This is an excellent example of a post WWI Winchester Model 1897 Solid Frame Trench Shotgun that was manufactured in late 1919. This trenchgun has an interesting history in that it was one of the trench guns sold by the Ivanhoe Company in 2004, after a dealer discovered that approximately "75" of these original Winchester trenchguns were in storage in Richmond Va. for the past 80 years. As it turns out these trenchguns were acquired by the local police department, with a few issued/used for police duty with the balance of them all placed in storage. When discovered they were in all original almost new condition. WWI trench shotguns were used during WWI, then after WWI for guard and prison duty and then reissued during WWII for use by the U.S.M.C. in the pacific and to some extent by the Army in Europe. This example has the correct 6 hole vented heat shield/bayonet lug mounted to the barrel with the side stamped: "PAT.JAN.15 & MAR.19.1918.". The side of the pump handle/slide bar is stamped "MODEL 1897/--WINCHESTER--/TRADE MARK REG. IN U.S.PAT.OFF.". The left side of the barrel has the two-line Winchester address and Patent dates followed by "12 GA., and CYL". There is a single steel bead sight on the heat shield, the barrel is choked cylinder and has a 2 3/4 inch chamber. It is fitted with the early style 18 groove walnut pump handle, the correct high comb buttstock with the black plastic, checkered Winchester marked buttplate. The length of pull being 13 3/4 inch over the buttplate. This beautiful shotgun comes with various documents which lists the serial number of this exact Trenchgun as one of those sold by Ivanhoe.

Excellent with 97% plus of the bright original blue finish overall with only minor blue loss on the edges and high spots with a minor drag line on the side of the magazine tube and the right side of the breech bolt, just from cocking this shotgun. The stock and pump handle are in excellent condition with all the oil finish with the stock just showing some minor light handling marks, probably from coming in contact with other shotguns. A really super nice condition totally original Winchester Model 1897 Trench Shotgun.