Winchester Model 1897

Exposed hammer, no safety, and it may slam fire. Check all three states.

1. Point the muzzle in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger.
2. Note the hammer position. There is no manual safety on this gun — the hammer is the indicator.
   WarningHalf-cock is a hammer rest, not a safety.
3. Press the action slide lock and pull the forend rearward to open the action.
   Removed at this step: Chambered shell, if present
4. Cycle the action repeatedly, catching each shell, until no more feed from the magazine tube.
5. With the action open, inspect the chamber and look up the magazine tube with a light.
   WarningChamber and tube, both.
6. Physically confirm the chamber is empty, then lower the hammer carefully with the chamber confirmed empty.
   WarningLower the hammer under control with the muzzle in a safe direction.
7. Remove all live ammunition from the work area.

Takedown models separate into two halves. Solid-frame guns do not.

1. Complete the Clear and Make Safe procedure.
2. On a takedown model, release the takedown screw at the front of the receiver.
   WarningSolid-frame guns have no takedown joint. Do not force anything.
   Removed at this step: (screw released)
3. Pull the action slide lock, move the forend partway rearward, then rotate the barrel and magazine assembly a quarter turn and separate it from the receiver.
   Removed at this step: Barrel and magazine tube assembly
4. Clean the bore from the breech end of the separated barrel, and clean the bolt face, chamber, and receiver interior.
5. Stop here. The Model 97 action has many small parts in a specific order and parts are scarce.
   WarningIf the gun is malfunctioning, take it to a gunsmith who knows pre-war Winchesters.

Removes the carrier (which carries the hammer, sear and action slide lock) from the receiver after the barrel, magazine and action slide group are off. TM 9-285 assigns this to the using arm (troop level): par. 1c says disassembly and assembly 'will be undertaken only under the supervision of an officer or the chief mechanic', and the field-inspection paragraph limits using troops to the removal and replacement of groups described here. Anything further (adjustment, stoning, trigger work, headspace) goes to ordnance personnel. TM 9-285 allows this to using troops only under the supervision of

Follows TM 9-285, Shotguns, All Types — War Department, par. 8 a (3), pp. 25, 28 archive.org [3]

1. Remove the barrel, magazine and action slide group (take-down gun), or the magazine and action slide group (solid-frame gun), first.
2. Unscrew the carrier pin stop screw, visible in the left top wall of the carrier just to the rear of the hammer tang.
   Removed at this step: Carrier pin stop screw
3. Drift out the carrier pin, which runs through both receiver walls just below the carrier seat.
   Removed at this step: Carrier pin
4. Remove the shell guide stop screw from the lower rear extremity of the right-hand wall of the receiver.
   Removed at this step: Shell guide stop screw
5. With the hammer cocked, depress the action slide lock release plunger pin in the right wall of the receiver so the lock does not catch on the receiver wall.
6. Insert a screwdriver through the ejection opening and pry gently on the carrier to start it downward.
   TipIf the release plunger will not work, put a small screwdriver blade into the cut in the lower left forward face of the carrier and pry the action slide lock inward.
7. Rotate the carrier down and out of the receiver through the lower opening.
   Removed at this step: Carrier group

With the carrier out, the action slide hook is unscrewed from the bolt and the bolt slides out the rear of the receiver. TM 9-285 assigns this to the using arm (troop level): par. 1c says disassembly and assembly 'will be undertaken only under the supervision of an officer or the chief mechanic', and the field-inspection paragraph limits using troops to the removal and replacement of groups described here. Anything further (adjustment, stoning, trigger work, headspace) goes to ordnance personnel. TM 9-285 allows this to using troops only under the supervision of an officer or the chief mechani

Follows TM 9-285, Shotguns, All Types — War Department, par. 8 a (4), p. 28 archive.org [3]

1. Remove the carrier group first.
2. With the breech bolt fully forward, remove the action slide hook screw from the right forward face of the breech bolt.
   Removed at this step: Action slide hook screw
3. Reach into the receiver and remove the action slide hook from the left side of the breech bolt.
   Removed at this step: Action slide hook
4. Slide the breech bolt group to the rear out of the receiver.
   Removed at this step: Breech bolt group

The manual says this group ordinarily need not come out for cleaning. The butt stock comes off first (through-bolt), then the trigger pin is drifted out and the guard bow slides out the rear. TM 9-285 assigns this to the using arm (troop level): par. 1c says disassembly and assembly 'will be undertaken only under the supervision of an officer or the chief mechanic', and the field-inspection paragraph limits using troops to the removal and replacement of groups described here. Anything further (adjustment, stoning, trigger work, headspace) goes to ordnance personnel. TM 9-285 allows this to usi

Follows TM 9-285, Shotguns, All Types — War Department, par. 8 a (5), p. 28 archive.org [3]

1. Remove the butt plate screws and the butt plate.
   Removed at this step: Butt plate screws Butt plate
2. With a long-shanked screwdriver, turn the butt stock bolt (now visible in the hole in the stock) counterclockwise to disengage it from the receiver tang.
   Removed at this step: Butt stock bolt
3. Pull the butt stock to the rear off the receiver.
   Removed at this step: Butt stock
4. With a pin drift, drive the trigger pin out of the lower rear end of the receiver.
   Removed at this step: Trigger pin
5. Pull the guard bow to the rear out of the receiver.
   Removed at this step: Trigger guard bow group
6. Remove the trigger and trigger spring from the guard bow.
   WarningDo not remove the stop screw. It limits the rearward travel of the trigger, which must move far enough to disengage the sear from the hammer.
   Removed at this step: Trigger Trigger spring

Military riot (trench) gun only. On the solid-frame gun the barrel stays in the receiver; the bayonet attachment and the screwed-in magazine with the action slide must come off before the receiver groups can be removed. TM 9-285 assigns this to the using arm (troop level): par. 1c says disassembly and assembly 'will be undertaken only under the supervision of an officer or the chief mechanic', and the field-inspection paragraph limits using troops to the removal and replacement of groups described here. Anything further (adjustment, stoning, trigger work, headspace) goes to ordnance personnel.

Applies to: Solid-frame riot gun with bayonet attachment (military)

Follows TM 9-285, Shotguns, All Types — War Department, par. 8 a (1), pp. 24-25 archive.org [3]

1. Unscrew and remove the three transverse screws from the bayonet attachment.
   Removed at this step: Bayonet attachment screws (3)
2. Drive the bayonet attachment forward off the barrel.
   WarningThe barrel of the early solid-frame gun is screwed into the receiver at manufacture and should not be removed.
   Removed at this step: Bayonet attachment and hand guard
3. Lock the action by pushing the action slide handle fully forward.
4. Remove the magazine stop screw from the lower forward end of the right side of the receiver.
   Removed at this step: Magazine stop screw
5. Engage the stud and hole in the end of the magazine plug with an improvised tool (a pin-and-hole tool or a rod bent to an L) and turn the magazine counterclockwise out of the receiver.
6. Withdraw the magazine with the action slide group attached.
   Removed at this step: Magazine and action slide group

Reverses the guard bow removal; the trigger is held down against its spring while the pin goes in. TM 9-285 assigns this to the using arm (troop level): par. 1c says disassembly and assembly 'will be undertaken only under the supervision of an officer or the chief mechanic', and the field-inspection paragraph limits using troops to the removal and replacement of groups described here. Anything further (adjustment, stoning, trigger work, headspace) goes to ordnance personnel. TM 9-285 allows this to using troops only under the supervision of an officer or the chief mechanic (par. 1c).

Follows TM 9-285, Shotguns, All Types — War Department, par. 9 a (1), pp. 28, 30 archive.org [3]

1. Clean, lightly oil and lubricate the parts before replacing them.
2. Seat the trigger spring in its aperture in the guard bow.
3. Place the trigger on top of the spring with its curved end extending downward through the floor of the guard bow.
4. Slide the guard bow into the rear of the receiver, pin hole forward, until the pin holes in guard bow and receiver line up.
5. Press the trigger down against its spring until its pin hole lines up with the holes in guard bow and receiver, then insert the trigger pin.
6. Drive the trigger pin through until flush.
7. Slide the butt stock onto the receiver tang, mating it with the groove in the receiver.
8. Replace the butt stock bolt and washer and screw it down tight, turning clockwise.
9. Replace the butt plate and screw it down snugly.
   WarningDo not screw a composition butt plate down too tightly; it can crack and the screw threads in the stock can strip.

The breech bolt goes back before the carrier. The action slide hook screw head must stand proud of the bolt to cam the shell guide down. TM 9-285 assigns this to the using arm (troop level): par. 1c says disassembly and assembly 'will be undertaken only under the supervision of an officer or the chief mechanic', and the field-inspection paragraph limits using troops to the removal and replacement of groups described here. Anything further (adjustment, stoning, trigger work, headspace) goes to ordnance personnel. TM 9-285 allows this to using troops only under the supervision of an officer or t

Follows TM 9-285, Shotguns, All Types — War Department, par. 9 a (2), p. 30 archive.org [3]

1. Insert the breech bolt group into the rear of the receiver, locking lug forward and down, and push it all the way home.
2. Slip the action slide hook into the left side of the breech bolt locking lug so the boss on the hook seats in the counterbore in the lug and the hook lies in its guideway in the left inner wall of the receiver, point down and to the rear.
3. Replace the action slide hook screw from the right side of the breech bolt and tighten it.
   TipThe head of the hook screw should protrude from the right face of the breech bolt at least 1/32 inch so that it cams the shell guide down clear of the ejection opening when the bolt is retracted.
4. Slide the breech bolt back and forth several times and check that the hook moves with it.

Installed after the breech bolt, hammer cocked, with the bolt fully forward and the shell guide stop screw out. TM 9-285 assigns this to the using arm (troop level): par. 1c says disassembly and assembly 'will be undertaken only under the supervision of an officer or the chief mechanic', and the field-inspection paragraph limits using troops to the removal and replacement of groups described here. Anything further (adjustment, stoning, trigger work, headspace) goes to ordnance personnel. TM 9-285 allows this to using troops only under the supervision of an officer or the chief mechanic (par. 1

Follows TM 9-285, Shotguns, All Types — War Department, par. 9 a (3), p. 30 archive.org [3]

1. Make sure the breech bolt is all the way forward and the shell guide stop screw is out of the right wall of the receiver.
2. Cock the hammer.
3. Insert the carrier, hammer up and to the rear, through the bottom opening of the receiver and keep moving it rearward until it seats in its recess in the rear wall of the receiver.
4. Press firmly up on the carrier until it is completely home behind the locking lug of the breech bolt.
5. Insert the carrier pin so its groove is on the left side of the receiver and lined up with the hole for the carrier pin stop screw in the left top of the carrier body, to the left rear of the hammer.
6. Replace the carrier pin stop screw.
7. Replace the shell guide stop screw in its hole in the right wall of the receiver just ahead of the trigger pin.
   TipThis screw has a pin end; its head should sit flush with the face of the receiver.

Military riot gun only. The carrier is locked up behind the bolt first so the slide bar can enter the carrier cam aperture. TM 9-285 assigns this to the using arm (troop level): par. 1c says disassembly and assembly 'will be undertaken only under the supervision of an officer or the chief mechanic', and the field-inspection paragraph limits using troops to the removal and replacement of groups described here. Anything further (adjustment, stoning, trigger work, headspace) goes to ordnance personnel.

Applies to: Solid-frame riot gun with bayonet attachment (military)

Follows TM 9-285, Shotguns, All Types — War Department, par. 9 a (4) and (6), pp. 31-32 archive.org [3]

1. With the hammer forward in the fired position, move the breech bolt forward and lock the carrier behind it by pressing upward on the carrier until it is behind the locking shoulder of the bolt.
2. With the action slide on the magazine, hold the magazine along the underside of the barrel and insert the rear end of the slide bar into the bar opening in the left forward face of the receiver.
3. Push the slide bar rearward so that it enters the cam aperture in the carrier.
4. Mate the magazine threads with those in the receiver, taking care not to cross-thread them.
5. Screw the magazine tightly into the receiver, turning clockwise, until the stop screw holes in receiver and magazine line up, then replace the stop screw.
   TipThe improvised tool used for removal can be used to tighten the magazine.
6. Slide the bayonet attachment group onto the muzzle end of the barrel with the sling swivel to the rear and the sight up.
7. Mate the hole in the rear of the attachment lug with the stud on the magazine plug, and adjust the attachment until its screw holes line up with the screw grooves in the underside of the barrel.
8. Replace the screws and screw them in tightly.
9. Check the attachment for level seating and for interference of the hand guard with the action slide handle.
10. Pull the action slide to the rear as far as it will go and operate it several times to test the mechanism and the locking of the breech bolt and slide.

1. Align the barrel and magazine assembly with the receiver and rotate it a quarter turn to engage.
2. Tighten the takedown screw until the two halves are snug with no perceptible play.
   WarningA loose takedown joint is dangerous and will batter the gun. Adjust it rather than shooting it loose.
3. Cycle the action several times and perform the function check.

These are reproduced from government technical manuals, which are not subject to copyright. Manufacturer manual diagrams are not reproduced here — the entry links to the manual instead.