Make: Winchester

Model: 12 “Trench Gun”

Serial Number: 1002898

Year of Manufacture: ca. 1943, WW2 Serial Number Range According to Joe Poyer’s “US Winchester Trench & Riot Guns” book.

Gauge: 12 Ga. 2 ¾” Shells

Action Type: Pump/Slide Action Shotgun with Tubular Magazine

Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “MADE IN NEW HAVEN, CONN. U.S. OF AMERICA / -WINCHESTER PROOF STEEL-“, “-WINCHESTER- / -TRADE MARK-“ and “MODEL 12 – 12 GA. – 2 3/4 CHAM. / CYL”, along with an oval “WP” Winchester proof and a “flaming bomb” acceptance stamp of the Ordnance Department at the top rear, and “43” at the bottom rear. The top front of the receiver also has an oval “WP” proof mark, the right side below the ejection port is “U.S.” marked with another “flaming bomb”, and the bottom front is marked with the serial number. The serial number is also marked on the bottom of the barrel extension. The left side of the stock has a faint “G.H.D.” in box inspector’s cartouche and “crossed cannons” ordnance cartouche, over a clear "RIA" arsenal refurbishment marking. The left side of the receiver has a metal plate neatly affixed, which is marked with an atomic symbol along with "U.S.A.E.C. / NEVADA TEST SITE / 160877 / DO NOT REMOVE THIS TAG". 

Barrel Length: 20 3/4”

Choke: FixedCylinder Bore

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a silver colored bead on the bayonet lug. There is no hole for a bead under the bayonet lug.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece walnut with a forend which has 18 grooves, semi-pistol grip, straight comb, sling swivels mounted to a plate in the belly and to the bayonet lug, and a Winchester checkered black hard rubber buttplate. The stocks have some light nicks and scratches. There is a more notable ding near the arsenal refurbishment marking. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 14" from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has minor wear with well defined checkering and lettering. Overall, the stocks are in Very Good Plus condition.

Type of Finish: Parkerized

Finish Originality: Original toArsenal Refurbishment

Bore Condition: The bore is bright with no erosion. In this writer's opinion, the bore rates a 10 out of 10.

Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 92% of its metal finish. There are some light nicks, scuffs, and scratches, mostly in the receiver, some not through the finish. The action shows operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in Very Good to Fine condition.

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

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This shotgun comes with the installed bayonet lug/perforated heatshield, and a US OD canvas sling attached, the latter marked “MRT / OCT. 1961”, denoting Mildew Resistant Treatment and manufacture in October 1961.

Our Assessment: The Winchester Model 12 is one of the most successful shotguns ever produced. It saw service in WW1 and WW2, and has been used in countless law enforcement agencies across the country. This is a scarce US WW2 Winchester Model 12 “Trench Gun”, made in ca. 1943, and fitted with the classic bayonet lug/perforated heatshield, the former to affix the M-1917 bayonet, and the latter to protect the user’s hand from getting burned by a hot barrel after intensive firing. At some point during its service life, it was also refurbished by Rock Island Arsenal. More than that, though, this shotgun, with the unique metal plate neatly affixed to the left side of the receiver, is distinguished as having been issued to the United States Atomic Energy Commission (U.S.A.E.C.) to guard the Nevada Test Site. Located 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, the site was used for more than 900 nuclear tests during the Cold War, including 100 atmospheric and more than 800 underground detonations. The United States had suffered mightily at the hands of German spies on American soil during the Great War, with several instances of espionage and outright sabotage by German provocateurs (often actual German government attaches and officials). To ensure, as FDR would say, “that such treachery shall never again endanger us” (of course he was referring to Pearl Harbor, but nevertheless, the quote applies), during WW2, the United States committed itself to having thousands of armed guards at factories, test sites, and harbors to prevent German or Japanese sabotage, and that doctrine only strengthened in the atomic age of the Cold War, with the US competing with the Soviets for every scrap of scientific information regarding nuclear physics. Guarding nuclear test sites from Soviet spies was undoubtedly a top priority during those tenuous times, and this Winchester Model 12 “Trench Gun” obviously fit the bill. This is an incredible piece of Cold War US military history.