Real or Fake? Authenticating an 1897 Trench Gun

Authentic World War One 1897 trench guns will have: Serial number between E613,000 and E705,000 High quality rust blue finish Solid frame 20-inch cylinder bore barrel (with no bead) Muzzle in lone with bayonet lug Handguard with six rows of holes Bayonet lug with a bead sight and either “PAT APPY FOR“ on the right or patent dates on the right Stock with a thin wrist, high comb, no fluting, and no stamps Hard plastic commercial buttplate Sling swivel on stock Authentic World War Two 1897 trench guns will have: Serial number between 921,300 and 986,300 (but most between 930,000 and 953,000) High quality commercial blue finish Takedown frame with “U.S.“ and (usually) flaming bomb stamp 20-inch cylinder bore barrel (with no bead) with flaming bomb stamp on top of chamber Muzzle extending approximately 1/4“ beyond bayonet lug Handguard with four rows of holes (except some very early ones with WW1-type heat shields) Bayonet lug with a bead sight and patent dates on the right Stock with a thick wrist, low comb, flutes, and inspection stamp (either WB or GHD) with crossed cannons Hard plastic commercial buttplate Sling swivel on stock Cool Forgotten Weapons merch! Contact: Forgotten Weapons 6281 N. Oracle 36270 Tucson, AZ 85740