Rare Winchester Model 1897 Takedown Shotgun – 12 Gauge Mirror Bore, Fully Customized

Winchester Model 1897 Takedown – Full Custom

Manufactured: 1907 – Caliber: 12 Gauge – Configuration: Takedown – Full Custom

Rare Winchester Model 1897 Takedown in 12 gauge, fully customized in a luxury configuration with selected wood, tuned mechanism and 28-inch mirror bore.

History

The Winchester Model 1897 is one of the most iconic American pump-action shotguns ever produced. Designed by John Moses Browning for the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, it succeeded the Model 1893 with a strengthened action designed to accommodate the new smokeless powder cartridges.

Introduced in 1897, it quickly became popular with hunters, police departments and the military. The Model 1897 became particularly famous during the First World War in its “Trench Gun” configuration and was later widely used by law enforcement in “Riot Gun” variants. Its pump-action mechanism and distinctive operating system contributed greatly to its reputation.

Our Model

This Winchester Model 1897 Takedown features a fully customized configuration combining a carefully executed finish with several modifications intended to enhance its handling. The metal surfaces retain nearly 100% of their blued finish, with the original markings slightly softened but still visible. The upper surfaces of the bolt and the ventilated barrel rib feature a matte finish, creating a contrast with the blued metal.

Serial number 387XXX, present on the principal components of this Takedown configuration, corresponds to a 1907 manufacture. The wooden furniture has been replaced with selected high-grade wood, featuring an attractive color and polished finish. The lower section of the buttstock uses a lighter-colored wood, creating a contrasting effect. The stock is fitted with a Pachmayr recoil pad, while the oversized fore-end provides a comfortable grip.

Mechanically, this Winchester benefits from a specific custom tuning designed to provide particularly smooth and rapid operation. The internal mechanism has been modified using a kit bearing a patent marking; its exact manufacturer or intended application cannot, however, be established. The inside of the bolt features an attractive hammer-finish treatment. The pump action is exceptionally smooth, with reliable feeding and ejection. The slam-fire system remains operational. The 28-inch 12-gauge barrel features a mirror-bright bore.

This 1907 Winchester Model 1897 Takedown stands out for its full custom configuration, selected wood, tuned mechanism and mirror bore, while retaining the distinctive character of this iconic American pump-action shotgun.

The firearm is accompanied by its official French National Proof House (Saint-Étienne) Category D(e) classification certificate.