J.S. Sooner, SASS #73526 Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 I have wanted to buy a 97 for some time now. As luck would have it, I missed out on a real nice one a couple of months ago at a local shop. I found another cowboy that has two and is willing to sell one to me. Without ever owning one I do not know what to look for on a 97. With access to the SASS Wire I searched for tips on purchasing an older 97, but have not found the information needed. The guns I am looking at are both take down models. One is an "E" gun made about 1923, not much bluing left on the gun with about a 19-20" barrel. The other one has been re-blued, age unknown at this time, with an 18" barrel. What should I look at? and what type of problems should I be aware of in a 97 of this age? With the one having an 18" barrel on it, how would it be measured to be sure it is at least 18"? 2 97's I am going to look at soon Any input would be welcome. Thank you, JS Sooner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prof. Fuller Bullspit Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Barrels are measured with a dowel. Mark a dowel at 18". Make sure the gun is unloaded. Close the action and drop the dowel down the barrel. The barrel needs to be longer than the 18" mark. On a take down, make sure that the gun is tight, but doesn't have a lot of spacers. You want some room on the takedown adjustment. Also check the mag tube. These can get worn and then they don't stay in place. It is very disconcerting to have your mag tube slid forward as you try to work the action! Make sure it will feed dummy shells from the magazine. Make sure the flag works. It should not fall down too easily. Make sure that the action is locked up before the hammer can fall. Hold the trigger down (gun unloaded) and close the action. If the hammer falls before the action is closed this can be adjusted, but do check. Check for cracks in the wrist. There is other stuff I'm sure, but that is what I can think of off the top of my head. Now let the experts tell you what you really need to know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Whiskers Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 Ask the seller if you can have your gunsmith check them both out before putting any money down on them.Some of the older ones have literally had the life shot out of them and some have been used very little.I know of a few shooters that bought original 97's that didn't check them out 1st and one got stung big time.It was so worn on the bolt rail that it couldn't be fixed.The other one was a safe queen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outlaw Gambler Posted November 2, 2011 Share Posted November 2, 2011 When buying from another cowboy you will hope he knows what he is selling another cowboy is in good condition. But to be sure, in addition to the previously listed items, here are a few more. 1. Look at the bore with a bore light, the older black powder guns had lots of pitting in the barrels and most of it is in the chamber area. 2. Open the action and with your thumb slowly push the bolt forward, watch the shell flag, it should come up as you slowly push the bolt forward. This is your first line of defense against an out of battery discharge. If the flad doesn't come all the way up when bolt is closed, there is a safety problem. 3. Open the action and move the end of the bolt up and down and sidways, the rule of thumb is if it moves either way more than a quarter of an inch the rails in the receiver may be worn beyond repair. This will also keep the bolt from cocking the hammer all the way since it will ride up over the top of the hammer. 4. Look at the hammer, is there excessive wear on the top crown? See last sentence in #3. 5. If a takedown, hold the barrel and mag tube in one hand and the receiver in the other and try to screw or unscrew them. They should not move. 6. Put an empty hull in the mag tube and work the action. The action should pick the spent hull out of the tube, it may not chamber it due to it being longer. If not just insert the same hull into the chamber and close the action. Now do two tests, with hammer cocked try to open the action - it should not open but rather be locked in battery. The second test is with hammer down, work the action to be sure the hull is extracted and ejected out of the gun. By no way is this a complete test of a 97, it would take too long to describe everything to look for but this will give you an idea of some of the major items. Finish is purely cosmetic and up to the individual. Hope this helps and good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.S. Sooner, SASS #73526 Posted November 3, 2011 Author Share Posted November 3, 2011 Prof. Fuller Bullspit: Thank you for instructions on measuring the barrel length; I don’t want to end up with a gun that needs a NFA tax stamp. I will look for the other items listed in your post also. Charlie Whiskers: The seller did have both 97’s gone over by a gunsmith, not one that I have met but I do know other cowboys that have purchased guns from this gunsmith. The cowboy gunsmith we purchased most of our guns from knows him too and said that he is a fair and honest guy. We are meeting at his shop, so I can ask him directly, what he thinks about the condition of these guns. Outlaw Gambler: Thank you for the checklist, I will take it with me. A gun that is in decent condition is what I am looking for, even if there are parts that are worn, that’s ok if it is just a new part or two. I just don’t want to get one that has too much wear on it and will not last a reasonable amount of time shooting out sport. As always, I knew that assistance could be found within this cowboy community. Thank you, JS Sooner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest diablo slim shootist Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 Buy a new one(IAC) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Smokepole #29248L Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 Buy a new one(IAC) That wouldn't be a Winchester though....... It'd be a Chinchester........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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