Recently aquired this Winchester 1897 shotgun, manufactured in 1901. It’s a non-take down model, with a 20" barrel.
It’s engraved on the receiver D.P.D. (Detroit Police Department).
For a shotgun that’s nearly 110 years old it is in fairly good condition.
Now, it I could only get it to talk! :big_boss:
Enjoy.
Very handsome shotgun you have there :neo:
Out of curiosity and should I ever have the opportunity to find one, can a non take-down one be converted to a take-down?
I don’t know that much about them. Maybe someone else can chime in.
I saw a shotgun just like that one over on another forum. 
The only thing I know about 'em is to keep your thumb out of the way if you value it.
Edited because I suck at reading
If you are asking if you can just replace the barrels and magazine tube with one from a take down model, no. The receiver would have to be machined to accept the interupted threads on the magazine tube and barrel extension. It would be cheaper to purchase a takedown model and have a 20" barrel put on it and even this would require some gunsmithing.
Bad ass. I love old steel.
Nope, they have to be manufactured from the get go.
Nice thunder stick, I am jealous.
I am partial to the '97.
Never, ever had a prob with the thumb… or with the slam fire feature.
Lots of parts and lots of things going on in there:
79 parts total
19 screws
10 flat springs not counting the buttplate trapdoor spring (if it has had a Thompson buttplate installed)
4 coil springs
… and lots of them still running, 113 years later. Go spend $500 on a shotgun today and call me in 113 years and let me know if it’s still working…