You have a trap version of the model 12. Not all solid rib guns were trap versions. I believe that the W stamped by the serial number indicates that the gun was a Winchester asset. I have heard it means other things, but I am not convinced.

I have 2 16ga guns with a W and sent a 3rd one back to the seller because it had been reamed out. All of the serial numbers are close to the one you listed.

-edit- I'm striking the comments about the W, as I cannot find a source to corroborate the story I was told.

 

Good morning PROWLER 67: Having "MODEL 12 TRAP" on the receiver extentions started in the early or mid 1930s, (going by memory) prior to that the word -TRAP- was stamped on the receiver just below the serial number. Winchester continued stamping the receiver extention un about 1948/49 time frame, when someone had the bright idea that, since about 95% of the Trap guns made had the 2 pin Vent rib, (only offered on Trap and Skeet guns with the duck Bill extention. The Solid ribbed trap guns are, were identified by the butt stock only, (straight butts had only about 1 1/2 inch. DOH, of course a Monte Carlo butt was a dead give away. (sometimes it's hard to tell the difference from a Deluxe Field and a Standard Trap with a solid rib).

Lastly the "W" stamped on the receiver just above the loading gate means one thing. The receiver had to be reblued. the original blueing, for what ever the reason, contamined blueing process, it was scratched, or what ever, the receiver was repolished and blued a second time, prior to the gun being built up or going to the wharehouse. this is very common on guns made in the 1930s and 40s.

Regards Dave

 

Dave, welcome back. I haven't seen you here for a couple days. Certainly if you say it means reblued, I have to trust your word. Man, that says a lot about the amount of use the little 26" i.c. has had. Its got nothing much more than patina left. Still, it is a sweet handling and shooting little gun!

edit - just a grasping at a straw here, going from your post. Do you think it is possible that the 16ga receiver may have been born as a 20ga, then machined to a 16ga and reblued? I know thats a stretch, but I'm interested to hear what you think.

 

Hi Aj: Well as I've said before anything is possible!! Example as a cutter wears, sometimes it can cut oversize and or gall.

Certainly since receivers were made from one billet of material, to help eliminate waste, if there was a machine hiccup, broken cutter, worn cutter, galling marks, the most logical thing to do is measure the effected area to determine how much material is left. If the damage isn't too severe it most certainly could be machine to the larger deminsion for a 16 ga. bolt, or carrier as an example.

Something to ponder, most people know that the choke of a Winchester shotgun barrel was hand lapped to a specific tolerance. Most 12 ga. barrels will measure about .688-698 in diameter at the muzzle. The very last operation on the machining, honing, and lapping process, was to stamp the choke designation on the barrel. I've seen 30 in. Modified, and even a 30 in. Cyl choke barrel. Most people who bough the more open choked barrels wanted them shorter! winchester certainly didn't throw barrels away because they were over lapped/honed. they just ended up with some long barrels with something other than a FULL choke. By the way something like a 30 in. Imp/Cyl, Cyl, or a 32 in. Modified, is rare, and certainly worth looking closely at to see that it might not get a new home in your Winchester collection!!

Regards to all

Dave.

PS: AJ PM'd me and asked for my source, it's from Ned Schwing author of "The Winchester Model 42" and "Winchester's Finest, the Model 21". From page 24 of the 42 book.

 

Thanks Dave for your input.
Eddie