According to the included factory letter, this shotgun passed through the Winchester warehouse in December 1902, and the "COMMITTEE PUBLIC SAFETY" markings on the receiver are documented factory original. This shotgun was received in the warehouse on December 18, 1902, and shipped on December 22, 1902, on order number T105332. According to a previous consignor, this Committee of Public Safety was active in Galveston, Texas, in the aftermath of the Great Hurricane of 1900. Sharing a name with both the group in Revolutionary France and the Civil War era group responsible for preparing the state for secession, the committee had the unenviable task of maintaining law and order in the virtually demolished city. By body count this hurricane was the worst natural disaster in American history, with casualty estimates between six and twelve thousand (8,000 officially); virtually the entire city was demolished by a 15 foot storm surge, and the committee had to resort to forcing people at bayonet point to continue through the gruesome task of digging the corpses out of the rubble for disposal at sea or by mass incineration. Operating under a state of martial law, a mixture of civilian volunteers and regular Army soldiers on loan to the committee kept order in the streets during the cleanup. Manufactured with a single nickel bead sight, with a "CYL" marked choke, two-line address and patent dates on top of the barrel, "WINCHESTER/MODEL 1897" on the action bar and "-COMMITTEE PUBLIC SAFETY-" on the left side of the receiver, a 17-groove forearm and a smooth pistol grip stock with a steel buttplate. Length of pull is 13 inches.

Very fine, with 80% plus bright original blue finish, areas of brown patina, concentrated on the receiver, bright edge wear, cycling marks on the magazine, and minor handling marks overall. A few of the screws have been turned. The stock is excellent, with some mild dents and scuffs. Mechanically excellent.