The Wreck of old '97

[southern boy]

picked up a winchester 97 at an antique store for $213 out the door, haggled down from $266.25

serial number places it at end of 1903, start of 1904



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can anybody recomend a smith who can get this in perfect mechanical condition without touching the finish or lack thereof?

i want it to show its age and work like the day it was made.

some body who has been dead for 60 to 80 years made this, who am i to destroy that history?

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Best bet would be Coyote Cap of Coyote Cap Gun Works. He's in Minnessota, I believe.....Buck

[Frenchie]

Thanks for the new song in my head!

Well, they handed him his orders in Monroe, Virginia,
Sayin', "Steve, you're way behind time.
This is not 38, it's old 97,
You must put her into Spencer on time."

The engineer he said to his black, greasy fireman,
"Shovel on a little more coal,
And when we cross that old White Oak Mountain
You can watch old 97 roll."

It's a mighty hard road from Lynchburg to Danville,
A road with a three-mile grade.
It was on that grade that he lost his air brakes,
You can see what a jump she made.

He was goin' down the grade making 90 miles an hour
When his whistle began to scream.
He was found in the wreck with his hand on the throttle,
He'd been scalded to death by the steam.

Then a telegram came into Washington Station
And here's the sad news it said:
"That brave engineer that drove old 97
Is layin' down in Danville, dead."

Now listen all you ladies, you must all take a warning,
From this story a lesson learn:
Never speak harsh words to your true lovin' husband,
He may leave you and never return.