Latest addition to PatriotUSA's 'Homeland Security' arsenal

After a search of many, many years I finally found a Winchester Model 97 12 gauge shotgun in the 'Riot Control' version. Mine is not quite as old as this one but it is a bit better shape. The text below is from Oldwinchesters.com. I paid hardly a thing for mine and it functions almost like new, out of box from the factory. Mine dates to 1914 and was sold to the Prison Authority of New York State. The one below did sell for close to that price. Mine is now right by the bedside table and holds six shells.

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HISTORICAL WINCHESTER 1897 RIOT GUN..................$2,895.00
This is a Model 1897 Winchester 12 Gage, Riot gun with a 20” barrel. Historically significant very early 1897 riot gun, solid frame, part of a U.S. government order shipped to the Philippines in 1900. Cody letter factory info on this shows that it was originally a standard length 30” sporting shotgun that was pulled from the warehouse and returned to the factory, To RUSS in the custom shop (a well known name at Winchester for this time period), change to a 20” cylinder bore riot and shipped in 1900 with numerous other identical guns on the same order. According to Bruce Canfields excellent book THE WINCHESTER IN THE SERVICE at this time the government ordered a number of commercial riot guns for shipment to the Philippines etc. No doubt this was one. Because these guns lack the U.S. markings, they are little known as of this time. However, they are one of the first official repeating riot guns ever issued by the government! Cody letter will accompany this gun confirming configuration and Winchester factory changes by RUSS. Condition: Barrel and tube retain almost all of there original blue with some slight toning and edge ware, receiver has 95% original blue with a few scratches and edge ware along with some toning, butplate shows 60% of its original blue fading a bit, wood is fine with some oil staining towards the butstock with a few dent and dings (very minor) and a very nice forearm, wood to metal fit is excellent, screws are excellent, action is perfect, bore is excellent, all markings: barrel address, cyl., slide and serial number are excellent. A very nice example of a very rare Winchester with a great untouched look to it.