Winchester Model 1893 shotgun

[glshop20]

Does anyone have ant experience with this shotgun ?  I know it was replaced with the model 1897.  My concern is that it does not have an action release function and it seems that I can open the action even with the hammer fully cocked.  I know it was designed for Black-powder.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS TYPICAL LOCK-UP AND CAN IT BE FIRED WITH BLACK-POWDER OR SIMILAR LOW PRESSURE MODERN LOADS?

[gunnut69]

The M93 was designed by Browning and had problems from the beginning. Blowing open when fired was one. Another was frame failures. Seems they were stretching and were being replaced by Winchester. Browning's failure to aid in the redesign of the '93 lead to its being done by in house Winchester designers and is by some seen as the start of the rift between Winchester and John Browning. The design deficiencies and age as well as the scarcity of these guns leads me to urge caution. I would not advise their being fired with any loads.. If you must shoot such a piece buy a repro and use it. The 93's were defective and were replaced by the 97 asap..
Also the action is not normal. Even the 97 and M12 lock up and have something in place to unlock the action. The retained the ability to fire the gun by holding the trigger depressed and working the pump. This is ability is present in many later designs but all have some type of action lock..