I recently purchased a allegedly unfired Winchester Model 12, DOM 1956, and when I disassembled the magazine tube, I found the wooden dowel plug rather intriguing. Honestly, most of the shotguns I buy used have had the plugs removed prior to my buying them. This plug is a 3/8″ dowel, just under 10″ long with a 1/8″ hole near the top and the magazine tube spring was inserted into this hole. I’ve not seen this before. 

The story is that this shotgun was won back in the day and the owner never shot it. I’m not too concerned about the providence as I’ll be shortening the barrel and using it for Wild Bunch. It was only slightly more expensive than some beat up, well used, Model 12s, and not having to “Fix” or replace anything was worth the extra coin. It’s a base model field shotgun and the stock has a few hairline cracks in the wrist from getting dried out, at least that is my WAG. I’ll either glue and dowel the cracks or just inject glue into the cracks. 

Thanks