Winchester Model 1897
Winchester Repeating Arms · Shotgun · Discontinued · 1897
Also known as: Model 97, M97, Winchester 1897, Trench Gun, Riot Gun, Trench Sweeper
Overview
The Winchester Model 1897 is an external-hammer, pump-action shotgun chambered primarily in 12 gauge and fed from a tubular magazine. Refined by John Browning from his earlier Model 1893, it was the first truly successful pump-action shotgun and remained in production for 60 years. Its lack of a trigger disconnector allowed slam-firing, discharging a fresh shell each time the slide was racked forward with the trigger held down. The militarized Trench Gun variant, fitted with a 20-inch barrel, ventilated heat shield, and M1917 bayonet lug, became infamous in the trenches of World War I as a devastating close-quarters weapon.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3600 g (127.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 997 mm (39.25") |
| Barrel Length | 508 mm (20.00") |
| Action Type | Pump Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Tubular |
| Muzzle Velocity | 400 m/s (1312 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2560 J (1888 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 40 m (44 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Smoothbore |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 12 Gauge · primary — also known as 12GA, 12 Bore
Features
- Firing modes: Repeating
- Feed systems: Tubular Magazine
- Features: External Hammer, Takedown, Slam Fire, Tubular Magazine, Bayonet Lug, Heat Shield
Variants
- Winchester Model 1897 Trench Gun — Military
- Winchester Model 1897 Riot Gun — Law Enforcement
Service history
Operators
- United States Army · adopted 1917 · as Model 1897 Trench Gun
- United States Marine Corps
- Republic of China Army
Conflicts
- World War I (1914-1918)
- World War II (1939-1945)
- Korean War (1950-1953)
- Vietnam War (1955-1975)
Production
Estimated total produced: 1,024,700 · Production years: 1897-1957
Produced in both 12- and 16-gauge chamberings over a 60-year run.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: John Browning
Discontinued: 1957
Notes
The Trench Gun variant prompted a formal German diplomatic protest in 1918, claiming the shotgun violated the Hague Convention by causing unnecessary suffering; the United States rejected the complaint. Slam-fire capability made the Model 1897 distinctively fast for a manually operated repeater.
Background
American Doughboys nicknamed the Model 1897 Trench Gun the 'trench sweeper' for its ability to clear enemy trenches in seconds. The slam-fire feature let a soldier empty the magazine almost as fast as he could work the slide, raining buckshot at close range.