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Winchester Mod. 12, 20 ga.???

taperloc
When did Winchester discontinue nickel steel barrels for Model 12, 20 ga.???
Thank you,
Taperloc.
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • Bert H.
    Hello John...

    The exact date will forever be a mystery, but Nickel Steel barrels were replaced by Proof Steel barrel sometime around 1935. Dave (only winchesters) may have a better answer.

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • only winchesters
    Good evening taperloc and Bert. That's a million dollar question! LOL In 1931 the Winchester Proof Steel barrels appeared. However they had Nickel Steel and Stainless Steel barrels still in stock. Most all the 12ga. barrels were consumed by S/N 620xxx. The highest S/N that I've seen on a 16/20 ga. was in the low 660xxx. The choke is the key, Full and Modified were consumed first, then Imp/Cyl then Cyl. So I would not be surprized to see a Nickel Steel Barrel on a 20/16 ga with a Imp/Cyl or Cyl near 700xxx, and have it actually be original. However all the barrels would have come out of the foundry no later than 1931. Winchester didn't have great inventory contol, in the sense that they didn't always pull the oldest barrels from stock first, when assembling the the Md 12. I have seen a 1936 Stainless Steel Md 12 and it was all original, and they stopped making Stainless Steel Barrels in 1930. Based on what I've seen in the last 35 years, I would examine any Nickel Steel gun with a S/N over 680xxx real close to see if it had, had a barrel swap. Any marks what so ever on the barrel or receiver extention, would be a dead give away.
    Hope this helps you. Regards Dave
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  • Hangfire
    Thank you Dave for stepping in....Taperloc deserved an expert reply[8D]

    Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by Hangfire
    Thank you Dave for stepping in....Taperloc deserved an expert reply[8D]

    Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob


    And you deserve a knot on the head! (which I will happily apply)[}:)][:D] You are buying the beer when we meet[^]

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • Hangfire
    quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by Hangfire
    Thank you Dave for stepping in....Taperloc deserved an expert reply[8D]

    Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob


    You are buying the beer when we meet[^]

    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!


    Not a problem my friend...I'll buy the Beer AND the Lunch!!![8D][8D]



    Love them Pre-64's!!!!-Bob


    Dave- we're down in SoKal....maybe you could join us some time. You might enjoy watching "Slow Bert" try to tag me. Your drinks and lunch are on me as well.[8D]
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  • only winchesters
    Good morning Bert & Bob. Thank-you for the invite. My next planned trip to So. Cal is in Jan., I will collect on that lunch! LOL Regards Dave
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  • taperloc
    Thank you gentlemen, I appreciate your input, but why do you guys use my posts to do all this drinkin and fightin? Ha.
    Taperloc.
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  • Bert H.
    quote:Originally posted by taperloc
    Thank you gentlemen that is the incorrect term to be using for this crowd[:D], I appreciate your input, but why do you guys use my posts to do all this drinkin and fightin? because we can, and you can't stop us[}:)]... seriously, if you were not on the wrong side of the country, we would invite you too[^] Ha.
    Taperloc.


    Bert H.

    Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
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  • gunut 1
    I have 20ga #641235 28in full and if is Proof Steel...



    "Each and every day of my life forces me to add to the list of people who can kiss my xxx...."
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  • only winchesters
    gunut 1: That is most likely original. Like I said the Winchester Proof Steels barrels first appeared in 1931. The Nickel Steel barrels that were Full or Mod. choked were consumed first. One way you might be able to tell the barrel manufacturing date, position the gun so the action slide bar is away from you, slide a piece of paper between the barrel and the receiver extention. Using a lead pencil, (may require some trimming to get the lead free of wood and long enough) lightly rub the pencil lead on the paper on the bottom of the barrel, you should be able to high-lite a number and it should be 31, if it is not then the barrel was most likely replaced. That is a prewar gun, so it should have the patent dates on the right side of the barrel. If there are no patentent dates , then it's definately been replaced. Regards Dave
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