1897 riot ???

[scosgt]

Between the Wars Winchester was producing two to three, and sometimes as many as four or more, times the number of Model 12s each year compared to the number of Model 97s made. But apparently the Model 97 was still popular enough to warrant production. In some interwar years as many as 20,000 were being made while in other years only a few thousand. Even after WW2 Winchester was making several thousand 97s a year. It's kind of like the Winchester Model 1873 rifle versus the Model 1892. For over 25 years Winchester sold many Model 1873s right along side the newer Model 1892.

Exactly correct. Flintlocks and black powder guns are obsolete. BUT they still make them!!! In fact, if you know anything at all about guns, CARTRIDGES become obsolete, guns almost never do, unless they were unreliable junk to begin with.

One could argue that lever actions are obsolete with the advent of bolt actions, which became obsolete when semi autos came on line. But they still make them because people buy them.

And hey, how about single action revolvers!!!! In a practical sense, they became obsolete with the advent of double actions with swing out cylinders. BUT, they still sell tons of them every year.

The view that they were made obsolete by the M12 and therefore should have been discontinued is, well, obsolete.

[scosgt]

By the way, many many people would disagree that the M12 is a "better" shotgun than the M97. If fact, I think you have it totally backwards. The 97 is iconic and one of the very best guns ever made.

Now, you also need to understand this: Both the M12 and M97 were hi grade guns. They had walnut stocks and were hand polished and rust blued.
The time came when a mass market gun like that could no longer compete with the cheaper (made) Remington 870 and Ithaca 37. The Stevens guns were never really competitors, as they were not as nicely made.

Today you can't really find a pump gun with actual walnut furniture and real bluing. Everything is synthetic and stainless or "weatherproof" finish. The old M12 and M97 could never compete with that. And would probably cost well over $1500 per unit to manufacture in America, which is why all Winchesters and Brownings are now made in Japan.
Their days were certainly numbered, but NOT in 1914!!!!!!!!!!!

[joem]

My 97 riot was made in 1929 or 30. Looks pretty good for old as it is.