Gunsmith, gun show, gun shop, pawn shop, or old catalogs of the maker
To find your Winchester model 1897 serial number you need to look on the gun. You also can take it to a local gun dealer who can help find the number.
You cannot find out unless you provide the model number with the serial number.
You can find out what year your gun was made by having an expert appraise the gun. You can also find out by finding the model number and contacting the manufacturer.
Can't be done with just the serial number.
Old gun catalogs
Not without knowing who made it.
Depends on the make of gun. Some will not HAVE a model number, or it will not be marked on the gun. The .357 Magnum has been around since 1935. Even S&W did not use model numbers before WW 2, and Colt used names, not numbers.
It is a tedious and time consuming process, but, it can be done.
Find out who the maker of the gun is and see if they can help you with the model name and number. If this is an old gun and the maker is no longer in business check with a professional appraiser. The number by itself does not mean much.
To find the year that any Winchester gun was made, you just need to know which model it is and what the serial number is (the model number and serial number are stamped on the gun itself). . Then go to this website and it will tell you when it was made: http://oldguns.net/sn_php/winmods.htm
The only way you could find anything about that gun if it doesn't have any defining characteristics on it is to take it to a licensed gunsmith. There is a distinct possibility though that this is a custom made gun, and not done by any brand and therefore not having a model, so no model number.
To find the year that any Winchester gun was made, you just need to know which model it is and what the serial number is (the model number and serial number are stamped on the gun itself). . Then go to this website and it will tell you when it was made: http://oldguns.net/sn_php/winmods.htm