Thought I'd just throw this up, I'll follow it up later with pictures of the markings.  I started this project 9 years ago, the receiver was nickel plated, heat shield modified, stock and handguard were Bishop replacements, stock had several brass pins holding it together, bore was pretty bad.  After the receiver laid around for several years (and I thought it lost) at a local gunsmith's shop, I recovered it, sent it down to Ford's Custom Shop in Florida, along with an original, but parkerized heat shield I found at a local gun show, for bluing.  I had already taken an original stock that I got along with the shotgun (with the P proof) to another shop and had it repaired, found an era correct handguard, cleaned up the slide, honed the barrel, and found an era correct butt plate and screws.  The receiver and heat shield arrive yesterday at 2:15 pm, and by 4:00 pm I had the shotgun together.  Receiver and barrel extension match, barrel is dated 43 with Ordnance Bomb, I have about $1500 in this project, but it is a correct Model 12 Trench Gun, although refurbished/refinished.  Never will be worth as much as an untouched original, but as a restored WW2 Trench Gun, I'm happy with it.

(and I do have a M1917 bayonet for it, just need to get it out)

 

 

It looks fabulous….looks like you got the right people behind you on the project that knew what result you were looking for.

 

Well done..!! 👍🏼 

Beautiful looking shotgun for sure!  Turned a labor of love into something amazing.

It looks like a nice job of refinishing, which is always a tricky thing over a plated receiver!  Hopefully you took some photos of the markings before the refinish too. Thanks for showing this, a great save of a historical firearm! You did good!

 

 

Steve

Here are two pictures, the first showing the nickel-plated receiver, the second showing the heat shield modification to the bayonet feature to mount an M5 bayonet.

 

 

Nice work! With the documented before and after photos you might be pleasantly surprised at what it is worth!

 

 

 

Steve 

7 hours ago, thorin6 said:

Here are two pictures, the first showing the nickel-plated receiver, the second showing the heat shield modification to the bayonet feature to mount an M5 bayonet.

 

 

This may be the first Model 12 I’ve ever heard of being nickel-plated…a new one on me anyway.

I'd say that was a first class rescue job.  Most guys wouldn't touch a nickeled receiver and do all the work that you have done to rebuild it.  Setting aside the question of value I think you have a fine piece of USGI firearm history that has been given new life.  Well done!

 

Charlie

First, thanks for the comments.

Second, I thought I'd add the back story and pictures of the markings.  This shotgun was owned by the Oklahoma Prison System, along with numerous other surplus shotguns.  The lot was purchased by a NC dealer, and sold off.  This was the last of the bunch, and he couldn't sell it until he gave me a good deal (I thought, until I got into the problems).  I also bought all the left-over parts, primarily stocks and bent and rusty magazines and slides.  Over the years I would regret going down this road, but once I found Ford's Custom Guns I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I also learned some new skills, including the honing of shotgun barrels, which I practiced on junk barrels I picked up at the flea market.  And I now know a lot more about Winchester Model 12 shotguns than I thought I would.

And here are the various marks, SN, proofs, etc. The matching SN on the receiver and barrel extension were hard to get, sorry about the blurry picture.  I also didn't want to take the barrel apart to get the barrel date, but it's stamped 43 on the bottom.