Repro..97??

[willy]

How many different companies made/make  reproductions of the Winchester 97?..And which are the ones to buy,,,and which one should a person avoid?

[Baltimore Ed]

I've gotten good service out of my Norinco 97 Trench gun (Wild Bunch) but it's not my main match sg. I switch between a mismatched Winchester 97 and non sass legal Marlins. Don't have any experience with any other 97s.

[Johnny McCrae]

I also have a Norinco 97. I only use it for for Wild Bunch matches. After a bit of work by our club's Gunsmith it has been been a reliable firearm.

[Abilene]

Then there is the TTN / Cimarron.  A little different than other Chinese guns, has screw-in choke, chrome lined barrel, standard Winchester screw sizes, and a rubber buttpad.  They have been made in a couple of different factories.  I have a good one (so far) but quality is iffy in general.  Some gunsmiths don't want to work on them.  They are currently available from Cimarron.

Norinco hasn't been imported for a number of years.  Most imports over the last number of years (and currently) are IAC, and that is what a lot of folks are shooting that don't have the older Norinco.

[Coffinmaker]

I haven't personally played with a '97 for about 8 - 10 years.  Personal reasons, I just didn't see them as being "Cowboy."  Fowling that caveat, the Norinco guns from the last couple of years of their production were pretty good guns.  Norinco is now on a federal import ban so there aren't any new guns or parts.  IAC marketed nice guns.  I haven't any personal experience with the TTN/Cimarron '97 so I won't comment.  HOWEVER:

Best bet is an original Winchester that hasn't been buggered up.  Winchester only made about a million and a half of them so there are still a bunch still out there hiding in folks closets.  Baring that, I'd go with the Cimarron.

[Major 2]

a coupla years ago, I pick up an I.A.C. Trench gun,  the idea at the time was venture into Wild Bunch ....
The gun had been purchased buy a Gun Shop partner for his own ,
but he was shortly there after involve in personal domestic litigations.
His collection had to be sold, so the Shop ( my favorite FFL ) put several pieces for the collection on consignment...
I wound up with 3 or four of his unfired acquisitions .... this one for $400 NIB.

I installed a Wild Bodie Tom designed 6-round conversion kit,  Per Coffin Maker's suggestion. Inspected and smoothed a few burrs .
Has the desirable 06 serial number.
Works a champ ....and being a Trench gun not legal for CAS ...ain't Cowboy anyway  
I did not get hurt   even though Wild Bunch went belly up in these parts...

[willy]

Thanks for the replies guys.