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Posted: 2/23/2026 3:47:57 PM EDT
| I have an old take down Winchester 1897 that u got for a real good price and am leaning toward sending off to have it converted into a Trench gun.......but a few people I know think I should sell it and get a Mossberg 590 or a Benelli.......what do you guys think? Always wanted a trench gun but the newer shotguns are appealing as well |
"The villainy you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction"
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For a play/range toy? Have the Winchester worked on. For something on which you'll bet your life? Get something newer. I bit the bullet and got an M4 myself. Signed up for a shotgun class in a few months to get some familiarity with it. |
Posterity! You will never know, how much it cost the present Generation, to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make a good Use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven, that I ever took half the Pains to preserve it.---John Adams
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Originally Posted By lil_Sig: If its in good condition. Keep it. They are getting harder and harder to find. It's in excellent condition, and I think I could depend on it if the SHTF......I also have a Benelli SuperNova with rifle signs and extended mag tube |
"The villainy you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction"
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I am thinking that with the good shape and all it has and will have a upward trending value more or less from a historical viewpoint (classy old gun that can be carefully shot now and then.} Any kind of "restoring" Converting" or "refinishing" might make it pretty but will pretty much kill the value of the piece. It is of course your gun to do as you wish with but gun values of the old original guns can be knocked for a loop by all sorts of well meaning projects |
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Originally Posted By nhsport: I am thinking that with the good shape and all it has and will have a upward trending value more or less from a historical viewpoint (classy old gun that can be carefully shot now and then.} Any kind of "restoring" Converting" or "refinishing" might make it pretty but will pretty much kill the value of the piece. It is of course your gun to do as you wish with but gun values of the old original guns can be knocked for a loop by all sorts of well meaning projects Well, the barrel has been chopped so it's not exactly original anymore which is why I was thinking of having it converted ......and it's much cheaper than 2,900 bucks for a surplus trench gun The FFL who transferred it to me has offered me 200 more than I bought it for but I've always wanted one |
"The villainy you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction"
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Get a Mossberg to beat on and If you want a Winchester 97 Trench gun and want it for fun and looks - go for it. Its been cut already. Most people who like 97s these days love a Trench even if it an original converted. You won't lose the investment. Is it better than a Mossberg 590 for home defense and beating on - Probably not. 97's handle a lot easier as a riot configuration vs Trench - I have both - the Trench is heavy and a little less easy to move with. A 97 is a fully capable pump to do its job for defense - it did it for >100 years. Frankly just get both. The 97 you will certainly enjoy as a Trench - nobody regrets having a Trench AND a beater HD Mossberg |
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Originally Posted By cherenkov: Get a Mossberg to beat on and If you want a Winchester 97 Trench gun and want it for fun and looks - go for it. Its been cut already. Most people who like 97s these days love a Trench even if it an original converted. You won't lose the investment. Is it better than a Mossberg 590 for home defense and beating on - Probably not. 97's handle a lot easier as a riot configuration vs Trench - I have both - the Trench is heavy and a little less easy to move with. A 97 is a fully capable pump to do its job for defense - it did it for >100 years. Frankly just get both. The 97 you will certainly enjoy as a Trench - nobody regrets having a Trench AND a beater HD Mossberg Kinda where I was leaning........I have a Benelli Super Nova that is tricked out and will eventually get the Mossberg, but the trench gun is one I have always wanted after shooting one that belongs to a relative |
"The villainy you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction"
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I have an original WW1 solid frame and a WW2 takedown trenchguns. I also have a 1912 takedown that was cut and made into a trench with a original WW1 heatshield. Thats the one I shoot most often. In retrospect I should have waited as it was an original 26 inch Cylnder bored gun with 90%+ blue. The heatshield cost me more than a gun back then. If yours has all ready been cut go for it. You wont lose anything making it into a trenchgun I bought a Stevens 520 to build into a trenchgun. It had a AB logo pressed into the stock in fancy letters. I thought it was a gaudy initials. Luckily a guy at the gunshow I bought it says hey an Anheuser-Busch guard shack gun. I haven't seen one of those in years. Glad I met him before I went home and pried the letters off. |
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My first consideration would be the condition of the gun. Is it all factory original, including original finish and barrel length? Or, has it been re-blued, previously cut (barrel or buttstock) or otherwise modified? Personally, I am chagrin to butcher an original example, even if the blueing is worn and ugly. For a previously modified gun, customize without giving it a second thought. Like others have posted, for a badass classic, butcher the model 1897. For something you may bet you or your family’s life on, go with a newer production gun. Of course, it’s your property and your money, do what you like with it. |
Life is short. If you are waiting for “someday”, it’s here!
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Seems like it’s already been messed with, Do it! I have one of the Norincos and love shooting it. I only know of one company doing the conversions but I thought they had some new old stock parts available so if something is worn out on your gun they will replace it. |
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Originally Posted By R71: Seems like it’s already been messed with, Do it! I have one of the Norincos and love shooting it. I only know of one company doing the conversions but I thought they had some new old stock parts available so if something is worn out on your gun they will replace it. Even the Norinco and IAC Trench Guns have collector interest and don't go inexpensively either. |
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Originally Posted By R71: Seems like it’s already been messed with, Do it! I have one of the Norincos and love shooting it. I only know of one company doing the conversions but I thought they had some new old stock parts available so if something is worn out on your gun they will replace it. Bull Creek Armory.......that's who is going to do the conversion |
"The villainy you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction"
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Originally Posted By Makarov: My first consideration would be the condition of the gun. Is it all factory original, including original finish and barrel length? Or, has it been re-blued, previously cut (barrel or buttstock) or otherwise modified? Personally, I am chagrin to butcher an original example, even if the blueing is worn and ugly. For a previously modified gun, customize without giving it a second thought. Like others have posted, for a badass classic, butcher the model 1897. For something you may bet you or your family’s life on, go with a newer production gun. Of course, it’s your property and your money, do what you like with it. The barrel has been cut already and it's missing a butt plate. I'd say the finish is 90% and the mechanical parts are in good shape I am going to go for it......a real deal trench gun is out of my budget range and this will fit the bill .as for a modern gun I have a Benelli Supernova |
"The villainy you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction"
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https://www.guns.com/search?keyword=Trench%20gun Check these out, that 97 is way overpriced! |
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Originally Posted By Ruckus: So what's an early 40's genuine trench gun worth. They were only built in that very short window correct? Thanks, not trying to Hijack. I've seen them for for 3,500 plus when looking at them on GB.....and the one the poster listed above me is 11k+......it's why I decided to roll my own |
"The villainy you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction"
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Originally Posted By cyclone: I've seen them for for 3,500 plus when looking at them on GB.....and the one the poster listed above me is 11k+......it's why I decided to roll my own Thank you Sir! Also, you definitely seem more educated on these than I, so if you or anyone else that has any good links you like to share I'd be most grateful. |
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