This is an outstanding example of probably the rarest of all the WWII U.S. marked shotguns; an original, unaltered late WWII Winchester Model 12 Trench Shotgun that has the ultra rare "two-tone" transitional, half blue and half parkerized finish, as manufactured late 1944 or early 1945. There has always been considerable speculation as to when Winchester actually changed from the earlier "all blued" to the "all parkerized" finish, during production. It is thought to have taken place some time after 1031000, and this example falls directly in line with that theory. This beautiful shotgun is in exceptional, like new condition with its "original" late WWII Winchester Green parkerized finish on the receiver, magazine tube and heat shield/bayonet lug with the original Winchester wartime blued finish on the complete barrel, and barrel extension, pump handle slide, trigger, safety and all the various actions screws and small parts. The breech bolt and lifter are also still in their original "in the white" finish from the factory. It is estimated that not more than 25-50 of these "transitional finish" trenchguns were actually produced with each one being slightly different, as each time one was assembled the combination of blued vs. parkerized parts changed. With 98% of all the WWII trench shotgun having being rebuilt and or reparkerized after WWII, Korea or even Vietnam, combined with these "dual-tone" shotguns having been targeted for refinishing (as the protective metal finish was not very durable) the survival rate of these rare original "transitional finish" shotguns is almost zero! The Winchester Model 12 and 97 Trench Guns were the primary U.S. combat shotguns in WWII, Korea and well into Vietnam. They were always a favorite of the Marine Corp with many of them seen in combat photos throughout the Pacific. The left side of the barrel is roll stamped with the two line Winchester address/patent dates followed by "-WINCHESTER-/-TRADE MARK-" and "MODEL 12-12 GA.-2 3/4 CHAM./CYL." The top breech end of the barrel is stamped with a small Ordnance Dept. "Shell and Flame" insignia with both the barrel and front edge of the receiver stamped with the circled Winchester "WP" factory proofmark. The right front end of the receiver is correctly roll stamped with the Ordnance "Shell and Flame insignia followed by the "U.S.". This shotgun is fitted with its original walnut stock and pump handle with the left side of the stock stamped with a crisp boxed Ordnance "G.H.D." inspection mark and a crisp small 1/4 inch U.S. Ordnance Escutcheon stamped below that. The underside of the barrel extension and receiver are correctly roll-stamped with the matching serial number, "1031822". The walnut stock and forearm have a oil finish with a black checkered hard rubber buttplate with the circular Winchester logo fitted to the butt. The shotgun is fitted with the original WWII pattern four hole "W" (for Winchester) marked, all parkerized heat shield/bayonet lug. The lower stock has a factory parkerized sling swivel and the larger bail wire sling swivel located on the bayonet lug. This beautiful and very rare Winchester trench shotgun is fresh to the collector market coming out of a 25 year old collection, with the consignor stating is was originally obtained via the prestigious Pat Redmond collection.