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Picked up this rather rare version. Not sure if you would label it a deluxe or a special order.
Erin
No real knowledge here but I would call it deluxe and quite possibly was special ordered?
Chuck said
No real knowledge here but I would call it deluxe and quite possibly was special ordered?
The only reference I have is Maddis’s book of the model 12. Vent ribs on model 12 heavy ducks were not a catalog item, no mention of fancy wood. I’ve seen two others that were correct in the last 20 years. Possibly a special order or possibly they did a small run of them. Wish I had the serial #’s of the other 2 I’ve seen. They also had proper offset proof marks, the “donut” post ribs and fancy wood. I’m into it for what one would pay for a, nice example of a field grade model 61 22 mag. Doing apples to oranges, as rare as these are I believe it’s a much better value, especially with fancy wood and checkering. On the other hand, not many heavy duck model 12 “accumulators” VS model 61 collectors.
Erin
I have an identical Model 12 Heavy Duck, trap grade with the Winchester Special Ventilated Rib. Ser. #1626627. They are listed in an advertising sheet from 1954 and pictured on page 156 of Dave Riffle’s Model 12 book. I am also fortunate to have a similar Heavy Duck with a solid rib, Ser. #1545538. These may be considered to be “TRAP GRADE”, due to the special wood. Congratulations! Roger
Thanks for the info Roger, I will have to pick up a copy of Riffles book. The serial # on mine is 1631466, a substantial bit off your number.
Erin
Erin,
According to the Riffle Book the serial numbers for 1955 ran from 1603588 to 1673987 for a total of 70,399. Was a good year for Winchester Model 12s!!!
Roger
I have a 30 SR HD gun with pigeon grade wood….it has the lead plug in the stock….but no engraved pigeon on the gun….sn1586113..made 1954…year I was born…..its my bluebird day duck/goose gun….
gunut.....
rogertherelic said
Erin,According to the Riffle Book the serial numbers for 1955 ran from 1603588 to 1673987 for a total of 70,399. Was a good year for Winchester Model 12s!!!
Roger
Hello Roger,
Dave Riffle’s published DOM and production total information is way off the mark! Per the Polishing Room serialization records, the serial number range for the year 1955 was 1635301 – 1684790, for a total production of 49,490.
Your Model 12 serial number 1631466 was manufactured in December 1954. It was most likely fully assembled and sold in early 1955.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thanks Bert, probably need to go back over all my ‘date of manufacture’ info and update. Would you consider that the “Red Book” would be the most accurate and up to date for that information? Roger
rogertherelic said
Thanks Bert, probably need to go back over all my ‘date of manufacture’ info and update. Would you consider that the “Red Book” would be the most accurate and up to date for that information? Roger
I did not go into a lot of detail in the “Red Book” in regards to the Model 12 dates of manufacture, but I did include the accurate year ending serial numbers and the yearly production totals in Chapter 8. The same information in the “Red Book” Chapter 8 was used to create the date of manufacture look-up tool here on the WACA website.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Bert H. said
I did not go into a lot of detail in the “Red Book” in regards to the Model 12 dates of manufacture, but I did include the accurate year ending serial numbers and the yearly production totals in Chapter 8. The same information in the “Red Book” Chapter 8 was used to create the date of manufacture look-up tool here on the WACA website.
Bert
I’m waiting for my Red Book to show up.
Shoot low boys. They're riding Shetland Ponies.
Erin,
Very nice looking shotgun.
I looked at a similar model 12 heavy duck at an auction two weeks ago. Serial 1341467. Checkered wood, donut post rib, with offset proof marks and Simmons marked lightly in script on the left side of the rib. Same auction house has another heavy duck vent rib up for sale in December, but I am unsure if it also has a Simmons rib. It sounds like heavy duck guns with vent ribs are rather scarce.
Kevin
Kevin,
There are a fair amount of aftermarket VR heavy ducks. Finding an original factory one can prove to be difficult. Mine doesn’t say Simmons on the rib but Maddis did note that Winchester was known to use Simmons ribs. Your best indicator will be the offset proof marks. Watch out for refinished metal. Good luck on your quest!
Erin
Thank you, Erin. The heavy duck with the Simmons marked rib did have the offset proofmarks, I was unsure if it was factory and did not pursue. I might get lucky on the next one.
Kevin
In the Riffle book the Simmons ribs are addressed starting 0n page 235. The Simmons ribs were contracted out to Simmons and were substantially less expensive than the Winchester “Two Pin Milled Ventilated Rib”. I personally just like the looks of the Simmons ribs. Roger
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