TSMGguy Posted October 4, 2020 Report Share Posted October 4, 2020 (edited) With original WWII trench guns selling for what they do, converting civilian sporting shotguns to trench gun clones is a popular option. The gun pictured actually dates to 1949, but the barrel is an original NOS spare M12 trench gun barrel with a 43 date. The bayonet mount and handguard assembly is the only repro part on the gun. The gun's finish is very smooth and professional, without the typical waviness from over buffing. The butt stock is fancier than normally found on a WWII M12. In person, the wood is much darker than it looks in the photos, with the characteristic Winchester reddish brown color nicely duplicated. Edited October 20, 2020 by TSMGguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petroleum 1 Posted October 4, 2020 Report Share Posted October 4, 2020 Unbelievable they could pass that one off with a 1949-50 serial number. Here is a military riot gun with a 1947 mfg date. I doubt the gov was having any new guns made at that time with all the WW2 surplus out there. It has the GHD marking too. Nice touch but probably a replacement stock. https://www.collectorsfirearms.com/winchester-1897-12-gauge-w10421/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMGguy Posted October 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2020 (edited) Deleted. There are some very inaccurate production year charts out there. Edited October 5, 2020 by TSMGguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petroleum 1 Posted October 5, 2020 Report Share Posted October 5, 2020 This is the site i use for checking mfg dates on the winchester shotguns. https://winchestercollector.org/dates/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petroleum 1 Posted October 5, 2020 Report Share Posted October 5, 2020 (edited) This '97 could be the real. The seller is saying 1920 mfg but the winchester site says 1918 which is right when they started making the '97 solid frame trench gun. No US markings but they were not always stamped on the WW1 guns. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/880210522 Edited October 5, 2020 by Petroleum 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petroleum 1 Posted October 5, 2020 Report Share Posted October 5, 2020 (edited) Do these markings look faked?? This barrel is on a 97 trench with 42 mfg date code. The barrel says 44 stamped on it. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/880438163 Edited October 5, 2020 by Petroleum 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMGguy Posted October 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2020 Do these markings look faked?? This barrel is on a 97 trench with 42 mfg date code. The barrel says 44 stamped on it. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/880438163 I do wonder why the finish of the bayonet mount is so different from the rest of the gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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