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February 28, 2026
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Hello, I’m a new member and own a Model 12 Heavy Duck and would like to verify what I think I know and learn as much as I can about its history. It was produced in 1953 due to serial number 1495321. It has a “donut” rib with no “Simmons” markings on it but does partially cover a centerline barrel proof mark even though both the barrel and receiver have offset proof marks. From what I have researched, the Heavy Duck with the donut rib was not available until 1954, therefore I assume my gun, being made in 1953, was originally built with no rib and the donut rib was added at some later date. Does anyone know what serial number started the 1954 model year? Is there a way to find out whether my gun was sent back to the factory and had the donut rib added there or was it added by Simmons? Do the “X” location marks by a few of the donut mounts offer any clues?
Look forward to comments to help verify the history of my duck gun.
Thank you.
Bill P. (wsp315)
Scottsdale, AZ
April 15, 2005
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Bill,
Serial number 1495321 was manufactured in February 1953. The first serial number for the year 1954 was 1568661.
While I am most definitely not a Model 12 expert, I get the impression that the Ventilated Rib on your Heavy Duck Gun was added after the fact, and not by Winchester.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
August 8, 2024
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I think that that center lined barrel proof mark tells you something. Also, your shotgun was made just a little earlier then when the Vent rib was offered as a cataloged item ( as you mentioned). I have researched these, and have used Serial Numbers from 1,543,941 to 1,770,398, and perhaps a little after the higher number as the range in which Vent Ribs were offered for the Model 12 Heavy Duck Shotgun. They do not come up for sale very often.
February 28, 2026
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Bert H. said
Bill,
Serial number 1495321 was manufactured in February 1953. The first serial number for the year 1954 was 1568661.
While I am most definitely not a Model 12 expert, I get the impression that the Ventilated Rib on your Heavy Duck Gun was added after the fact, and not by Winchester.
Bert
Bert and Bo, thank you for the informative replies. I agree that my shotgun did not come with a donut rib, lots of evidence to support that conclusion. The big question to me is who actually did the work of adding the donut rib? It doesn’t matter to me when the work was done. Did the owner send the shotgun in to Winchester or Simmons (or someone else) for the modification? Would Winchester have done this kind of work in house in the later years after the popularity of vent ribs had commercially increased?
I’ve read a lot about this but so much of it is conflicting information, hence my arrival at this site of historical experts. My goal here is to be able to definitively say my shotgun was modified by either the Winchester factory or by someone else. My guess is that Winchester would not install a rib over a proof mark but I have no way of proving or disproving that. Thanks again for the comments.
Bill
April 15, 2005
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wsp315 said
Bert H. said
Bill,
Serial number 1495321 was manufactured in February 1953. The first serial number for the year 1954 was 1568661.
While I am most definitely not a Model 12 expert, I get the impression that the Ventilated Rib on your Heavy Duck Gun was added after the fact, and not by Winchester.
Bert
Bert and Bo, thank you for the informative replies. I agree that my shotgun did not come with a donut rib, lots of evidence to support that conclusion. The big question to me is who actually did the work of adding the donut rib? It doesn’t matter to me when the work was done. Did the owner send the shotgun in to Winchester or Simmons (or someone else) for the modification? Would Winchester have done this kind of work in house in the later years after the popularity of vent ribs had commercially increased?
I’ve read a lot about this but so much of it is conflicting information, hence my arrival at this site of historical experts. My goal here is to be able to definitively say my shotgun was modified by either the Winchester factory or by someone else. My guess is that Winchester would not install a rib over a proof mark but I have no way of proving or disproving that. Thanks again for the comments.
Bill
Bill,
I personally do not believe that it is Winchester quality work. I believe that Winchester would have simply put a new barrel on the gun versus modifying the original barrel. If Simmons had done the work, the rib would have their name on it. That leaves a third (unnown) party most likely responsible for the work.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 20, 2023
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Bill, I don’t think the answer lies in any records at Cody unless the work might have been done through the Custom Shop. Pauline Muerrle, a WACA member and a former employee of Winchester — the company’s last engraver, I believe, who worked in the Custom Shop and has some of its records — might at least be able to tell you if Winchester would have taken on such work. She maintains a Website and you should be able to reach her by Googling her name.
Another approach might be to research at least which national firms were in the business of installing ribs during your father’s period of ownership. Simmons, of course, and perhaps they might be able to identify their own work. Perusing the índices of Gun Digests for that period might disclose names of such firms.
I would myself not quit until I had plugged every bit of information about the appearance of the rib and the window of time into an AI engine and see if it produces anything useful. These things have been fed everything available on the Web and can produce surprising results. I myself use Google’s Gemini Pro as a research tool and, while not infallible, it has produced very specific and detailed information.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
January 20, 2023
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Is that a brand?
Edit: Moneymaker Guncraft Corporation of Omaha specialized in custom shotgun work, including steel ventilated ribs. It was known for making an adjustable rib popular with trapshooters.
The company enjoyed a good reputation for quality work, from what I can learn on short notice.
The company went out of business in 2021 after the death of its longtime owner, Don Moneymaker.
HOWEVER, Moneymaker ribs were usually stamped with the company’s name.
There were and are other custom ribmakers.
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
February 28, 2026
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Thanks to all for the responses. They are a great reminder to me of how much detail I don’t know about my shotgun and how much knowledge is here on this forum.
Bill
January 27, 1992
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Bert, I am confused, my Model 12 Dave Riffle book lists the first Serial Number for 1954 as 1,543,941. Have you found new information? Thanks, RDB
April 15, 2005
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rogertherelic said
Bert, I am confused, my Model 12 Dave Riffle book lists the first Serial Number for 1954 as 1,543,941. Have you found new information? Thanks, RDB
Roger,
I do not know where Dave Riffle obtained his DOM information, but it is quite apparent that he did not reference the Polishing Room serialization records… per those official factory records, the last serial number in the year 1953 was 1568660, which means that the first serial number in the year 1954 was 1568661
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 27, 1992
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Thank you very much. That means my solid rib “Heavy DucK” Trap Grade ser. no. 1545532 moves back to 1953. New corrected information is always welcomed. Keep up the “Good Work”! RDB
April 15, 2005
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rogertherelic said
Thank you very much. That means my solid rib “Heavy DucK” Trap Grade ser. no. 1545532 moves back to 1953. New corrected information is always welcomed. Keep up the “Good Work”! RDB
September 1953 to be precise.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
January 27, 1992
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This may or may not help. “Solid Rib” #1545538 and Winchester “Special Ventilated Rib” #1626627. For comparison. RDB
April 15, 2005
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rogertherelic said
This may or may not help. Solid Rib #1545538 and Winchester “Special Ventilated Rib” #1626627. For comparison. RDB
It certainly does help… for your records;
1545538 – September 1953
1626627 – November 1954
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
December 13, 2006
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Another company that made and installed vent ribs was PolyChoke.
I had them install a vent rib on my 870 Remington . . .
The rib looked just fine, BUT . . . .
Something, Somewhere in their shop put a DEEP GASH on the receiver, so . . . .
I complained, and they . . .at first, DENIED . . . .they were responsible!!!
“LIKE HELL”, says I . . . .
After a few “go-rounds,” they replaced the receiver with another!
O’course, the serial number was different, and the gun has long-since gone down the road!
February 17, 2026
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Bill, listen to Bert. He knows what he is talking about. Dave Riffle’s book is great if you want to look at purty pictures. But (according to an expert Winchester employee who pointed out to me) it is full of mistakes and fraudulent information. And if you ever want to get in touch with Pauline Muerrle, she is a member and advertises on here. On the home page- just click on “CONTACT” at the top of the page. Then hit “WACA MEMBERS & DEALERS”. Her name is there. Good luck!!
December 25, 2016
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Our old guns are certainly full of it. History that is. Think of all those M12’s insulted with a dial a duck. At least a well done aftermarket vent rib mostly enhances a gun. Shooters anyway. A dial a duck esp. just wrecks some otherwise great M12’s. They do work…at least they work with Lead. If I had to choose I’ll take the gun with the aftermarket rib first. It’s useful, the dial a duck…not so much.
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