3209

Excellent Winchester Model 12 Trench Gun

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,400.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 5,500.00 USD
Excellent Winchester Model 12 Trench Gun
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This is an excellent example of a World War II production Winchester Model 12 Trench Gun. The shotgun has the Winchester Commercial blue finish on the barrel, magazine and receiver. The walnut stock and forearm have a varnish finish. The shotgun is fitted with an early pattern six-hole hand guard/bayonet lug. This hand guard is typically found on very early production WWII Winchester Model 1897 Trench Guns. The hand guard has a dull blue finish and lacks the "PAT.APPL. FOR" or "W" markings typically found on WWI Model 1897 handguards. The hand guard has the early thin wire sling swivel fitted above the bayonet lug and a blued sling swivel is fitted to the stock. The top of the barrel is stamped with a small Ordnance 'Shell and Flame' inspection mark just in front of the Winchester proofmark. The right side of the receiver is roll-stamped with "U.S." followed by the 'Shell and Flame' insignia below the ejection port. The left side of the stock is stamped with the Ordnance final inspection mark that consists of the initials "G.H.D." in a rectangle above a 1/4-inch diameter Ordnance escutcheon. The left side of the barrel is roll-stamped with the Winchester New Haven address and patent dates in two lines followed by "-WINCHESTER-/-TRADE MARK-" in two lines and "MODEL 12-12 GA-2 3/4 In CHAM./CYL." in two lines. Oval "WP" proofmarks are stamped on the top of the barrel and top of the receiver. The serial number, "970508" is roll-stamped on the underside of the barrel and the receiver. A small "W" is stamped on the receiver just in front of the loading gate. The stock is fitted with a black, checkered, hard rubber, buttplate with the Winchester logo on a circle in the center. This is the first Model 12 Trench Gun the describer has observed with an early WWII six-hole hand guard.
BBL: 20 In
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 12
Finish: blue
Grips:
Serial Number: 970508
Condition: Excellent. The trench gun retains 97% plus of the original high polish blue finish. Wear is limited to several scattered and very minor spots of surface rust on the top and left side of the receiver and on the muzzle end of the hand guard/bayonet lug. The spots are very minor and do not detract form the overall appearance of the trench gun. The stock and forearm are in excellent condition and retain 95% or more of the original varnish finish. Wear is limited to some very minor handling marks on the left side of the stock. The "G.H.D." final inspection mark and Ordnance escutcheon are extremely crisp. The Ordnance and Winchester markings on the barrel and receiver are sharp. This is an excellent example of a WWII production Winchester Model 12 Trench Gun with rarely encountered, six-hole hand guard/bayonet lug. Winchester Model 12 Trench Guns remained in service thru the 1991 Gulf War; excellent examples like this one in original condition are scarce.