Manufactured in 1918, this is a scarce and very fine 1897 Winchester Trench Gun. An evolution of the riot shotgun, the trench gun is chiefly associated with combat on the Western Front of World War One, where they were a potent but controversial tool for trench raiding and night fighting. In a close-up fight, a slam-fired 1897 could blanket an area with flying lead, a rare asset in a war the first submachine guns were just being introduced and most machine guns were too massive for a single operator to swing around unsupported in a dynamic fight. A single bead sight is installed on the bayonet lug, with a 6-hole ventilated heat shield marked "PAT. JAN. 15 & MARCH 19 1918", cylinder marked choke, 2 3/4 inch chamber and standard markings. No U.S. military markings are present. Fitted with a ribbed forearm and a smooth pistol grip stock, with a checkered Winchester buttplate, and a 13 3/4 inch length of pull. "3" is stamped into the left side of the buttstock, possibly a rack or inventory number. The bayonet measures 21 3/4 inches overall, with a 17 inch "W" marked blade, ribbed wood grips, and a green leather and blued steel sheath.