M97 military RR riot SG

B

boomerangsrd

Inactive
I'll try to keep this short, please bare with me. I have a M97 riot gun that is marked: Fort Sherman
CZ
PRR
Manufactured in 1938 and correct to the best of my knowledge.
This shotgun was issued to my father sometime in 1940 or 41.
Along with the SG he was also issued a Colt m1911.
Since his death in 1986 my mother has slowly spread out between my brother and I most of his personal military memorobilia. Specifically, the SG which I have, and the pistol to my brother. I also have a couple of his photo albums from Fort Sherman and Fort Kobbe CZ, Panama. On the first page is are several hand written entries from my father. Of which include the ser#'s for both the pistol and the SG.
While in Panama he was attached to the 41st QM Bn.--a railroad security detachment and the 82nd Coastal AA Bn. He left Panama in Dec. 1943.
From there he went to Fort Francis E. Warren Wyoming for more training, thru Mar.1944
Arrived in the ETO May 1944 - Aug. 1945
He always spoke fondly of his time in Panama. Yet nary a word of the ETO.
Enjoy the pics;
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Fort Sherman CZ/007-1.jpg?t=1265220471
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Fort Sherman CZ/002-2-1.jpg?t=1265220503
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Fort Sherman CZ/002-1.jpg?t=1265220797
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Fort Sherman CZ/005.jpg?t=1265221120
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Fort Sherman CZ/006.jpg?t=1265220524
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Fort Sherman CZ/005-1.jpg?t=1265220554
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Fort Sherman CZ/Img_1325.jpg?t=1265220593
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Fort Sherman CZ/009-1.jpg?t=1265220624
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Fort Sherman CZ/010-1.jpg?t=1265220659
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Fort Sherman CZ/013-1.jpg?t=1265220715
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Fort Sherman CZ/011.jpg?t=1265220758
 
Wow....

What a great collection of memorabilia. And a fantastic shotgun to boot.

While technology and fashion have moved on, the 97 is still one of the great fighting shotguns and a good choice today.

Yours has some collector's value, but as your Dad's gun, it's priceless.

DO shoot it once in a while.....
 
I am a student of military firearms and would like to ask you a few questions if I may. First does this shotgun have any other markings indicating US owership? Many will have a "US" stamped into the reciever and also a "flaming bomb" stamp in the barrel near the reciever. Are their any other stampings in the stock? Lastly what is the barrel length and what is the choke markings on the barrel? With such fine documentations that you have, it helps us researchers and these documents help greatly in understanding historic arms.P.S. to properly measure a barrel, make sure gun is unloaded, close the action and run a dowel down the barrel till it hits the bolt face, mark the dowel at the end of the barrel, then remove the dowel and measure it.
 
No other markings in the wood or receiver beyond the factory Winchester markings. Cyl choke, barrel lenght is 20 1/4 in. Measured from the muzzel to the closed bolt position.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Fort Sherman CZ/003-1.jpg?t=1265298873
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/004.jpg?t=1265298197
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Fort Sherman CZ/004.jpg?t=1265298919
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Fort Sherman CZ/014-2.jpg?t=1265299060

Talk about having a monkey on your back,
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d55/boomerangsrd/Fort Sherman CZ/Img_1320.jpg?t=1265298978

On a slightly different note, I also have about 40-50 photo's that my father in law took of "Nose Art" throughout the south pacific during WW2.
He was a Navy corpsman and as he bounced around the south pacific he would take pics of all the aircraft nose art he could. My brother in law said that at one time there was a shoebox stuffed full of pics. By the time they came into my possesion most had been lost or destoyed.
If there is any interest I will post some pics of nose art.
 
There is so much more to it also. I've barely scratched the surface.
My mother is a English War bride and the stories she has about the German
blitz, the 8th Air Force, air raids and the build up for operation Overlord ect.ect.
One of her brothers landed (in a glider) in the jungles of Burma.
Another brother was captured at Tobruk (I think, it was N. Africa for sure)
My fathers younger brother was with HQ & HQ Co. 101st AB on D-Day.
I'll get the nose art pics out tommorow.
 
 
Thanks for the imfo BOOMERANG. If you didnt notice yours is a solid frame (non-takedown) model 97. While not rare they are uncommon. With a 20" barrel marked cylinder choke it should be original length. The military often bought such longer barreled guns off the shelf of the local hardware store and cut them off to 20" then Xed out the original choke marking and hand stamped "cly" underneath original choke marking. Lastly I still feel this was a quartermaster local purchase as it has no other US markings that all CONTRACT riot gund were required to have. Though many were so purchased it has always been difficult to document. Yours however is an exception, with all the paperwork you have. Thanks for the photos and any of your relatives still alive that served thank them for me.
 
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