Converting Winchester 1897 to TrenchGun

[Flymph]

Well, I am going to start my first project by converting a Winchester 1897 into a trench gun.
Already have the gun by a matter of chance, but don't know anything specific (pops really needs to stop accidentally bidding on gunbroker).

All I know is the barrel is too long for my desired purpose as a recreation of the classic M97.

Where can I obtain the necessary parts for this conversion?
Namely I would like to acquire a barrel, but I am not finding them anywhere.
I found one site that offers a reproduction barrel shroud and bayonet lug, but if you have a suggestion please contribute.
Know of a good place that sells bayonets? Gotta have a bayonet on this one...

Read More

 

[Diamondback]

Start at Numrich.
Bayonet Lug & Heat Shield w/ Screws, New Reproduction | Gun Parts Corp.
East Taylor, LLC, Savannah, Georgia Winchester Trench Gun Bayonet Attachment
Winchester 97 Trench Gun Bayonet lug & Heat Shield w/ Screws
U.S. WWI Winchester M-1897 Trench Gun Ventilated Barrel Jacket Heat Shield with Bayonet Mount

These might help:
Converting a Winchester model 1897 to a "trench gun"? : guns
Building an M1897 Trench Gun - M14 Forum
Winchester 1897 to trench gun conversion - CMP Forums

Building an M1897 Trench Gun

 

[Goosebrown]

Sounds like an awesome project. Thought of it at length. Good luck

 

[coop44]

Not a difficult conversion, cut and crown the barrel. Installing the hand guard will require a notch to clear the screw. Parkerize the whole thing.

 

[Stomper]

Trench guns are AWESOME!!


That's why I made these..... two more to go!

 

[HuckleberryFun]

My 1897 is a takedown model with a full choke 36" barrel.
Making a trench gun out of it would be kinda silly, so I guess I'll just get another.

 

[41mag]

I'm a 97 fan especially as tuned to SASS use; however, it really IS a heavy verging on ponderous behemoth prior to docking the really long barrels....which remains a sacrilege in some circles.

And the mechanism is so complicated for thorough cleaning, the tutorial I found had literally 27 steps and included the advise to begin the process IN the shower stall.

Slicking up the action really brings these beasties alive, and the comfort while shouldering was always pleasing.

There are many sites dedicated to 97s opinions & modification.
Alas, all my 97s were purged when I retired from the OOWSS game.

 

[jbett98]

There's a company that makes a special ammo tube follower and spring that allows you to add an extra shell from 5 to 6 shells when using 2-3/4" ammo. I can't remember what the name is, but I'll do some research today.
As far as bayonets go, I bought mine on Craigslist here in Portland from a family member who inherited it from an uncle that fought in WW!.
The hardest part was filing the three half notch screw holes in the underside of the barrel. You have to be very careful not to file too deep as the the original trench gun barrel were made with thicker tubing and were also straight walled tubes with no choke and marked as "Cylinder."
The clamping screws should have just enough room in the half round notches to make some light thread marks as you screw them under the barrel to the other side of the shroud clamp.
I used this model '97 take down gun because the end of the barrel had a huge dent in it .

 

[Stomper]

If that were my trenchie, I'd name that one "Poke-a-haunt-us"... or "Porky".

 

[Diamondback]

If that were my trenchie, I'd name that one "Poke-a-haunt-us"... or "Porky".

Or "Shankyewverramuch"...

 

[coop44]

IMHO the model 12 makes a better trench gun
model 12 trench gun - Bing images
Easier to come by one in good shape

 

[F2CMaDMaXX]

Isn't that because the Model 12 *was* the trench gun?

 

[Flymph]

IMHO the model 12 makes a better trench gun
model 12 trench gun - Bing images
Easier to come by one in good shape

My pops would argue that the Stevens 520-30 would be the best "Trench gun"...
It's looking like I may have some trouble finding a heat shroud and bayonet lug, so this project may take me a while (well worth the time IMO).

 

[41mag]

there are multiple sites & existing models of the factory 97 trench gun to establish the fact they were *at least one* model used as such in .mil settings; I happened into a bunch that had been finally scrapped from OSP state agency at a gun show, a couple dozen going for around $150 each.... at the time I was too stupid to realize their unique historical niche. At the time it was easy to find very good 97s for well under $100.

Of course there are many examples of 'virtual trench 97s' built for various reasons that any collector will be happy to list the errors in the build.

Good luck with the project, and please post photos.

 

[F2CMaDMaXX]

Inland are making a new version of the Ithaca 37 in trench loadout, but it's ~$1100

 

[Flymph]

Inland are making a new version of the Ithaca 37 in trench loadout, but it's ~$1100

Does it slam fire? LoL

 

[Goosebrown]

There were a few models issued. They were in a panic and bought what they could get as I understand it

 

[F2CMaDMaXX]

Apparently not.

 

[jbett98]

Here's the info on converting the '97 into 6 rd capacity.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...-1897-parts/&usg=AOvVaw0F82gF0JndX16doBruPiny

 

[Diamondback]

Does it slam fire? LoL

My understanding is for some reason almost EVERYBODY redesigned things to kill slamfire after the sodomization of GCA'68.