POTD: Winchester 37 Bridger Shoulder Line Throwing Gun
Sam.S 04.22.21
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Who does not love some good old Winchester stuff? Here we have a photo of a very unique Winchester 37 double-barrel shotgun. This specific one is modified to be a line-throwing gun. To those of you who do not know what a line-throwing gun is, it is a gun that literally throws a line (as in rope). This is intended to set up ways to get from point A to point B. A blank is chambered, a projectile attached to one end of a line of rope is slid down the barrel and when fired the projectile drags the rope behind it.
“The barrel is marked, “LINE GUN-45-70 BLANK ONLY-” with Winchester manufacturer marks, also has Bridger Naval Co. which was located in Doylestown, Pa., who attached the cord canisters, brass rods, etc. This is the “BRIDGER” made using a Winchester Model 37 as a base. Included with the gun is carrying case for the line gun and all accessories, 53 blank .45-70 cartridges, two spools of rope, a wooden dowel, 8 blunt projectiles, a bottle of Hoppes cleaning solution, and cleaning patches.”
Lot 3482: Cased Winchester Bridger Shoulder Line Throwing Gun [Photograph found in Premier Firearms Auction #82, Rock Island Auction Company]. (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2021, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/82/3482/cased-winchester-bridger-shoulder-line-throwing-gun