On Kraft's 16 .. I think it is simply a 16 black diamond model 97, but obviously a special ordered gun. I say that because I owned for some years a solid rib 16ga. model 12 'SKEET' so marked with nickel steel bbl and 2&9/16" chamber, factory skeet choke and to die for wood. At another time I owned a solid rib model 42 'Trap' so marked w/2 & 1/2" chamber and full choke. We all know there was never an official 16 ga skeet event, but Winchester did make some very few model 12 16ga. 'skeet's anyway. We also know that there was never a .410 trap event, but it didn't keep them from making some 42 'trap's anyway, either. I have also seen other model 42 'trap's w/3" chambers, all were full choked and had fancy factory wood and checquering.

A nice 16 in a model 97 black diamond configuration would have had a lot of appeal to certain discerning sports. There were at least some folks who viewed 16's then as many view 20's today .. a dandy all round small bore cartridge.

And too 16's [ammo] were plentiful everywhere, until at least the late 1960's and model 97's could handle them all with impunity. Look at the old shotgun pics posted on another recent thread; the guys with new guns had 97's! In some ways, they played the same role to the older doubles as the Beretta 390's did to the 1100's on the Sporting Clays courses. A 97 was a very desirable gun to have and not everyone thought hammerless was an 'improvement';-) Some still don't.

What choke & bbl length does your grandfather's gun have, Kraft? Do you know what game he hunted? You have a very interesting heirloom, one you should be very proud of. To me, it speaks well of your grandparents, very well.