Hammerless - Pump Shotguns

Pump Shotguns

Early pump action shotguns, like the lever action rifles that preceded them, had exposed hammers. Most famous of these is probably the Winchester Model 1897. Like the double barrelled shotguns, soon the early pump shotguns were replaced by models that enclosed the hammer completely in the action. Modern pump shotguns, with the exception of replicas of older exposed hammer designs required in Cowboy action shooting, are all hammerless.