Winchester Model 97 Trench Gun manufactured in 1942 with bayonet adapter and early style, six-hole, ventilated handguard. Sling swivels are mounted on the stock and bayonet adapter. This shotgun is the standard WWII takedown configuration utilized for WWII production Model 97 Trench Guns. The early style six-hole handguard is the same pattern utilized on WWI production Model 1897 Trench Guns. This handguard was used only on the early production Model 97 Trench Guns and was replaced with the more common four-hole handguard sometime in 1942. The Trench Gun has the standard Winchester commercial blue finish with straight grain American walnut stock and forearm. The stock has the Winchester black, checkered, hard rubber buttplate with the round Winchester logo in the center. The left side of the receiver is roll-stamped with "U.S." property mark followed by the Ordnance Corps "Shell & Flame" insignia. The combination of "U.S." and the Ordnance insignia was used only on early production WWII Model 97 Trench Guns; most WWII Model 97 Trench Guns were marked only with "U.S." on the left side of the receiver. A second Shell and Flame insignia is stamped on the top of the barrel. The left side of the stock is stamped with the Ordnance final inspection marks which consist of the block initials "G.H.D." enclosed in a rectangle above a small Ordnance Corps escutcheon. The upper right side of the barrel is roll-stamped with the two-line Winchester address and Model 97 patent dates. The upper left side of the barrel is roll-stamped: "MODEl 97-WINCHESTER-12 GA./- TRADE MARK-" in two lines followed by "2 3/4 CHAM./CYL." in two lines. The oval Winchester "W/P" proofmark is stamped on the top of the barrel and receiver. The underside of the barrel is dated "42". The serial number E/945419" is stamped across the underside of the receiver. "945419" is stamped across the bottom of the takedown collar. An aluminum tag embossed with the serial number is wired to the upper sling swivel. The shotgun is complete with a WWII russet leather Model 1905 sling stamped "BOYT/-44-" and a Winchester Model 1917 Bayonet with scabbard. The bayonet has a parkerized blade with military blue hilt and ricasso and walnut grips. The obverse ricasso is stamped with the WWI style Shell and Flame insignia over "U.S.", and the reverse is stamped with "1917" over an encircled "W" (Winchester) maker's mark. The post-WWII production scabbard is stamped "US-M1917/B.M. CO." on the throat. Winchester Model 97 Trench Guns were used extensively by Marine Corps combat units in the Pacific Theater during WWII and continued in service through the Vietnam Conflict. Many Model 97 Trench Guns were factory overhauled and refinished. Original examples with the Winchester blue finish are scarce.

Excellent. This Trench Gun is all original and retains 95% of the Winchester blue finish. Wear is limited to a number of light storage marks and scratches on the sides of the receiver. The stock and forearm are in excellent condition with minor handling marks and have most of the original finish. The Ordnance final inspection marks on the left side of the stock are extremely sharp. The markings on the barrel and receiver are crisp. The russet leather M1905 sling remains in very good condition. The M1917 bayonet is in very fine condition and retains nearly 90% of the original blue and parkerized finish. The scabbard is in the same fine condition as the bayonet. This is an excellent example of a scarce, early production Winchester 97 Trench Gun with correct sling, bayonet and scabbard.