I do remember that in the mid-Fifties Ithaca still made a very expensive single barrel trap gun. Very handsome it was, too and available in ascending orders of splenditude for those unconcerned with price. 

I didn't know anything about trap and wondered what an owner would do about doubles. 

I have a Model 37 16 gauge that a declining friend gave me last year. I think it is a neat little gun and plan to keep it for a future young shooter. 

But the capped grip you see on the Model 21 is just right and that's what your 23 has as well. 

I had always wanted a Model 21 Skeet Gun with a straight grip but when I finally got a 21, it was a Skeet Gun with a fairly open, uncapped pistol grip. It is a 1947 vintage gun but with the earlier 26" barrels, pretty whippy and no tendency to follow through. The pistol grip gives me enough extra control to pull the gun through the target. 

Zebulon said
I don't think any of the Model 23 guns were made without automatic selective ejectors.  The Model 23 is essentially a version of the Manufrance "Robust" model, made by Olin-Kodensha for Winchester. 
I once owned a Pigeon Grade Model 23 20 gauge with Winchokes and it was a fine upland gun for doves. However, I think the Light Duck version is far more elegant and closely resembles the Model 21 with its capped pistol grip and long semi-beavertail forearm.  
If your Light Duck is in as fine a condition cosmetically as it appears to be and is mechanically the same, I would for my own use either have the chokes polished out to something more open -- perhaps IC and Improved Modified - or investigate having tubes installed. I am not a waterfowl hunter. 
However, the last time I looked on the Briley Website, the firm would no longer install tubes on side-by-side doubles. Briley's last price for that work that I saw was five hundred dollars. Simmons used to do such work. I understand that it is an operation that, if done poorly, can alter where the gun shoots and not in a good way. 
  

My plan is to send the barrels to Briley for thin walls or at the very least open them to IC MOD.

i looked at many of these and this is the cleanest one I found. I almost got a pigeon grade until I realized they have a semi pistol grip and the light duck just looks more like my 21, a mini me sorta!

I once owned a Pigeon Grade Model 23 20 gauge with Winchokes and it was a fine upland gun for doves. However, I think the Light Duck version is far more elegant and closely resembles the Model 21 with its capped pistol grip and long semi-beavertail forearm.  

If your Light Duck is in as fine a condition cosmetically as it appears to be and is mechanically the same, I would for my own use either have the chokes polished out to something more open -- perhaps IC and Improved Modified - or investigate having tubes installed. I am not a waterfowl hunter. 

However, the last time I looked on the Briley Website, the firm would no longer install tubes on side-by-side doubles. Briley's last price for that work that I saw was five hundred dollars. Simmons used to do such work. I understand that it is an operation that, if done poorly, can alter where the gun shoots and not in a good way. 

Bert

I just bought a model 23 "light duck" from Steve Barnett fine arms and the serial number is LD-72E and from what I gather there are no letters or information on these models? Does anyone know what the letter E denotes? I already have a model 21 in 12g and needed a subgauge Winchester to compete in our Winchester Cup competition and figured this is a fine gun for that although the Full full chokes don't thrill me! 

Thanks I just wanted some input from those with experience on these models.'

Billy Vallette

Chuck said
I didn't find a picture or mention of it in Dave Rifle's Model 12 book?  Serial #1, 40, 44 and 42,360 do not have it?  173,216 is a 1918 shotgun.
  

I have another model 12 16 gauge that doesn’t have it it is serial number 236977

Barryf448 said
Yes, that’s an early Model 12 safety. Winchester used this style on some of the earlier guns before switching to the more common cross-bolt push-button safety with the red indicator. It’s not something you see very often, which is why it catches people’s attention. If you can post the serial number or approximate year of manufacture, that would help determine exactly when Winchester used this variation
  

Serial number is 173216 and it is a 16 gauge