Old Winchester by JMB, timeless...

[Kano383]

Never been much of a shotgun type. I had a few, from a cheap single shot Brazilian CBC to some high-end engraved German O-U, but never warmed to any of them: sold them with no regrets, and no worthwhile memories.

Till I met this old pump. Years back, I had put it in the armory without giving it more than a cursory look: antiquated design, most of the finish gone, the wood covered in a dark layer of old shellac. It belonged to a friend and I was just the custodian.

Then, a couple of weeks ago I had to take care of its paperwork, and took it out.

Well... Under the grime, there was a surprisingly nimble, sweet-handling gun. Sleek, well balanced, "weight between the hands", from an era when it was artisans who built guns, not soulless machines. And I fell in love. I started researching its history, picking all the info I could gather, studying all I could find about these old timers.

Long story short, that 1897 will follow me home, and one of these days I'm taking it up North, in elephant and buffalo country... I'm sure that the old lady will like that.

 

[eastbank]

i have a 97 made in 1957 that is in very nice condition and love the click clack when fireng it and pumping in a new shell, i don,t hunt it too much any more. but i would like to kill a turkey with it, i have kill other small game with it.

 

[e rex]

I also have an old Black Diamond Trap 1897 much like yours. It was a gift from a family we helped out a bit. My serial # suggests it was made in 1912.
At some point in history it acquired a Weaver choke device. I still like to shoot a round of 16 yard trap with it about once a year.

 

[kudu]

Nice old Black Diamond Trap, too bad it was neglected, but should still be a decent shooter but it will have a full choke unless someone chopped it. And looking at the pictures it does look like someone chopped it. Should have a 28" or 30" barrel on it, looks about 25" long.

 

[Kano383]

Nice old Black Diamond Trap, too bad it was neglected, but should still be a decent shooter but it will have a full choke unless someone chopped it. And looking at the pictures it does look like someone chopped it. Should have a 28" or 30" barrel on it, looks about 25" long.

The barrel is cylinder bore, 24". Special order fitted at the factory a few years after purchase, not chopped. The bore is pristine, and according to my friend, it patterns very well. He measured it, and it's not a straight cylinder, it has a slight choke, same as Skeet 1. The gun was made in 1907.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Glad you finally saw the light! The 1897 is a smooth shooting, mule kicking, beautiful contraption. I own three, a pair of 12s and a 16, ranging from an antique to a 50s model. Just watch the web of your dominant thumb when racking it! That dog will bite