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LOT 3396
Excellent, Earliest Number Known, U.S. Army Documented World War I Winchester Model 1897 Slide Action Trench
Shotgun with Winchester M1917 Bayonet - Serial no. E673430, 12 gauge, 20 1/2
SERIAL NUMBER LISTED IN THE BOOK COMBAT SHOTGUNS BY CANFIELD
230
inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This excellent Winchester Model 1897 trench shotgun is the lowest serial number of the 74 documented examples known to have been in U.S. Army inventory in World War I prior to being subsequently transferred to the Virginia National Guard in 1921, then to the Richmond, Virginia Police Department in 1924 until they were purchased by Sigarms in 2004 who sold them to Interstate Arms Corp., a Sigarms law enforcement distributor, who advertised them in Shotgun News under the name Ivanhoe’s Warehouse Outlet. This example, E673430, is listed by serial number as part of the 74 “Ivanhoe” trench guns on page 286 of the book “Complete Guide to United States Military Combat Shotguns” by Bruce Canfield. It also has Richmond Police Department inventory stampings on the left of the buttstock, “11/HDQTS/RPD” in three lines. It appears to have seen very little use, and likely stayed protected from the elements in backroom storage for most of its lifetime. The Winchester 1897 was one of John Browning’s many contributions to American sporting and combat arms, and in both the “trench” and “riot” configurations performed fine service for military and law enforcement users, seeing action as early as 1899 in the Philippines, and earning particular fame in World War I and World War II for its potent close range firepower along with its slamfire capability. Features a six-hole handguard/bayonet adapter with “PAT.APPL.FOR” marked on the right. The barrel protrudes 1/2 inch ahead of the bayonet adapter, which is considered correct for a World War I era Winchester 1897 trench shotgun. Receiver and cylinder choke marked barrel both stamped with a circled Winchester “WP” proof at the breech. The slide bar has the model and trademark information. Grooved forearm and smooth pistol grip stock with correct first type comb and a Winchester branded checkered hard rubber buttplate. 13 7/8 inch length of pull. Reference page 50 of Bruce Canfield’s book “Complete Guide to United States Military Combat Shotguns” for more information on World War I era Winchester Model 1897 trench shotguns. Includes a commercial pattern Winchester M1917 bayonet with a circled Winchester “W” logo on the blade. CONDITION: Excellent, retains 95% plus bright original blue finish with a few cycling marks, some scattered light scratches, and sharp markings and edges in the metal overall. Wood is very fine as police department marked, with some light handling marks, and crisp defined forearm grooves and edges overall. Mechanically excellent. Included bayonet is excellent. This is one of the finest surviving examples of a World War I era Winchester Model 1897 trench shotgun in existence today! Estimate: 7,500 - 12,000
LOT 3397 Excellent Springfield Model 1903 N.R.A. Marked Sales Bolt Action Rifle with Original M1905 Bayonet and Scabbard - Serial no. 624020, 30-06 cal., 24 inch bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This is a beautiful example of an original, unaltered Springfield Model 1903, N.R.A. marked Sales Rifle that was sold circa 1916. The front of the trigger guard finial is correctly stamped with a small “Shell & Flame” insignia above “N.R.A.” which indicates the rifle is one of the hand selected and star gauged M1903 rifles sold to N.R.A. members between 1910 and 1917. These rifles were authorized by Congress for the purposes of training and shooting various rifle matches through out the United States culminating in the Nation Matches held at Camp Perry. The 1910-1917 NRA Sales Model 1903 rifles were all hand/specially selected for superior fit and finish and although not specifically marked the barrel were all “air gauged” for straightness and accuracy. They had the standard five line receiver markings with a dark, oil-quenched casehardened finish. The barrel is roll-marked behind the front sight with “SA/Ordnance Shell & Flame insignia/2-16” in three lines. The rifle has the standard pre-WWI features that include: (1) Style S stock with grasping grooves and a single reinforcing bolt, (2) high hump handguard with sight clearance cut and spring clips, (3) rear sight with large, concave, windage knob, small, concave binding screw with groove in the knurl and 2,800 yard notch in the center of the leaf, (4) straight handle bolt with heat lot marking “C 6” on the bottom of the lug, (5) grooved trigger, and (6) fine checkered buttplate. The safety and “OFF” side of the magazine cut-off are color casehardened. The face of the rear sight leaf and “ON” side of the cut-off are bright. The rifle has all blued and milled components, and the buttstock and hand guard have an oil-finished walnut. The left side of the stock wrist is stamped with the block letters “J.S.A.” enclosed in a rectangle. An encircled, script “P” proofmark is stamped on the underside of the stock behind the trigger guard. It is complete with an early pre-WWI commercially stamped leather sling and an original Model 1905 bright polished bayonet and 1910 canvas scabbard. The bayonet is marked “SA/1916” on one side with the obverse stamped U.S./641439”. CONDITION: Excellent with 90% of the original blue and oil-quenched finish overall showing some very minor edge and high spot wear overall and slightly more blue loss on the front of the floorplate and triggerguard. The receiver shows 95% of the fragile oil-quenched finish mixed with some minor flaking/spotting. The stock and handguard are both excellent with a beautiful matching medium brown color overall showing only minor handling marks on the sides in a couple places. The cartouches and proofs are clear and sharp. The bayonet is excellent with the blade still showing the original bright polish mixed with some slight spotting/staining and excellent wood handles. The scabbard is in very fine condition. This is a very high condition all original N.R.A. marked Sales rifle. Provenance: The George Moller Collection; Property of a Gentleman. Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500