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Winchester 1897 serial numbers

loopasloopas Member Posts: 22 ✭✭
edited March 2002 in Ask the Experts
Can anyone tell me why there is a letter in front of the serial number on this gun? What does it stand for "E"????
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Comments

  • talontalon Member Posts: 150 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Is the serial number between 31609 to 63633? It was during this sequence that the m93 and m97 were using the same serialization. Perhaps the 'E' had something to do with that. However, as far as I remember, Winchester only used letters to mark: a. what production line it was produced on. This was either 'A' or 'B', but this didn't apply to the m93/97. b. Sometimes the serial was annotated with a letter when a MAJOR modification was made from the 1st pieces in the model run. I don't believe this practice was ongoing during the m97 period, but I could be wrong. And c: sometimes, for reasons that slip my mind, when extensive work was done on a piece that was sent in by the owner, the serial was obliterated and "WRA" stamped in its place.
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  • KnifecollectorKnifecollector Member Posts: 3,267 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have a 1897 with a serial # 271xx. It does not any letter prefix on the number.
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  • talontalon Member Posts: 150 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    knifeusercollections, are you sure that isn't a model 1893? According to Mr Madis there were no m97s made below serial # 31609.
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  • KnifecollectorKnifecollector Member Posts: 3,267 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yes it is a Winchester 1897. I double checked the serial number and it is correct.The blue book list the serial number range for 1st year guns as 1-32335.
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  • MIKE WISKEYMIKE WISKEY Member Posts: 10,035 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    getting back to the 'E' question, i have two 'E' m-97's. from working on many of these i believe the 'E' is a change in design, probably the cartridge stop.
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  • talontalon Member Posts: 150 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    On the serial number: I have no personal knowledge on these, but now I realize That the expert on this shotgun could be wrong. Although he spent many years at the factory, and MANY more years pouring over the records to complete his many Winchester books, and making very specific comments about the m93 and m97's serialization merger, it's hard to overlook your evidence. On the otherhand, I have no idea where Fjestad's Blue Book listing of ANY serial numbers come from. He does a fine job, mostly on depending upon others(?) contributions, but he doesn't mention where any specific data comes from.
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  • talontalon Member Posts: 150 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Back to my education: In as much as the model designation is on the operating rod, and the serials are on the receiver and receiver extention, querry if the receiver has an oblong extraction port on the side, or one with a port that extends to the top rear of the receiver. I ask because Mr Madis is quite specific in stating no m97 serials are below 31609. (He also shows a picture of a m93 having a "B" immediately above a serial number to identify one of it's major mechanical changes.)
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