Winchester Model 1897 Trench Gun manufactured c. 1943. This shotgun has the standard Winchester 20-inch, cylinder bore, takedown barrel with filled front sight bead hole. The barrel is fitted with a blued WWII type four-hole handguard mounted on a parkerized bayonet adapter with WWI "PAT APPL FOR" markings on the right side. Sling swivels are mounted on the bayonet adapter and stock. The left side of the receiver is roll-stamped: "U.S." followed by the Ordnance 'Shell & Flame' insignia. A Shell & Flame insignia is stamped on the top of the barrel ahead of the Winchester proof mark. The left side of the stock is stamped with the Ordnance final inspection mark consisting of the initials "G.H.D." enclosed in a rectangle above a small Ordnance escutcheon. The upper left side of the receiver is stamped with an oval Winchester "W/P" proof mark. A similar proof is stamped on the top of the barrel. The Winchester patent markings and legend on the right and left sides of the barrel are partially covered by the four-hole handguard. The left side of the barrel is roll-stamped: "2 3/4 CHAM./CYL." in two lines. The serial number is stamped across the bottom edge of the receiver and stamped on the bottom of the takedown collar. The barrel, magazine, bolt and receiver have the Winchester commercial blue finish. The straight grain, American walnut stock and forearm have the standard Winchester semi-gloss finish. The stock is fitted with a black, checkered, hard rubber buttplate embossed with "WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO." in the center.

Fine. The replaced bayonet adapter is a WWI component that has been re-parkerized and fitted with a blued WWII style four-hole handguard. The handguard retains nearly 99% of the refinished blue finish. The bayonet adapter shows scattered light pitting beneath the black parkerized finish. The barrel, magazine, bolt and receiver retain at least 90% of the original Winchester commercial blue finish with minor scratches and high point wear. The stock and forearm are in very fine condition and retain much of the original semi-gloss varnish finish with scattered handling and storage marks. The Ordnance inspection marks on the left side of the stock are crisp.