Interesting - I have an old (I think) Win 97 pump that was my grandfathers and he probably bought it before the depression. A friend thinks I should take it out dove hunting sometime, but now I’m thinking not so much.
I don’t remember specifics, but the barrel is a dull gray, not the dark blued steel you see nowadays.
Any thoughts?
The 97 is a very strong gun, I recently sold my 1922 vintage one to a cowboy action shooter, and it was still very tight.
The bluing of many pre-WWII guns was “rust bluing” which tends to be lighter and less glossy than caustic bluing.
A barrel bulge is nearly always caused by a obstruction or partial obstruction. Although steel shot fired through a tight choke has bulged many older guns near the muzzle.
A gunsmith should be able to tell you if your 97 is safe, my bet is that it is.
That is quite common with the older blued guns to lighten up, it seems to happen a lot if it is stored in higher humidity locals (from what I’ve been told).
They are great guns, I have two in great shape now. One of them is one of the very highest serial number they produced on the final year of production, 1957.
They are great guns, in fact it’s what I keep next to my bed now. The sound of that action is so distinct I figure anyone stupid enough to hear it and still keep coming deserves to get shot.