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No doubt there are fewer to find out there that are unmolested. The Heavy Duck was a favored gun to be built into a serious trap gun. My friend has his built from a Heavy Duck shotgun, with a particularly high rib that extends over the receiver. Designed for totally upright head position. The 3 inch chamber is thought to reduce recoil significantly. No idea what else is modified. Some had the bores honed out a tad to reduce recoil and help form super patterns. I used to be able to recall the fellow that did the full bore reaming/polishing but currently can’t think of it. Typical on my name recall ability. Tim
tim tomlinson said
No doubt there are fewer to find out there that are unmolested. The Heavy Duck was a favored gun to be built into a serious trap gun. My friend has his built from a Heavy Duck shotgun, with a particularly high rib that extends over the receiver. Designed for totally upright head position. The 3 inch chamber is thought to reduce recoil significantly. No idea what else is modified. Some had the bores honed out a tad to reduce recoil and help form super patterns. I used to be able to recall the fellow that did the full bore reaming/polishing but currently can’t think of it. Typical on my name recall ability. Tim
Tim I have a gel shoulder pad so I never really feel the recoil but I only shoot it occasionally with 2 3/4(plastic hulls). As some say, 3” but the best 2 3/4” gun ever made.
Rick C
RickC said
28 gauge said
RickC said
Thought I would add this just for clarification.
The Winchester catalog calls it the “Model 12 Heavy Duck Gun” until end of 1951.
In the 1952 and 1953 catalogs it’s called “Model 12 Duck Gun”,
From 1954 on, it’s called the “Model 12 Magnum Duck Gun.”
Just fyi.
Interesting information.Thanks for posting.Seems I remember seeing the 3 inch Model 12 listed as Magnum Duck Gun some where in the past.
Here’s the “Magnum Duck” call out in the 1956 catalog. I’m trying to find my 1951(“Heavy Duck”) & 1952(“Duck Gun) catalogs showing the changes.
Just wondering if any one has seen a Winchester Model 12 heavy/magnum 3 inch duck gun with a factory vent rib,like the old advertised in the ad?
28 gauge said
RickC said
28 gauge said
RickC said
Thought I would add this just for clarification.
The Winchester catalog calls it the “Model 12 Heavy Duck Gun” until end of 1951.
In the 1952 and 1953 catalogs it’s called “Model 12 Duck Gun”,
From 1954 on, it’s called the “Model 12 Magnum Duck Gun.”
Just fyi.
Interesting information. Thanks for posting. Seems I remember seeing the 3 inch Model 12 listed as Magnum Duck Gun some where in the past.
Here’s the “Magnum Duck” call out in the 1956 catalog. I’m trying to find my 1951(“Heavy Duck”) & 1952(“Duck Gun) catalogs showing the changes.
Just wondering if anyone has seen a Winchester Model 12 heavy/magnum 3 inch duck gun with a factory vent rib, like the old advertised in the ad?
Yes, I have seen several of them in the past many years.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thanks for that,Bert.Anything one should watch out for in a after market or fake vent rib heavy/magnum duck gun?Must say I have never seen one myself.:)
28 gauge said
Thanks for that,Bert.Anything one should watch out for in a after market or fake vent rib heavy/magnum duck gun?Must say I have never seen one myself.:)
Very simple… most aftermarket Vent Ribs have “Simmons” marked on the left side edge. The next thing to look for is the Winchester proof mark stamped on the left side of the VR… no proof mark present is a sure sign of an aftermarket VR.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Thanks Bert.Would not mind having one of those heavy/magnum duck guns with a Winchester Special Vent Rib barrel .Like the ones advertised in the catalogue.
I’ve got a magnum duck(1954 plain barrel), but looking for same with a Winchester special vent rib also.
Rick C
I bought this one five years ago through RIAC. I was biting my tongue a bit when I hit my last bid but no regrets.
Erin
Winchester Model 12 Heavy Duck Slide Action Shotgun | Rock Island Auction
Beautiful gun,Erin.For myself ,I have never seen a heavy/magnum duck gun with a vent rib ,either factory installed or after market.
Erin Grivicich said
I bought this one five years ago through RIAC. I was biting my tongue a bit when I hit my last bid but no regrets.Erin
Winchester Model 12 Heavy Duck Slide Action Shotgun | Rock Island Auction
I agree, Very nice Erin!
Rick C
November 7, 2015
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tim tomlinson said
No doubt there are fewer to find out there that are unmolested. The Heavy Duck was a favored gun to be built into a serious trap gun. My friend has his built from a Heavy Duck shotgun, with a particularly high rib that extends over the receiver. Designed for totally upright head position. The 3 inch chamber is thought to reduce recoil significantly. No idea what else is modified. Some had the bores honed out a tad to reduce recoil and help form super patterns. I used to be able to recall the fellow that did the full bore reaming/polishing but currently can’t think of it. Typical on my name recall ability. Tim
The Heavy Duck M12 and its sisters have won a following with certain old-school participants in the Helice/ZZ Bird competitions. They like to throw a lot of lead in tight patterns to knock the center out of their big orange birds. A heavy gun also helps with the recoil. Occasionally a second shot is needed and a slick M12 is nearly as quick as a good double when big money is on the line.
Mike
RickC said
28 gauge said
RickC said
Thought I would add this just for clarification.
The Winchester catalog calls it the “Model 12 Heavy Duck Gun” until end of 1951.
In the 1952 and 1953 catalogs it’s called “Model 12 Duck Gun”,
From 1954 on, it’s called the “Model 12 Magnum Duck Gun.”
Just fyi.
Interesting information.Thanks for posting.Seems I remember seeing the 3 inch Model 12 listed as Magnum Duck Gun some where in the past.
Here’s the “Magnum Duck” call out in the 1956 catalog. I’m trying to find my 1951(“Heavy Duck”) & 1952(“Duck Gun) catalogs showing the changes.
Just the follow up of the catalog name changes.
Magnum Duck Gun 1954
Duck Gun 1953
Heavy Duck 1952
Rick C
From those catalogues ,it would seem the special vent rib heavy/magnum model 12 was not available until 1954.The 52 and 53 catalogues list only plain and matted barrels for the gun.So it would seem, that vent rib barrels were no offered until then or perhaps as a special order feature only.
Thanks for posting,Rick.
28 gauge said
From those catalogues ,it would seem the special vent rib heavy/magnum model 12 was not available until 1954.The 52 and 53 catalogues list only plain and matted barrels for the gun.So it would seem, that vent rib barrels were no offered until then or perhaps as a special order feature only.Thanks for posting,Rick.
Winchester “Special” Ventilated Rib was only a catalog offering on the Model 12 Field Gun in the January 2, 1954, and the January 24, 1955, Winchester catalogs.
It’s not offered in the big 1955 Winchester catalog or the September 30, 1955, or any after that.
Rick C
The Winchester Ventilated Rib was first offered in the year 1919 as a special order item on guns with a 30-inch barrel. Winchester introduced the Heavy Duck Gun in 1935, and Vent Rib barrels were still offered as a special order item. Therefore, it is entirely possible to find any production year Heavy Duck Gun with a Vent Rib. Having stated that, the majority of them found today with a Vent Rib were installed aftermarket (usually by Simmons).
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
Interesting information on a very rare gun. From what I know the Model 12 Duck gun was advertised from 1954-1957, as being available with the special Vent rib. These will be found donut, or the round post style. Burt states that when they were first produced in 1935 they could of been special ordered with the only rib available at Winchester at that time. The two pinned milled rib. This would of been an expensive option. The milled rib cost about as much as the shotgun. It is a interesting possibility. I have never seen a two pinned milled rib on a Model 12 Duck gun. To be honest over they years I have seen very few factory vent rib Model 12 Duck guns. If anybody has an example of a two pinned milled rib on a Model 12 Duck gun I would be interested in knowing about it. Be very careful with Winchester Proof marks found on the Model 12. I have seen them added to to convince they buyer that the gun came from the factory with the rib aplied.
A little late information that may help. I am having some dificulyy learning to use my new camera and it’s settings. These pictures may be updated later. These two Model 12s with the 3″ chamber may help. The solid rib, ser. #1545538 dates to 1954 production and vent rib ser. #1626627 dates to 1955 production. Both have 30″ barrels and the solid rib does not have the plastic “Grip Cap on the pistol grip. The ventilated rib is the Winchester “Winchester Special Ventilated Rib”. RDB
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