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January 27, 1992
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Serial #1020423 , Standard “Field Grade”, 30″ Full choke barrel dated 45, 26″ Cyl. choke barrel dated 47.
It is in extreamly fine original condition and shows no signs of refinish. The “Action Slide Handles” differ but, match the corresponding production years.
Does that sound plausible to being, “Original Factory Production”?
Just curious. RDB
April 15, 2005
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Hello Roger,
I am highly suspicious of it, and I suspect that it is “put together” gun.
My concern with this gun begins with the serial number… which identifies it as a June 1943 production receiver frame. Nearly all of the Model 12s that I have observed thus far in this serial number range have been military contract Riot Guns. The first Model 12 serial number in the year 1945 was 1043581.
My next concern is the non-matching barrel & slide handle assemblies. Winchester used the exact same slide handle stocks in the years 1945 & 1947. The slide handle stock design was not modified until the early 1950s.
I personally would not be inclined to believe that it is an “Original Factory Production” gun.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 7, 2015
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Interesting. Any signs of military markings on the receiver, Roger?
Mike
January 27, 1992
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No military markings. I will try to get pictures tomorrow when the lighting is better. The proof marks and serial numbers appear correct and legit. If the slide handles matched I would’t have caught the barrel date differance. If it’s just a “Put together” gun, it’s a really well done! RDB
November 26, 2014
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I think it’s mostly Model 12 trench guns that are found in the serial number range of the subject gun. That being said, I have data on serial number 1026257. It has a 28″ barrel with a modified choke and there are no martial markings on the receiver or the barrel.
January 27, 1992
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I apologize for my amature photos, I am a beginner and have minimal experiance. I tried to show the factory stamping for your comparison. The Proof mark on the 30″ barrel almost looks like a circle “P” stamp in the picture, but it is the proper “PW” proof stamp when viewed from a different angle. RDB
April 15, 2005
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Roger,
No need to apologize… the pictures are great.
I am of the very strong opinion that the 26-inch barrel assembly is not original to that gun. I also believe that the 30-inch barrel assembly has been partially restored. Of concern to me is the relatively poor condition of the interrupted threads section of the barrel as compared to the rest of the barrel. It should look just like the threads on the 26-inch barrel assembly.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 27, 1992
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I guess I should have cleaned the lint off threads before picture taking. 
No problem. Not the first poor purchase I made in my collecting. I can always turn it in at the local police buy-back. RDB
April 15, 2005
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rogertherelic said
I guess I should have cleaned the lint off threads before picture taking.
That is not “lint” that I am seeing on the interrupted threads. The threads have a noticeable amount of wear & tear and old partially cleaned up corrosion. The exterior condition of that barrel does not match up very well with the normally non-exposed interrupted threads.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 27, 1992
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OK, I understand your post. “Too good to be true”! Thank you Bert! One thing is for sure, the damage to the inturrpted threads did not happen while the barrel was mounted in the receiver. I hate blowing $1,100 for a “put-to-gether” Model 12! 
RDB
I cleand the interupped threads with a tooth brush and they look a little better. You can see which threads were protected by the receiver and which wern’t.
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