Winchester M97

The Winchester Model 1897 was the first rifle with pump to be success. It gradually yielded the place to the Winchester M12.

Presentation

The Model 1897 was an evolution of the Winchester Modèle 1893 conceived by John Browning. Launched in June 1893, M93 suffered from a cartridge charged with blasting powder which does not convince the hunters. In 1897, the Winchester Repeating Arms Company proposed a version adapted to the powder without smoke and the volume of the sales makes forget the failure of M93. Until 1957, more than 1 million M97 were sold. It is equipped with an external dog and a tubular Magasin. It is the elevator which locks the cylinder head by taking support on the carcass. It was delivered in gauge 12 and 16. There also existed in dismountable version. Many lengths of gun were proposed.

Military use

The soldiers states-uniens used of it a version with short gun and tenon of bayonet, called Trench Gun , during the First World War. The speed of the operation of the pump of M97 and its capacity of 6 blows made it effective for the cleaners of trenches. It was given in service of number reduced in the US Army and the US Marine Body during the Second world war.

Police use

Called Riot Guns (anti-riot rifles), M97 intended for a police use are very close to the military version of the Great War. The gun is thus short (45,7 or 50,8 cm) but does not receive a bayonet. It equipped with many police services in the USA and armed the guards with the penitentiaries with many states.

Data sheet of military M97 version/police force

Gauge: 12
Canon: 51 cm
Length:

without bayonet: 99 cm
with bayonet: 1,43 m

Mass of empty rifle: 3,6 kg
Capacity of the store: 6 blows

Copied in China for the American gunners

The Chinese firm Norinco currently manufactures of it a copy less better finished than the original. It is very popular in the USA for the tests of Shooting Western. The models Riot-Guns and Trenchguns take the names of Norinco YL-1897 and YL-M-97.

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