M1897 Trench Gun replica

The import repros of 1897 are fairly inexpensive. I think I want one!

Here is a nice looking one, just needs a bayonette. ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R9gkN3O3F8&feature=related




Anyone know anything about the knock off 1897s?

They say the Norinco clone is decent.

From the gunsmiths I've talked to down here, opinions range from "Commie crap" to "not bad for a knock-off." Your mileage may vary...

My FFL says he found a Norinco. Hopefully it will be here next week without any ... surprises. I'll take some pictures.

Meanwhile- I'm sick Hope it warms up a little this weekend so I can get out and move around.

Edit: found a repro of the correct bayonet

. Repro 1897 is here. Initial impressions: Out of the box I had mixed feelings. It was greased up similar to import surplus rifles, thick grease applied liberally. The action felt stiff and gritty. After cleaning out the grease and replacing it with my preferred gun oil, then working the action for a while, things got much smoother. My smith has two original 1897s that I was able to handle for comparison. The action (after cleaning) felt pretty close to the originals. The 1897 action doesn't feel as smoot as many of the modern pump action shotguns I've handled, but it's not bad.

. As far a fit and finish, the receiver and barrel are nicely blued and the surface is without pits or scratches. The most noticeable difference from the originals was fasteners and small parts, and the plastic butt pad. Some of it may be from age, but the smaller and less noticeable parts did have more of a smooth look and feel on the originals. His shotguns did not have the heat shield/ bayonet lug, so how accurate this part is to an original I cannot say. Considering a few weeks ago I had no idea there was a reproduction M1897, I'm pretty happy with the gun.

. The correct bayonet seems to be the M1917. I am not 100% sure on the sling, but picked up a repro WWI 1907 sling marked "HOYT 1917" off of Ebay. Triela has some sort of cheek pad in the anime ( have not read the manga yet ) I have to pass on that, maybe I have a fat face but that would be too much.



If there are any breakages or issues I will update.

A bit too long for me to hold.

Is that the same gun who used by Triela?

Yes, it is the same weapon Triela uses.

I see. Well thank for telling me.

It has been a few months now, I've not had any failures with the shotgun, but I did find a crack in the wrist of the stock. IAC sent a replacement stock free of charge.

emperor wrote:A bit too long for me to hold.

It's really not that large compared to modern shotguns, considering the "Trench Gun" is a shortened version already. The stock may be too long / short depending on your arms though.

@124C41, you should seriously rock that thing in Cowboy Action Shooting or whatnot... or just turn heads at the local skeet range xD

That's what most use that model for (Cowboy action shooting).



Funny story about the 1897 repros is that when Norinco first came out with it, it sucked. One of the best SASS (Single Action Shooting Society) gunsmith-types with tons of expirence on the original models went to the factory in China to help them out in fixing them. After that, they expirenced fewer problems.

Nice rig 124C41. Man, I wonder if this bad boy's available here in CA. Saw a few forums suggesting that the Norinco '97 has even better metallurgy than the original. Gonna have to check out our local gun show in October...

Now all you need is a fanatical 14-year old blonde with twin-tails to shoot it.