Ohio National Guard Winchester 1897

[cwo4uscgret]

I made a trade with a friend of mine in Ohio for his 1897 Winchester. His photos didn't do much justice; this gun is in excellent condition. It has a cylinder choke, 20" barrel, sling swivels; barrel date is "40".

It was sold in 1976 by the Adjutant General's Office as surplus military equipment; my friend's father-in-law bought it; and until my friend received it, it was behind the master bedroom door, ready for action! There is a 4 digit number punched in the wrist of the stock; I suspect it may be a property or rack number. I think I got a fair deal; here are my pictures that don't do a lot of justice ever.

[SPEEDGUNNER]

Very nice. Paperwork makes the deal!!

[greenradiodude]

Beautiful classic shotgun! I used to own the twin but had OSP electropenciled on the receiver....I never knew the background, either Oregon State Police or Oregon State Prison? Bought from a cops candy store, regretfully been gone many years.

Best,
Brian

[mtrpdw]

Would love to see close-ups of the front and rear sling swivels. Thanks.

[cwo4uscgret]

Sling Swivels



Front Sling Swivel



Rear Sling Swivel

http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?docid=02190268&SectionNum=2&IDKey=A929EFC631BA&HomeUrl=http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1%2526Sect2=HITOFF%2526d=PALL%2526p=1%2526u=%25252Fnetahtml%25252FPTO%25252Fsrchnum.htm%2526r=1%2526f=G%2526l=50%2526s1=2190268.PN.%2526OS=PN/2190268%2526RS=PN/2190268

Link to the patent drawing for the rear swivel, patented February 13, 1940

[hyrax222]

Now that is just fine!

[cwo4uscgret]

As Gomer Pyle would say "Surprise, surprise, surprise!"

On another forum someone told me that my shotgun is also a take-down gun - followed on-line instructions and son of a gun it comes apart into to assemblies!

The bore looks like it dis the day it left the factory.

[p246]

very awesome, thanks for the pics

[Big Larry]

Does not appear to be an original Winchester butt swivel. Also, I see no cartouches on the stock or US markings whatsoever on this shotgun. Looks like a civilian shotgun to me. Upper swivel is correct for an early riot gun. Big Larry

[scosgt]

It is a pre-war serial so not a contract military gun.

[cwo4uscgret]

Big Larry and SCOSGT - Its a documented Ohio National Guard Shotgun. From the research that I done and from other forums - many of the "National Guard" 1897 Riot Guns didn't have the US, US Property, or Ordnance Bomb markings. Regarding the rear swivel - it was patented in 1940 - so while not a Winchester "Factory" Swivel its period correct. I don't know who installed it though.

I was told by the son of the original owner that while it was an OANG Shotgun it was probably used by the Ohio State Prison System.

[scosgt]

I think the point we are making is that collectors only pay a premium for original, unaltered military shotguns in as issued condition, which is defined as having the correct markings, parts etc.
While there is no doubt that your gun is military in the sense that it was owned by the ONG, which by definition is "military", it is most likely a gun that was acquired through commercial channels and was not a contact made gun. That makes it less attractive to most advanced collectors.

[cwo4uscgret]

And I'll say this back to you, politely scosgt - from my research many of the National Guard Riot Guns did not have US Property or inspector marks; the only way any of us will know for sure would be to request a letter from the Museum in Cody.

[scosgt]

And that is because they were not military contract guns. Bought off the shelf or from civilians in the acquisition program.