The Winchester Model 1897
(M97) 12 ga. shotgun is the original trench gun, by its use by the U.S. Army in
World War I.
The Winchester M97 was
designed by John Browning as an improved version of the Winchester Model 93. The
shotgun's firepower was used to stop German attacks cold, something previously
only a crew-served machine gun could do. Fitted with a bayonet and barrel heat
shield it was a soldier's best friend in close quarters, when hand-to-hand
fighting was upon him.
At the beginning of U.S. involvement in World
War I, Gen. John J. Pershing (Black Jack) was given command. He was determined
that U.S. forces would not settle into the static trench warfare that had already
chewed up tens of thousands of lives on the European battlefield. The key was
the ability to stop short any German attack from their own trenches before they
could overrun American positions while being able to infiltrate and clean out
the enemy trenches in turn.
The ideal weapon would be
shorter and easier to bring to bear on nearby targets in tight spaces like a
trench or building, superior in these characteristics to the 1903 Springfield
or 1917 Enfield infantry rifles. The Model 97 proved quite capable in all
respects as well as being low maintenance and reliable. It quickly became known
as the "trench broom". In the military version, with its ventilated
hand guard over the barrel and M1917 bayonet attachment, it was legendary for
its tremendous firepower. It became so feared by the Germans that they tried to
get shotguns outlawed in combat.
The Model 97 continued to be
used by the U.S. military in World War II, along with the similar design
Winchester Model 12 Combat Shotgun. Collectors will notice that there was a
change in the ventilated heat shield during WW II from the WW I design of six
rows of holes to only 4 rows starting in 1942.
The M97 shotgun was extremely
successful, both with the military and in civilian markets for hunters and law
enforcement, remaining on sale until the late 1950s by which time over 1
million had been shipped. The Model 97 continued to be used by U.S. forces in
the Korean War, in Vietnam and even the Gulf War by which time the design was
almost 100 years in use. All branches of the U.S. armed forces made some use of
the Model 97 over its service lifetime.
The 12 gauge Winchester M97,
in trench gun or riot gun style, was a pump-action shotgun with an exposed
hammer and a 5 round tubular magazine beneath the 18 inch barrel. One round
could be in the chamber bringing capacity to six rounds total. It was chambered
for the short 2 3/4-inch shells only.
The design did not have a
trigger disconnector so the magazine could be emptied by holding back the
trigger and firing as fast as the forearm could be pumped. Originally shipped
in solid frame only, after number 833,000 it was made with a takedown receiver.
The finish on the metal parts was light blue until 1945, after which it was
black. Out of Stock