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Peak American: the Winchester 1897 Trench Gun in WW1 (ad-free)
🕑 Added 2023-08-21 12:00:01 +0000 UTCThe United States was the only country to use shotguns in World War One in a substantial way. It was not the first time the US had used such guns either; shotguns were used in the Philippines against the Moros and on the Mexican Punitive Expedition. For use in the Great War, however, it was deemed necessary to fit bayonets to them. At the request of the War Department, the Winchester company designed a bayonet mounting adapter for their Model 1897 pump-action shotgun, to use the M1917 bayonet that Winchester was also making at the time for the war effort.
Guns were first deployed to France in June 1918 for field testing, used with 9-pellet 00 buckshot in paper hulled cartridges. The reactions from troops in the field varied widely. Those who tended to be in relatively dry conditions with close-range combat tended to like them. Those in particularly wet areas had problems with the paper shells swelling, and those engaged in more open combat at range had little use for them. They were primarily used for military police roles like guarding POWs, but some did see combat.
The US military actually used Winchester 1897s in three different configurations. Guns like this one with bayonet mounts and heat shields, "riot" types with short (20") plain barrels, and long-barreled models used for training aircraft and anti-aircraft gunners. Numbers are conflicting and sources are complex, but the best assessment appears to be that approximately 12,000 trench models and about 18,000 riot models were sent to the Army (note that in the video I said 18,000 riot and training - that should have been just riot).
Comments
ViejoLobo
I have some experience with '97, Model 12 and Ithaca 37 slamfires. I have a lot more with 870s and 500s. It's, ah, disconcerting to have a round discharge unexpectedly while running a pump shotgun at speed. Had I been raised on slamfires I'd likely feel differently, but I prefer the 870 or the later Ithaca (which operates "conventionally"). The Model 12, too, was used by the US military in WW I. Don't know how much frontline combat it saw. Theoretically it would be better sealed against the environment, but the lack of a positive shell stop would make it tougher to reload.
Michael A Pickle
Is there any truth to the story that the USMC fared better because their shells were waxed to prevent water contamination.
Beverly Chmelik
I have an old 1897 takedown which is my survival/hikeing gun. that I bought years ago for bear protection in AK. I had a new barrel that I had cutdown with a Winchoke installed to a Canadian legal length as I occasionally flew intio Canada. The slam fire could be useful against a bear at near bayonet range.
Guido Schriewer
only issue were those shells. with todays plastic hulls back then my very first choice if I'd have to enter a trench with hostiles. screw subguns when there's a shotgun. if your shotgun doesn't takes a bayo I mean... what to do with that. useless. fortunately I have a 590....
Rick Notkin
“Heat shield”? I though that it was the shoulder thing that goes up. 😉
Kenneth Marshall
Oddly enough there was at least one aboard the USS Providence during Vietnam. My father has a n old photo of him with it. Ships /Navy would sometimes have an assortment of older weapons.
