Winchester 1897 barrel length

[ez45]

I recently bought an 1897 winchester shotgun. Serial number puts it as manufactured in 1906. It has a D stamped by the number. It is a takedown model and barrel is stamped full. My question is did they make any with 29 inch barrels? Measuring from the bolt face to the end of the barrel gets me 29 inches. And why would someone cut only an inch off?

 

[Armored farmer]

Will a dime fit in the muzzle?

 

[entropy]

I recently bought an 1897 winchester shotgun. Serial number puts it as manufactured in 1906. It has a D stamped by the number. It is a takedown model and barrel is stamped full. My question is did they make any with 29 inch barrels? Measuring from the bolt face to the end of the barrel gets me 29 inches. And why would someone cut only an inch off?

Dented muzzle.

 

[ez45]

Just barely does not fit.

 

[ez45]

Dented muzzle makes sense. Looks like the choke is still intact though.

 

[entropy]

Maybe in 1906 the 30" measurement was nominal, not literal.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Anything between 28 to 30 inch is very common for early 20th century shotgun barrel length for bird and small game hunting.

The dime in the muzzle is a rough field check for 12ga full choke.