i think you have the real deal, very nice 12. the winchester guys should chime in....dan

 

Very nice.

 

Looks correct to me. As said, the pigeon stamp can be faked, but that one looks pretty good.

I am still looking for a two barrel pigeon trap/skeet Model 12 like my father had many years ago.

 

Very very nice! Contact Pauline Muerrel who was a Winchester factory engraver in the later years to confirm,

Pauline Muerrle – Winchester Factory Engraver, Author and Historian

Winchester Factory Engraver, Author and Historian

paulinemuerrle.com

 

if it were mine or considering purchase, I would contact her ASAP...I think that is a beautiful gun, bet it will grind 'em up..that said, I dont think it left Winchester like that...I'm far from an expert, having only handled a couple engraved 12's....it is a 2pin vent,right? TRAP stamp don't look right, edges of checking dont seem right, stock wear is less than pad and grip cap....may have been done by a winchester employee after the fact , lots of winchester special orders.....I got burned on a M-12 years ago, thankfully not bad!...I error on the caution side....sure hope for you, its factory. I dont believe it is..if not it's still special for sure

 

I just sent her an email. It is 2 pin vent rib, very pretty gun, but best to know if it's been upgraded after the fact so I'm best to ask questions now. Thanks

 

The wood doesn't look right to me. Winchester wood is usually proud around the receiver.

 

I'm no expert, but I've never seen a trap model stamped like that....the word "TRAP" placed horizontally on the mag tube. Check Riffle's book on the Model 12 for pictures of the varieties of correct trap stampings. I'll not opine on the legitimacy of the pigeon. Take this post to the Winchester forum on this site for more definitive answers.

 

Pauline should be the final word on this Model 12; will offer my first impressions.

1) Trap stamp doesn't match pre-war "TRAP" roll stamps and not used on post war models

2) The "B" carve while done well doesn't match factory exact patterns I've owned

3) The Pigeon missing some finer points of a real Pigeon engraved @ Factory

Appears upgraded to me .............................

 

Thank you for the responses, I'll contact Pauline as suggested. The stamping gives me pause as I haven't seen the "TRAP" stamp done like that before and I'm certainly no expert on this model.

 

I expect you have likely learned the trap stamp is suspect, earlier guns were stamped there, my 1946 trap is stamped trap further up the magazine tube and it is correct.

 

What did Pauline say? She responded to me same day when I inquired about the Pigeon Grade I purchased.