What year were the MOST Model 12s Mfgd

Thought to wrangle with, what year was the Most Winchester Model 12s Produced, and why?

GB...............................DLS

 

If you look here http://www.winchesterguns.com/conte...ture-Dates-by-Year-2012-Scanned-Documents.pdf ..... and do some math on page 20, you should find the answer of most in a production year ..... the why could be many things .....

 

Sometime during WW2?
Of the many model 12s that I had, the WW2 trench model 12 with bayonet was my favorite.

 

An old document from my files shows 1961 as the year having the most production.

I'm hopeful this may help others wondering what year their Model 12 was made.

Enjoy Our History !

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I would guess someone made an error with the 1964 and 1972 serial numbers.

Winchester also started using the "Y" in the late 19xxxxx serial numbers prior to the "Y2000100" serial number.

 

What records I saw 1959 was the Highest Production Year. I just reviewed and it is still 1959.

GB...............................DLS

 

I now have two sets of records and both reflect the same numbers, one of them is supposed to be one of them from Winchester with the hand drawn parts and assembly ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

In 1959 Winchester Produced 104,501 Starting w/Ser#1,691,000- 1,795,500

These are Winchester Mfgr Production Serial Numbers

Gary Bryant................................Dr.longshot

 

Some of the Y serial #s are Investment Castings, Some of the "Y" are milled steel recievers left in stock that were Top Grade Super Pigeon, w/Engraved Dogs on both sides, Some are Gold Inlays of dogs, Pheasants, Snipe, Quail, Grouse Etc. Depended on the Special Orders received until The Milled Recievers ran out.

GB.........................DLS

 

I have never seen a "Y" on a 1,900,000 model 12, if someone has one would you post a picture of one. TY

GB................DLS

 

I do know for a fact there are some "Y" Model Super Pigeon's w/FORGED Recievers, not investment castings, they are easy to identify w/the naked Eye.

GB............................DLS

 

Interesting thread.
I must agree with the Dr., as I don't recall having seen a Y12 under 2,XXX,XXX.
However, when you're talking 12s anything is possible.
The later guns I've seen were pretty rough action wise.
Years ago, the early 80s I think, Guns Unlimited had a new 12 NIB for sale that wouldn't go together.
It was priced right but was obvious a Mfg. defect. No way that should have left the factory unnoticed.

Regards.....Gerald

 

When you take firearm manufacturing law and mix in Winchester marketing, then throw in incorrect published information you get nothing more than folklore .....

If you look here ..... https://www.chuckhawks.com/winchester_model_12.htm ..... you will find "Model 12's produced from 1964 onward have a "Y" prefix added to their serial numbers." ..... then here ..... https://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=390489 ..... you can find ..... "I have a super pigeon with a Y196xxxx serial number and have seen later serial numbers on guns without a Y." .....

I know the later to be true because I sold "Trap" shotguns for many years, and have had/seen/sold Winchester Model 12's with "Y19xxxxx" serial numbers .....

The first change from "Model 1912" to "Model 12" was prior to Big Brother passing restrictive manufacturing laws, so no big deal ..... When Winchester wanted to reintroduce the same Winchester Model 12 as prior manufacturing, new laws were in place about how they could continue, including how to keep the old serial number chain going ..... When a firearm part requiring a serial number has completed manufacturing, it gets a proper serial number and a tax is paid ..... So, the exact serial number of old production, and the serial number required to resume production, seems to be hard to confirm .....

And, what would be one of my posts be without "bashing the ATA" ..... I take a BIG issue with the misinformation being published by the current "ATA", because it will be picked up later by research and be told as fact .....

 

One of the major differences was on the older Model 12's you could hold the trigger and pump it till it was empty (fan fire ), the later Models had to be made so you could not ... The Government got involved and called it a safety precaution ... I have owned a bunch of Model 12's over the years, had one Y Model that had wood so nice it looked like it was custom ... I am going to probably go back and shoot a Model 12 when I go up and play ... They just feel so damn right to me ... My wife has one with an Anton Rollover stock that fits her perfectly, no problem for her with the recoil ... I have a box full of parts plus an extra gun for parts just in case one of them breaks other than the firing pin (I have a dozen of them ) ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

User1: What I stated was there are The FORGED RECIEVERS with a "Y" 2,000,000 ser#, and there probably are "Y" !,900,000 ser #s.

There were Forged Recievers in Inventory, not serial Numbered yet, for CUSTOM PRODUCTION, From CUSTOM SHOP. LEE DAVIDSON The Winchester Rep told me this in 1967 Era, when I was shooting at Airport Gun Club with him, he was the man then.

As was typical of the "Y" Model 12s after 1964, were investment Casted Recievers.

My friend owns a "Y" 2,000,000 Forged Reciever Winchester Super Pigeon in the box, It is NOT and Investment Casting Reciever.

GB................................DLS

 

Look up or do a search for McHenry Gunclub, they have a copy of Winchester Model 12s w/ser # and Years of Mfgr

GB................................DLS

 

I have a book on Model 12's (Mandis , ? ) I think, I will try and find it because it has all of the numbers also ... I also have the hand drawn instructions from way back when in the safe with the Model 12's that I own ... (They have their own safe ) ...
WPT ... (YAC) ...