Make: Winchester

Model: 12 Trench Gun

Serial Number: 1032895

Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1945, 43 barrel date.

Gauge: 12 Gauge, 2 3/4" Shells

Action Type: Pump / Slide Action, Tube Magazine Fed Takedown Shotgun

Barrel Length: 20" Nominal, 20 3/4" Measured

Choke: Fixed Cylinder Bore

Sights / Optics: There is a silver-colored bead mounted to the bayonet lug assembly. The barrel is not drilled for a bead. The top of the receiver has a sighting plane, serrated for glare reduction.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece walnut with a grooved slide handle, pistol grip, straight comb, inlaid sling swivel plate in the belly, and checkered black hard rubber Winchester buttplate. The left of the buttstock has a "G.H.D." in box cartouche over an Ordnance wheel. The left of the heel has what appears to be a spot of white-out with "52" hand-written. The stocks have minor wear with some light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The LOP measures 14" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has minor wear with well defined checkering and lettering. Overall, the stocks are in Fine condition.

Type of Finish: Parkerized

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is some stubborn dried grease. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates 9+ out of 10.

Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is generally strong with thinning at some edges. There are some scattered small marks and light operational wear. There are tool marks at the front of the magazine tube. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in Very Good-plus condition.

Mechanics: The actions functions correctly. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: A leather military-style sling is installed.

Our Assessment: The Model 1912 (shortened to Model 12 in 1919) was the next step from the Winchester Model 1897 hammer-fired shotgun, which in turn had evolved from the earlier Winchester Model 1893 shotgun. The Model 12 was designed by Winchester engineer T.C. Johnson, and was based in part on the M1893/97 design by John M. Browning, in that it used a sliding forearm or “pump action” to cycle the mechanism. Along with the 1897, the Model 12 was used in both World Wars by U.S. Armed Forces in both Trench and Riot configurations.

This is a WWII vintage Trench Gun which was made around 1945. The great majority of Trench Guns were finished by Winchester with commercial-grade polish and bluing and most of these were later parkerized when they were refurbished. Much less common are factory parkerized Trench Guns. Bruce Canfield lays out four points of consideration in his book "Complete Guide to United States Military Combat Shotguns". Serial numbered above 1,030,000? Check. Receiver with a rough, unpolished texture? Check. Some blued parts? Trigger, screws, safety, check. Parkerizing grayish with a green tint from cosmoline or oil? Also check. This late-war Trench Gun checks all the boxes and will make a wonderful addition to even advanced collections. Please see our pictures and good luck!