3645

World War II Winchester Model 1897 Trench Gun with Manhattan Project Association

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,700.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 5,500.00 USD
World War II Winchester Model 1897 Trench Gun with Manhattan Project Association
Buyer's Premium is 20.5% by credit card, reduced to 18% if payment is made by cash, check or wire transfer. Contact Rock Island Auction Company to complete your registration with the auction house.
World War II Winchester Model 1897 Trench Gun with Manhattan Project Association

Model 1897 Trench Gun manufactured by Winchester Repeating Arms c. 1943. The shotgun has 20-inch take-down barrel with brass sighting bead. The barrel is fitted with a four-hole, hand guard/bayonet lug, with a thick wire sling loop. The stock has the standard Winchester checkered, black, hard rubber buttplate with the embossed Winchester logo in the center and a factory sling swivel The shotgun has the Winchester commercial blue finish on the barrel, bayonet lug and receiver. The stock and slide handle are straight grain American walnut with a varnish finish. The lower left side of the receiver is roll-stamped with "U.S." followed by the Ordnance "Shell & Flame" insignia. A small "Shell & Flame" insignia is stamped on the top of the barrel just ahead of the receiver. The left side of the stock is stamped with the Ordnance final inspection mark which consists of the initials "W.B." enclosed in a rectangle above a small (1/4-inch) Ordnance escutcheon. A metal plate is attached to the left side of the stock by two round-head tacks. The plate is embossed: "USA-C.E.W./R-A/62637" in three lines. The left side of the barrel is stamped with the two-line Winchester legend followed by "2 3/4 CHAM./CYL." in two lines. The two line Winchester patent markings are roll-stamped on the right side of the barrel. The barrel markings are partially covered by the hand-guard/bayonet lug. The oval Winchester "W/P" proof marks are stamped on the top of the barrel ahead of the receiver and on the top of the receiver just to the left of the sighting groove. The serial number "E/952918" is stamped across the bottom of the receiver and "952918" is stamped across the bottom of the barrel on the take-down collar. Consignor information states that the plate is a property tag stands for "United States Army/Clinton Engineer Works/Roane-Anderson". This shotgun was issued to the guard force at the Manhattan Project nuclear facility located at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, during WWII. The Oak Ridge facility was the largest of a number of plants constructed as part of the Manhattan Project for the development of the atomic bombs dropped on Japan in August 1945. Oak Ridge was subsequently operated by the Atomic Energy Commission and later by the Department of Energy. Some weapons used by the guard force at Manhattan project sites were subsequently sold as surplus by the Department of Energy. This is a rare example of a WWII Winchester Model 1897 Trench Gun that can be linked to the Manhattan Project.

Manufacture: Winchester
Model: 97
BBL: 20 Inch
Stock: varnished walnut
Gauge: 12
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 952918

Very fine. The shotgun retains 85% of the original blue finish. The edges of the receiver and bayonet lug show handling wear on high points and there are extensive scattered spots of surface oxidation present on the barrel, hand guard and receiver. The magazine tube has moderate cycling wear and there is a small dent in the left side of the tube near the bayonet lug. The stock and forearm have much of the oil finish intact and are in fine overall condition with scattered handling and storage marks. The Ordnance final inspection mark on the left side of the stock is crisp. This is an historic example of a desirable WWII Winchester Model 1897 Trench Gun used to guard Manhattan Project atomic weapons facilities.