Rare Engraved Winchester Model 1897 Pigeon Grade Black Diamond Shotgun 1913 C&R

Serial #585896, 12 Gauge (2 3/4” chamber), 32 inch plain round barrel with a bright, excellent bore choked full. This made-to-order high grade, take down, Winchester Model 1897 features an engraved receiver with grouse hunting scene on the right and live pigeon shoot on the left, an engraved pigeon behind the hammer with four leaf clovers and roses on either side of the receiver top and other accent scrollwork with a prominent “Pigeon Gun” engraved on the breech block. The trigger guard is engraved “P.J. Ford”, likely the original owner and perhaps worthy of research. In very good overall condition the barrel and receiver retain perhaps 40-45% of the original blue finish which has worn to silver on the balance of the gun with some scratches and other use marks with a small ding about 2 inches from the muzzle. The receiver has a very handy, but non-original rear sight added that looks to be in an area that would allow for removal and concealment in a restoration. The wrist of the stock has the original black diamond inlay on either side. The checkered stock and forearm are solid with considerable wear on the latter showing only traces of the original checkering. The stock has several small contusions with a non matching wood filler piece at the comb that is about an inch long with some light overall use marks and sports a now hardened red rubber recoil pad. A very nice example of a rare shotgun that would be a strong candidate for full restoration. FFL or C&R