Originally Posted by
Ned Christiansen
What I love about '97's, first and foremost, seldom discussed but a biggie for me-- no lifter to contend with when loading the magazine. What serves as the shell lifter is up out of the way with the bolt closed. Not only do I not have to mess with a lifter, the carrier is a cradle for rounds going in, a guide. If I fumble one on the way into the mag, it just lays on the carrier awaiting my next move. The ultimate advantage here is what I call the twofer load. Just drop a round into that cradle, and put another round in right behind it-- and push them in. You just loaded two rounds with one motion! With minishells I can get a threefer!
I haven't shot an 1897 other than shooting a buddy's, maybe ten-15 rounds, so I don't understand this load technique. I think you are talking about coming over the top and using the carrier, which is down with the bolt to the rear, to guide the first shell into the mag tube, then leaving the second shell laying on the carrier to be chambered as the bolt comes forward. I am not familiar enough with the 1897 to know if that is even possible - I know the receiver is more open than a modern shotgun, but not sure if it is open enough. The other thing that comes to mind is that you are talking about what is called 'duck hunter loading' where you roll the shotgun so the loading port is facing upward.
Also-- the slender wrist of the stock. This is seldom seen in more modern guns. My impression is that it's because more modern guns are using beech or birch or some other wood that is not as strong as walnut (which in some guns even walnut seems like a bare minimum). Birch, pine, whatever it is they're using these days has to be thick to compensate-- again, my impression.
I always thought that it was largely to simplify the receiver machining process and maybe save some metal when they went from the 11/A5 humpbacks to the more sleek silhouettes.
Although, I do see what you are talking about on the 1897, which has a more 'modern' stock attachment. Maybe the exposed hammer had something to do with it, that section of the stock pretty closely mimics the 1892 and 1894 stocks.
Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President... - Theodore Roosevelt, Lincoln and Free Speech, Metropolitan Magazine, Volume 47, Number 6, May 1918.
Every Communist must grasp the truth. Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Our principle is that the Party commands the gun, and the gun must never be allowed to command the Party Mao Zedong, 6 November, 1938 - speech to the Communist Patry of China's sixth Central Committee
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