Quoted: Politics aside, what are your opinions of it? Quality? Steel? Finish? Reliability? Was thinking about getting one for CAS and the Trench gun for fun. I hear the more recent ones are better than the original M97's...True?

I own the trench gun, but am rather ashamed to say I have yet to fire the first round through it

I have heard that there are a couple of places that do a great job at modifying the standard guns for SASS, but I have no experience with such. My trench model looks and cycles great...I even went in the back yard (it was very dark!) and used live ammo to cycle and no problems...but no live fire as of yet.

I most seriously doubt that the Chinese are building a better product that Winchester did in the last years before the 97 was discontinued. I have a friend who has a JPD marked trench 97 from the Jacksonville, Fl PD that is virtually unfired...I can only wish he would do a swap for my "Chinchester"!