[BatHunters]

Hey guys, this is my first post here. And it's going to be an odd one.

My dad inherited a ton a guns from his stepdad when he passed, he sold nearly all of them except for a sawed off shotgun and a 1873 US Springfeild. He's had this gun for 20 years and never knew what to do with it. I took a look at it and it doesn't appear to look like the traditional sawed off shotgun you would see. I was trying to figure out for him if it was illegal and if it was how should he go about getting rid of it, legally. It measures about 40". I couldn't find any markings on the shotgun either, no manufacturer.

The Springfield is a nice looking gun, but my grandfather rebuilt certain parts so it's not that valuable. Nice gun to hang though.

Any information would be appreciated.

[IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]

[IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]

[Txhillbilly]

As long as the barrel is 18" long,it should be legal.

[texaswoodworker]

I think i've seen a shotgun simular to this before, It has a short barrel on it too and was used as a prison shotgun. Not sure what you can do with it though.

[c3shooter]

In order for a shotgun to be legallly classed as a Short Barreled Shotgun (sawed off shotgun to us laymen) it must have an overall length of less than 26 inches, or barrels less than 18 inches. Yours is well above that.

It appears to be a Winchester Model 1893. This was Winchester's first slide action shotgun. It was made from 1893 to 1897, and they made 34050 of them- more or less. The Riot gun had a 20 inch barrel.

BIG WARNING GOES HERE- these were made with 2 5/8 inch chambers, NOT the modern 2 3/4 shell, Does not matter is a 2 3/4 will chamber, not safe to shoot. Other big warning- these were made for BLACK POWDER SHELLS.

Yours is not in really good condition, but there IS collector interest in them. Serial numbers ranged from 1-34050.

Your wife will yell at you for getting rust on the rug just above and to the left of the shotgun, and your right shoelace is untied.
That's about it. :}

PS- if that IS a Winchester 93, it is legally an antique firearm, having been made before 1899. Antique firearms fall outside of most of the restrictions on firearms, since legally they are not a firearm.

[willshoum]

If I remember right I saw that shotgun being used durring the first world war. They called it a trench gun. Suggest you Goggle trench guns and see what you come up with. Looks to be a Winchester mod.

[BatHunters]

Well I found some writing on the gun after straining my eyes. I think it's a 1937 Winchester Riot Gun. I can make out Winchester MOD--(model most likly) 1--7, the two middle numbers are either 8, 9, or 3.

and I found this online WINCHESTER MODEL 97 RIOT MADE IN 1937 Winchester Shotguns - Modern > Pump Action > Defense/Tactical for sale, gun classifieds or gun auction from MAX T FRANCE. Buy or bid on this WINCHESTER MODEL 97 RIOT MADE IN 1937 in the category Winchester Shotgu

I thought this was just a rusted piece of junk. Turns out there's some history to this gun.

Or it could be this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester_Model_1897

I actually found someone on the site talking about the same gun. http://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f26/winchester-model-1897-a-28900/

Interesting stuff. Thanks for everyone's help!

[c3shooter]

Wills- there is a difference between a trench gun and a riot gun. Most notably trench guns have bayonet lugs, and a heat shield for the barrel.

[Hawg]

Originally Posted by BatHunters

Well I found some writing on the gun after straining my eyes. I think it's a 1937 Winchester Riot Gun. I can make out Winchester MOD--(model most likly) 1--7, the two middle numbers are either 8, 9, or 3.

and I found this online WINCHESTER MODEL 97 RIOT MADE IN 1937 Winchester Shotguns - Modern > Pump Action > Defense/Tactical for sale, gun classifieds or gun auction from MAX T FRANCE. Buy or bid on this WINCHESTER MODEL 97 RIOT MADE IN 1937 in the category Winchester Shotgu

I thought this was just a rusted piece of junk. Turns out there's some history to this gun.

Or it could be this Winchester Model 1897 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I actually found someone on the site talking about the same gun. http://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f26/winchester-model-1897-a-28900/

Interesting stuff. Thanks for everyone's help!

It's an 1897 riot gun. Clean it up good and it may have military markings on it.

[willshoum]

Originally Posted by c3shooter

Wills- there is a difference between a trench gun and a riot gun. Most notably trench guns have bayonet lugs, and a heat shield for the barrel.

One out of two ain't bad...

[BatHunters]

After a little hard work, here's what it looks like now. I can't decide if I want to sell or keep it. Oh I don't believe it's an actual Riot model, I think my grandfather cut it down, it has the word "FULL" stamped on the barrel. But it was made in 1903 or 1904.

[IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]

[IMG] Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/IMG]