Working the Winchester Model 1897 Slide-Action Shotgun

Thought of by many as the ultimate in "cool," Winchester’s famous Model 1897 pump shotgun was introduced in that year as an improvement to the Model 1893 designed by John M. Browning. The Model 1897 started with serial #32,151 in the earlier Model 1893 numbering series. This new design used a unique, heavy machined-steel cartridge carrier that doubled as the locking bolt.

The operation of the 1893 and the 1897 models is similar, however, with the 1897 having a stronger, beefed-up receiver with material added so the spent shell was thrown out to one side. Anew slide lock was added to the later design, requiring the shooter to make a slight forward motion with the slide handle before the action would unlock. Though a seemingly insignificant change, this modification was important for safety reasons, and solved the problem of the 1893s action unlocking too soon after firing.

Originally, the Model 1897 was only made with a solid frame (with the barrel permanently screwed to the frame) but shortly after its introduction, a takedown model was introduced. The 1897s were equipped with a tubular five-shot magazine and made in both 12- and 16-gauge versions.

Standard barrel lengths ranged from 26 through 32 inches, with shorter barreled variants available in the form of a 20-inch riot gun and a similar model introduced during WWI known as the "Trench gun." The special Model 1897 Trench gun had a short barrel and a bayonet lug with a perforated-steel handguard that wrapped over the barrel to protect the soldier’s hand from the hot barrel. Winchester continued to sell the Trench gun up through 1945.

The classic 1897 was an extremely rugged and successful slide-action shotgun, and was the last Winchester pump shotgun to use an outside hammer. Model 1897s were manufactured continually for 60 years, right up through 1957, with a total of something over one million weapons produced. Today, the ’97 is as popular as ever, especially in cowboy-action shooting, which has actually spawned a copy of the old Model 1897 that’s being imported from China.

Unlike most modern pump or slide-action Top of page: The Winchester Model 1897 is the prototypical American riot gun. This one, from the Ed Wade collection, has a solid frame and was manufactured in 1941. Author photos. shotguns, the Model 1897 is far from a simple design, making disassembly a rather long and complex process and requiring a good deal of attention to detail on the part of the gunsmith. Disassembly Instructions Two basic versions of the Model 1897 exist.

One is known as the "solidframe" model, with a barrel that’s permanently screwed into the receiver. The other is called the "takedown" model and, as the name implies, has a barrel that’s easily detachable from the receiver. The weapon shown in the photographs is a solid-frame version, although the takedown version is also shown in the parts diagram. 1. As always, be certain the weapon is empty before proceeding with the disassembly.

Holding onto the grip area of the stock, and keeping your fingers away from the trigger, point the muzzle in a safe direction. Push in on the action slide-lock-release plunger pin (#3297). This is the button or buttons which may be found on one or both sides of the receiver. Doing this will allow any shells in the mag-

Right top: Here, the front of the magazine tube on the solid-framed gun is disassembled. Right bottom: The Winchester’s solid-frame magazine tube is unscrewed and the action slide is removed. azine to be pushed out the bottom of the receiver under pressure of the magazine spring. Now move the action-slide handle (#1597the wooden forearm) to the rear as far as it will go and look into the loading port in the receiver to be sure there is no cartridge in the barrel’s chamber or sitting in the carrier (#9597).

When you are sure the shotgun is empty, return the action slide to the forward position, hold back on the hammer (#13197) with your thumb, and pull the trigger. Then allow the hammer to ease forward, supporting it with your thumb. 2. For solid-framed guns (pictured), unscrew and remove the magazineband screw, then slide the magazine band (#14597) forward and off the barrel (#4197). Unscrew and remove the magazine-plug screw (#15597) from the front side of the magazine tube (#14297).

Use caution here; the magazine spring is pushing forward on the magazine plug, so be sure to hold the plug in place with your thumb as you remove the screw. Then ease the magazine plug (#15497) forward and out of the magazine tube. The magazine spring (#16397) and magazine follower (#16597) are now removed out the front of the tube. Next, unscrew and remove the magazine-retaining screw (not shown) from the side of the receiver. Now you’ll be able to unscrew the magazine tube in a counter-clockwise direction.

Once the magazine tube has been unscrewed, pull forward on the action-slide handle (#1597), causing the magazine tube and action slide assembly to withdraw forward and off the gun. Further disassembly of this component group is not normally required. For takedown guns, push in on the magazine-plug locking pin (#15312) and make use of the long end (now sticking up) to rotate the magazine tube (#14297) counter-clockwise for about one-half turn or until it will pull forward.

Pull the magazine tube forward as far as it will go, and then push forward on the action slide handle. You can now rotate the barrel assembly one-quarter turn counter-clockwise, at which point the barrel/magazine-tube assembly can be withdrawn off the front of the receiver. 3. Start the disassembly of the action by unscrewing and removing the carrier-pin stop screw (#10897) from the rear of the receiver. This is the screw located just behind and to the left of the hammer.

Working with the hammer down, push down on the carrier (#9597) and then cock the hammer. Next, use a pin punch to drive out the carrier pin (#10797) in either direction. Unscrew and remove the cartridge-guide stop screw (#8197) from the lower right side of the receiver. The entire carrier assembly is now ready to be lifted out the bottom of the receiver. The breech bolt (#5897) can be disengaged from the action-slide hook (#3597) by unscrewing and removing the action-slide hook screw (#3697).

This screw will be found on the lower front of the breechbolt. Use a small screwdriver to pull the action-slide hook down and away from the breech bolt. You can now pull the breech bolt out the rear of the receiver. Reach into the receiver and retrieve the action slide hook, being careful to note the position of the action-slide hook for reassembly later on. 4. To remove the buttstock and the trigger group, unscrew and remove the two buttplate screws (#9112) and lift off the buttplate (#7397).

Using a large, long-shank screwdriver, reach into the center hole in the buttstock (#6297) to unscrew and remove the buttstock bolt along with its washer (#7097.) The buttstock is now free to be pulled off the rear of the receiver. Using a pin punch and small hammer, drift out the trigger pin (#18297). The trigger-guard bow assembly (#13097) is now ready to be pulled straight out the rear of the receiver. The trigger (#18197) is loose and can be removed.

Note that you will need a slave pin, the width of the guard and

With the hammer cocked, the carrier is pulled out the bottom. no wider, to help you in reassembling the guard bow assembly back onto the Winchester’s receiver. The steel slave pin should be .125 inch diameter and .900 inch long. 5. Disassembly of the subassemblies comes next. For the barrel on takedown models, unscrew and remove the two magazine-plug screws (#15597), while being careful to hold your finger over the magazine plug (#15497) which is under tension from the magazine spring (#16397).

Carefully remove the magazine plug and the magazine-plug stop (#15697) from the front of the magazine tube. Make careful note of the position of these parts for reassembly. Next, unscrew and remove the two magazine-band bushing screws (#14897) and pry the magazine band (#14597) apart slightly. This will allow you to slide the entire magazine and action-slide assembly forward and then off the barrel.

The magazine band now slides off to the front of the magazine tube. (Be certain to make note of how the band and its bushing come off.) Further disassembly is normally not needed, but if it is required, a special spanner wrench will be needed to remove the action-slide sleeve screw cap (#2597). 6. When disassembling the breechbolt, the firing pin (#12497) is removed by first unscrewing the firingpin lock screw (#12797) and then removing the firing-pin lock (#12697) and its coil spring (#12897).

Next, the firing-pin stop pin (#12997) is driven out of the breech bolt (#5897) from either side using a suitable pin punch and hammer. Once out, the firing pin can be withdrawn out the rear. For normal cleaning and maintenance, the extractors need not be removed. Should removal be necessary for part replacement, the right-hand extractor (#10997) is pivoted to the rear and upwards slightly.

At the same time, you must force the right-hand extractor plunger (#11397) to the rear and hold it there with a dental pick or a tiny screwdriver. At this point, the right-hand extractor can now be pivoted forward and pulled straight out of the breech bolt. In this operation, the extractor plunger is under heavy spring tension, so ease it forward and then pull it and its spring (#11497) out of the breech bolt. The left-hand extractor (#11197) is removed by using a pin punch and hammer to drift

Winchester Model 1897 Slide-Action Shotgun (12-gauge part numbers shown) 297 Action Slide 1597 Action Slide Handle 2597 Action Slide Sleeve Screw Cap 2697 Action Slide Lock 2797 Action Slide Lock Joint Pin 2897 Action Slide Lock Joint Pin Stop Screw 2997 Action Slide Lock Spring 3097 Action Slide Lock Spring Screw 3197 Action Sld. Lk.

Release Plunger 3297 Action Slide Lock Release Plunger Pin 3397 Action Slide Lock Release Plunger Pin Spring 3497 Action Slide Spring 3597 Action Slide Hook 3697 Action Slide Hook Screw 3797 Action Slide Complete 3312 Adjusting Sleeve, Takedown 3897 Adjusting Sleeve Lock, TD 3997 Adj.

Sleeve Lock Screw, TD 4197 Barrel 4597 Barrel Chamber Ring, Takedown 4797 Barrel Chamber Ring Retaining Screw, Takedown 5497 Breech Bolt 5897 Breech Bolt, Complete 6297 Buttstock 7097 Buttstock Bolt & Washer 7397 Buttplate 9112 Buttplate Screw 7797 Cartridge Guide 7997 Cartridge Guide Friction Spring 8097 Cartridge Guide Rivet 8197 Cartridge Guide Stop Screw 8297 Cartridge Stop & Spring, Right 8397 Cartridge Stop & Spring, Left 9097 Cartridge Stop Spring 9197 Cartridge Stop Screw, Right 9297 Cartridge Stop Screw, Left 9597 Carrier 10797 Carrier Pin 10897 Carrier Pin Stop Screw 10997 Extractor, Right 11197 Extractor, Left 11397 Extractor Plunger, Right 11497 Extractor Plunger Spring, Right 11597 Extractor Pin, Left 11797 Ejector Spring 11997 Ejector Spring Screw 12097 Ejector Pin 12297 Extension, Takedown 12397 Extension Stop Screw, TD 12497 Firing Pin 12697 Firing Pin Lock 12797 Firing Pin Lock Screw 12897 Firing Pin Lock Spring 12997 Firing Pin Stop Pin 13097 Guard Bow 13197 Hammer 13297 Hammer Pin 13397 Hammer Stirrup 13497 Hammer Stirrup Pin 13597 Mainspring 13697 Mainspring Strain Screw 13797 Mainspring Pin 14097 Magazine Tube, Takedown 14297 Magazine Tube Complete, TD 14597 Magazine Band, Takedown 14897 Mag.

Band Bushing Screw, TD 15097 Magazine Band Bushing, TD 15497 Magazine Plug, Takedown 15597 Magazine Plug Screw, TD 15697 Magazine Plug Stop, Takedown 15897 Magazine Stop, Takedown 15312 Magazine Lk. Pin & Spring, TD 15512 Magazine Locking Pin Spring 16397 Magazine Spring 16597 Magazine Follower 16897 Receiver, Takedown 17697 Receiver Shank 17797 Sear 17897 Sear Pin 17997 Sear Spring 18097 Sear Spring Screw 18197 Trigger 18297 Trigger Pin 18397 Trigger Spring 18497 Trigger Stop Screw 17812 Spanner Wrench

Above top: The Model 1897 bolt is shown here with the firing-pin mechanism removed. The only part not shown is the firing-pin lock spring. Notice the left-hand extractor is still on the bolt. Above bottom: The instructions for removing the Model 1897s mainspring might sound complicated, but the process will seem easy once you have done it. out its pin (#11597). Then the extractor is lifted out of its recess in the bolt. 7.

The carrier can be disassembled by unscrewing and removing the searspring screw (#18097) and the searspring (#17997). Using a suitable pin punch and hammer, drift out the sear pin (#17897) and lift the sear (#17797) out from the bottom of the carrier. Drift out the mainspring pin (#13797) and then loosen the mainspring-strain screw (#13697).

With the hammer moved all the way forward, use a small punch to drive the mainspring to make it slide toward the front of the carrier (#9597) and then reach up through the sear opening with a small screwdriver to disengage the mainspring from the hammer stirrup (#13397). Lift up on the cartridge guide (#7797) as far as it will go and use a 1/8-inch pin punch to push the hammer pin (#13297) out towards the left side of the carrier. Lift the hammer (#13197) out through the top of the carrier.

The action-slidelock release plunger is now lifted out the right side of the carrier. Further disassembly of this subassembly is not normally required. The small part to the lower left is the actionslide-lock release plunger, which lives behind the cartridge guide. 8. To disassemble the receiver, work from the left side and unscrew and remove the ejector-spring screw (#11997) and lift out the ejector spring (#11797). The ejector pin (#12097) can now be pushed in from the outside.

Note the position of these parts for reassembly. Looking up at the bottom of the Winchester’s receiver, unscrew and remove the left-hand cartridge-stop screw (#9297) and lift out the cartridge stop and left-hand spring (#8397). Be sure to keep this screw with the cartridge stop and put them in an envelope marked "left." Now unscrew and remove the right-hand cartridge-stop screw (#9197) and lift out the right-hand cartridge stop (#8297).

Like before, keep this screw together with its cartridge stop in a separate envelope. The action-slide-release plungers (#3297) are held in by the actionslide-release plunger-pin springs (#3397). Pry up on the portion of the spring farthest away from the pin to remove its tiny bent head from its hole in the receiver. The spring can be pulled out of the pin and the pin pushed out of the receiver. That completes the disassembly of the Winchester Model 1897 slide-action shotgun.

Reassembly proceeds in the reverse order of above. I