Friend drop this off with me a few days ago. It was his father-in-laws. Been in a attic for many years. Supposedly shot it before stashing it away. He asked if I would take a look at it, sure!

What a cool gun, oozing with character.

It was filthy, gunk caked in the receiver, trigger.. could barely cycle it. Ran a mop down the bore, looks like new, surprised. Which is amazing with a born on date of 1906. Completely disassembled it, every pin/screw... using a guide found on the innerweb. Two parts were missing, slide lock bar and slide lock bar spring, that can't be good! Can't imagine shooting it with out those two parts. Took a couple hours to scrub everything down. Put it back together. I'm stopping there. Suggested to my friend we should find someone who could install/fit the slide lock bar and make sure everything else is OK. I'm a bolt rifle guy, don't know any gunsmith who work on these. One of the ranges I shoot at has Cowboy Action Shoots. Reached out to the match director, hopefully he will recommend someone on the front range. Look forward to shooting it when it's done.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: offgrid,

1987? That old?

quote:

Originally posted by cas:
1987? That old?

Fixed, thanks!

careful when you shoot it,
careful as in watch where you place your thumb,
that bolt will take a chunk out if you have your grip wrong

You should find a good '97 smith recommendation from the Cowboy Action shooters...I've never used one in a match (I'm a double guy)...but when they are slicked up in the hands of a dedicated '97 shooter, it is unbelievable at their speed ...

Here is a link for a thread from the SASS website on the slide lock bar being removed...

https://www.sassnet.com/forums...ion-slide-lock-gone/

Good info here also...

http://marauder.homestead.com/files/Model97slick.html

quote:

Originally posted by Bisleyblackhawk:
You should find a good '97 smith recommendation from the Cowboy Action shooters...I've never used one in a match (I'm a double guy)...but when they are slicked up in the hands of a dedicated '97 shooter, it is unbelievable at their speed ...

Here is a link for a thread from the SASS website on the slide lock bar being removed...

https://www.sassnet.com/forums...ion-slide-lock-gone/

Good info here also...

http://marauder.homestead.com/files/Model97slick.html

Thanks for the links.

As long as I have forward pressure on the slide it's OK, click. I can see for the action shoots slam firing and single loading no need for the slide lock bar, naturally going to have forward pressure.

lyman, no doubt there's been a few hands chewed up. See it now, showing off how to slam fire, grip shifts from round to round.....

I know some people in Georgia who can make it right, but not in Colorado.

I know a guy in toledo ohio. sometimes I shoot an old '97 in Cowboy, sometimes a mule ear double.

Careful, some of the early 1897’s were chambered for 2.5” shells, not 2.75” shells.