandfather's, and are the only heirlooms I have from him, making them even more special to me.
One is the standard 28in barrel “Field” model, made in 1923.
The other is the “Riot” model, with a 20in barrel, made in 1941.
They are both pump action with a hammer, which I’ve never seen before. Apparently this model was made infamous in the trenches of WWI due to their “slam fire” capability.
Both are in surprisingly good shape for their age. Just a touch of rust I can buff out.
Feels great to have such cool pieces of history from a family member who I never really got to meet. Happy I’ll be able to hand them down to my son one day too.
Folks, don’t sell your guns. Your decedents may thank you in 100 years.
One is the standard 28in barrel “Field” model, made in 1923.
The other is the “Riot” model, with a 20in barrel, made in 1941.
They are both pump action with a hammer, which I’ve never seen before. Apparently this model was made infamous in the trenches of WWI due to their “slam fire” capability.
Both are in surprisingly good shape for their age. Just a touch of rust I can buff out.
Feels great to have such cool pieces of history from a family member who I never really got to meet. Happy I’ll be able to hand them down to my son one day too.
Folks, don’t sell your guns. Your decedents may thank you in 100 years.
This post was edited on 10/14/25 at 9:05 am
11
Posted on 10/14/25 at 8:41 am to WarCamEagle88
Legit CSB.
I just watched a vid of a guy restoring an old Model 97, they look cool as frick.
I just watched a vid of a guy restoring an old Model 97, they look cool as frick.
Posted on 10/14/25 at 8:43 am to WarCamEagle88
quote:
hey are both pump action with a hammer, which I’ve never seen before
It's a really good design that I personally wish they hadn't gotten away from. It's more drop-safe than a modern pump shotgun with a crossbolt safety.
Posted on 10/14/25 at 9:32 am to WarCamEagle88
That’s awesome. I have one that was my grandfathers. It hasn’t been operable in my life time. You just motivated me to get it to a gun smith.
Posted on 10/14/25 at 9:55 am to WarCamEagle88
Yeah that is how it should be done. None of my grandpas had those sorts of things. At least I was able to give my dad's old JC Higgins to my son and he still uses it. 1943 model I think. I am waiting to give my dad's Remington Nylon 66 to my grandson to keep it going.
Posted on 10/14/25 at 12:08 pm to WarCamEagle88
quote:
Folks, don’t sell your guns. Your decedents may thank you in 100 years.
This is a very good point. There may be a generation or two along the way who do not appreciate it but most likely some young man will wind up with them eventually and will treasure them. It really is about as "personal" as possessions get for men...tools are great and guns are tools but there is something very special about shooting a firearm one of your ancestors used to sustain themselves or defend their property with.
Posted on 10/14/25 at 1:01 pm to WarCamEagle88
Sorry if you already know this, but don’t shoot steel shot through them or barrel bulge potential.
But you absolutely should use them to appreciate how well the mechanisms work
But you absolutely should use them to appreciate how well the mechanisms work
Posted on 10/14/25 at 4:18 pm to NorCali
quote:
Sorry if you already know this, but don’t shoot steel shot through them or barrel bulge potential. But you absolutely should use them to appreciate how well the mechanisms work
Thank you, I had no idea.
Posted on 10/14/25 at 4:32 pm to AwgustaDawg
quote:
It really is about as "personal" as possessions get for men...tools are great and guns are tools but there is something very special about shooting a firearm one of your ancestors used to sustain themselves or defend their property with.
Agreed, very special. Especially when those ancestors were men of high character, grit, and so many other qualities.
It’s easy to almost forget someone in your family who died when you were a baby, or before you were born. Having physical objects they used and cherished helps keep them at the forefront of your memory. Your role models don’t have to be alive, you just need to remember them often enough to help you stay on the right path.
Posted on 10/14/25 at 4:42 pm to WarCamEagle88
They are awesome looking shotguns. I have a nice 1897 that functions well. Happy for you! 
Posted on 10/14/25 at 6:09 pm to WarCamEagle88
Congrats! My GF gave me several rifles and a shotgun which I treasure. His deer rifle is a .257 Robts Imp that he built on a Mauser action. Regular .257 Robts ammo will fire in it, but reloads work best. I wish he had saved his old A5 for me.
I love those old pumps. Glad you got them.
I love those old pumps. Glad you got them.
Posted on 10/14/25 at 7:36 pm to WarCamEagle88
My grandfather gifted me a sweet little model 42 choked modified when I was 10.
After he passed, I got a model 12 16 gauge, choked skeet?
And a model 48 Remington 28 gauge
Sweet guns they all must be 70 years old at least.
After he passed, I got a model 12 16 gauge, choked skeet?
And a model 48 Remington 28 gauge
Sweet guns they all must be 70 years old at least.
Posted on 10/14/25 at 9:01 pm to ecb
“model,48 Remington 28 gauge”.
My wife inherited same shotgun,her grandfathers.Quickly became my favorite squirrel gun.
It’s full choke,he was a quail hunter,must have been a good shot.It’ll reach out and knock,a,squirrel out of a tree.
My wife inherited same shotgun,her grandfathers.Quickly became my favorite squirrel gun.
It’s full choke,he was a quail hunter,must have been a good shot.It’ll reach out and knock,a,squirrel out of a tree.
Posted on 10/14/25 at 9:17 pm to WarCamEagle88
Absolutely agree with you about keeping them in the family and cherishing what you have. I have several inherited from my Dad and (Grandad who died before I was born).
One caveat though; don't start sanding or trying to do anything to the finish other than cleaning/oiling until you get a competent gunsmith to evaluate what needs to be done (if anything) to the finish.
Tampering with the original bluing/finishing on old guns can seriously compromise their value and create problems that may cost more to fix than if you left it "as-is".
One caveat though; don't start sanding or trying to do anything to the finish other than cleaning/oiling until you get a competent gunsmith to evaluate what needs to be done (if anything) to the finish.
Tampering with the original bluing/finishing on old guns can seriously compromise their value and create problems that may cost more to fix than if you left it "as-is".
Posted on 10/14/25 at 9:39 pm to LSUA 75
Mine is cylinder, he used it on quail
Posted on 10/15/25 at 7:21 am to tiggerfan02 2021
quote:
don't start sanding or trying to do anything to the finish other than cleaning/oiling until you get a competent gunsmith to evaluate what needs to be done (if anything) to the finish.
Good idea, thank you
Posted on 10/15/25 at 7:32 am to WarCamEagle88
Random story.
I took an old 22 from my grandpa’s house when he died. An old savage that best I can tell was probably given away with a car purchase or something similar back in the 50s.
It wasn’t fancy, cheap wood stock with some kind of lacquer/shellack on it. I refinished the stock and made it look like a real deal finish. Then I tried my hand at cold bluing the barrel.
Turned out pretty good, but I absolutely destroyed my cheap apartment’s counter tops.
I took an old 22 from my grandpa’s house when he died. An old savage that best I can tell was probably given away with a car purchase or something similar back in the 50s.
It wasn’t fancy, cheap wood stock with some kind of lacquer/shellack on it. I refinished the stock and made it look like a real deal finish. Then I tried my hand at cold bluing the barrel.
Turned out pretty good, but I absolutely destroyed my cheap apartment’s counter tops.
This post was edited on 10/15/25 at 7:33 am
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