Hi Guys. I live in New Zealand and want to know if any of you know what COLA S.C. P.D means stamped on my 1897. And is it more valuable than just a regular 1897. Im guessing pd means police department, being a riot gun and all. 1920 year of manufacture any ideas guys? Attached are some pictures.
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Winchester 1897 identification please.
- Thread starter burb122
- Start date
Tom Doniphon
New member
Hello burb122. My guess is that the mark stands for Columbia, South Carolina Police Department.
Are you sure it's of 1920 mfg.? Can you give us the serial number or at least a partial of the number? Reason I ask is because just about every production table for these guns found on the Internet is incorrect.
Are you sure it's of 1920 mfg.? Can you give us the serial number or at least a partial of the number? Reason I ask is because just about every production table for these guns found on the Internet is incorrect.
Crunchy Frog
New member
Columbia is the capital city of the state of South Carolina. "Cola" is a common abbreviation for Columbia, so unless this is faked, the shotgun was once owned by the Columbia, SC police department (I don't know why anyone would fake it).
Looks like this came from the factory in "riot gun" configuration since the barrel is stamped with cylinder bore. I think those have a little more collector's value, although it appears that yours has perhaps been refinished and the wood replaced which would hurt its value to a collector.
Shoot it and enjoy it!
Looks like this came from the factory in "riot gun" configuration since the barrel is stamped with cylinder bore. I think those have a little more collector's value, although it appears that yours has perhaps been refinished and the wood replaced which would hurt its value to a collector.
Shoot it and enjoy it!
Tom Doniphon
New member
S/N 688498 would have been made around mid 1918. So it was made during WW1.
My personal opinion would be be that the metal seems to be unfinished, and that the wood, most notably the butt stock, has been refinished. I can't see the forearm good enough to make a statement on that although it does look darker than the butt stock. From my experience, the wood should not be shiny or glossy at all.
As for your serial number of 688498, both ProofHouse.com and my own personal Winchester Dates of Manufacture book have the starting serial number of 668058 beginning in 1920 and the starting serial number of 689790 beginning in 1921, so according to those references your 1897 was built in 1920.
As for your serial number of 688498, both ProofHouse.com and my own personal Winchester Dates of Manufacture book have the starting serial number of 668058 beginning in 1920 and the starting serial number of 689790 beginning in 1921, so according to those references your 1897 was built in 1920.
Tom Doniphon
New member
The Proofhouse production tables as well as the Winchester Serial Number book, and just about every other production table out there for these guns, are incorrect.
The shotgun was made in 1918. That date is from the Winchester Polishing Room records. Those records are the date that the serial number was applied to the receiver.
The shotgun was made in 1918. That date is from the Winchester Polishing Room records. Those records are the date that the serial number was applied to the receiver.