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June 18, 2022
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This is a shot gun i’m selling, from an estate , It’s an early 60’s Solid Frame 12 Guage Model 12. 162684- they were discontinued in 1964?. It’s way too long for me to shoot, the White line pad is factory , tried a buttplate, that was too small. .for a very tall man, long arms.. once thrice fired? The Solid frames were only a few years .as far as i have read. 
March 31, 2009
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I think this gun is a lot older than what you think…Maybe 1917?
June 18, 2022
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1957 1,162684—missed a diget.
March 31, 2009
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That is not what I see in your last picture???? If it is really 1,162,684 that would make it 1948. Where are you getting your data? You need the data from this site. Go to the top of the page under Resources and when was your gun made.
June 18, 2022
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i took a lens and looked 1826841F late 1961. , i was reading from the photos.. it’s a solid gun ,new ,.way too long a pull LOP 14 3/4″-..
April 15, 2005
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Ralph Fitzwater said
i took a lens and looked 1826841F late 1961. , i was reading from the photos.. it’s a solid gun ,new ,.way too long a pull LOP 14 3/4″-..
You are using a bad reference source for the DOM. S/N 1826841F was actually manufactured in October 1958. The Model 12 Featherweight shotguns were discontinued in early 1959.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 19, 2006
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Wow – this thread really highlights how I am not a shotgun guy. I had no idea there was a solid frame version of the M12. I’ve owned a M25 and always assumed it was simply the solid frame version of the M12. M12 solid frame versions is a new one on me.
April 15, 2005
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Steve,
The Model 12 Featherweights were all solid frame, and were the only variant of the Model 12 manufactured as such.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
June 18, 2022
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thank you Bert ilooked it up on different sites the 1957 was almost right. then but a a 6 instead of an 8-the second site clearly dated it in the 60’s..
November 19, 2006
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Amazing to ponder that every single Model 12 featherweight made was manufactured after I was born 
March 23, 2010
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Interesting ,I thought the Model 12 Featherweight was a take down model.Just the barrel came off as opposed to the standard and heavy duck ,that the magazine and barrel came off together.I thought the Model 25 was the solid frame version of the Model 12.
March 14, 2022
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28 gauge said
Interesting ,I thought the Model 12 Featherweight was a take down model.Just the barrel came off as opposed to the standard and heavy duck ,that the magazine and barrel came off together.I thought the Model 25 was the solid frame version of the Model 12.
That’s what I thought also. I’m sure my buddy has pulled the barrel off his model 12 featherweight for cleaning before so maybe my interpretation of solid frame is wrong. I understood “solid frame” to mean the barrel has no take down operation by hand.
Rick C
March 14, 2022
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Bert H. said
Ralph Fitzwater said
i took a lens and looked 1826841F late 1961. , i was reading from the photos.. it’s a solid gun ,new ,.way too long a pull LOP 14 3/4″-..
You are using a bad reference source for the DOM. S/N 1826841F was actually manufactured in October 1958. The Model 12 Featherweight shotguns were discontinued in early 1959.
Bert
I’ve got three books stating 1959–1962 for featherweight production so it just shows once again the erroneous DOM references that sellers, collectors and authors use… and still do.
Rick C
March 14, 2022
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Quick followup. After a bit of research I believe where the misconception the Featherweight was produced 1958-1962 is they were in the Winchester catalog until 1962/1963 but as Bert advised research confirms they were only made from early 1958 to early 1959.
I’m not sure of the total number produced but read 120,000 somewhere.
The model 12 featherweight first appears in “some” of the catalogs Jan 2/1958 and some it doesn’t(super grade field) 🤷🏼♂️, and continues until the end of 1962.
Rick C
March 14, 2022
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Bert H. said
Ralph Fitzwater said
i took a lens and looked 1826841F late 1961. , i was reading from the photos.. it’s a solid gun ,new ,.way too long a pull LOP 14 3/4″-..
You are using a bad reference source for the DOM. S/N 1826841F was actually manufactured in October 1958. The Model 12 Featherweight shotguns were discontinued in early 1959.
Bert
Bert, not sure who’s doing model 12 survey but just acquired another model 12 Featherweight. Ser 1802799F. 12 gauge with modified choke and 28” bl on this one.
Rick C
April 15, 2005
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Rick C said
Bert H. said
Ralph Fitzwater said
i took a lens and looked 1826841F late 1961. , i was reading from the photos.. it’s a solid gun ,new ,.way too long a pull LOP 14 3/4″-..
You are using a bad reference source for the DOM. S/N 1826841F was actually manufactured in October 1958. The Model 12 Featherweight shotguns were discontinued in early 1959.
Bert
Bert, not sure who’s doing model 12 survey but just acquired another model 12 Featherweight. Ser 1802799F. 12 gauge with modified choke and 28” bl on this one.
I am not aware of anyone that is actively surveying the Model 12.
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 14, 2022
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Bert do you or anyone else know if there’s a record of how many in each Featherweight choke were made below(26” imp cyl, 28” modified, 28” full, 30” full).
Rick C
April 15, 2005
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Rick C said
Bert do you or anyone else know if there’s a record of how many in each Featherweight choke were made below (26” imp cyl, 28” modified, 28” full, 30” full).
No records survived with that information. The only records that did not get burned in the furnaces at Winchester are the Polishing Room (PR) serialization records. The PR records do show that production of the Model 12 Featherweight began at or very near serial number 1795659 (late March 1958) and ended at or near serial number 1847892 (early March 1959). Based on the PR records, approximately 52,230 Featherweights were manufactured in total.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
March 14, 2022
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Bert H. said
Rick C said
Bert do you or anyone else know if there’s a record of how many in each Featherweight choke were made below (26” imp cyl, 28” modified, 28” full, 30” full).
No records survived with that information. The only records that did not get burned in the furnaces at Winchester are the Polishing Room (PR) serialization records. The PR records do show that production of the Model 12 Featherweight began at or very near serial number 1795659 (late March 1958) and ended at or near serial number 1847892 (early March 1959). Based on the PR records, approximately 52,230 Featherweights were manufactured in total.
Bert
Thank you for the information Bert. I have a liking for these slam fire featherweight model 12s and I really feel they were under-appreciated. The quick takedown option is nice. I have the two 30” bl and the 28” bl but the search continues for a collector grade 26”.
Rick C
