This scarce World War II Winchester Model 12 Trench Gun with factory parkerized finish was manufactured in late 1943. The Model 12 Trench Gun has the distinctive, late pattern, four-hole handguard/bayonet adapter with thick sling swivel. The adapted has a nickel-silver sight bead and is flush with the barrel muzzle. The barrel, receiver, magazine and handguard/bayonet adapter have the gray-green parkerized finish found on Winchester M1 rifles and M1 carbines. The receiver has the rough, un-polished, finish typical of factory parkerized Winchester Model 12 Trench Guns. The slide action bar, trigger, safety, slide release, hand guard bezels, lower sling swivel, and screws have the same commercial blue finish as blued Model 12 Trench Guns. The bolt and magazine follower are bright. The stock and forearm are walnut with a military oil-finish. The black, checkered, hard rubber buttplate is embossed with the Winchester trademark in the center. The right side of the receiver is roll-stamped "U.S." followed by a small Ordnance 'Shell & Flame' insignia. A smaller Shell & Fame insignia is stamped on the top center-line of the barrel. The Ordnance final inspection mark consisting of the block initials "G.H.D." enclosed in a rectangle above a small Ordnance Corps escutcheon is stamped in the center of the left side of the buttstock. The Winchester legend is stamped on the left side of the barrel and is partly covered by the handguard/bayonet adapter. The visible portion of the legend includes: "-WINCHESTER-/-TRADE MARK-" in two lines followed by "MODEL 12-12 GA.-2 3/4 CHAM./CYL" in two lines. Small Winchester oval "W/P" proof marks are stamped on the top of the barrel and receiver. The barrel date "43" is stamped on the underside of the barrel. "W" is stamped on the left side of the barrel lug. The bottom of the barrel and take-down collar are both roll-stamped with the serial number. It's complete with a Vietnam era M1917 bayonet. The bayonet has two-piece, checkered black plastic grips and is stamped: "US M1917/GEN CUT" on either side of bottom of the guard. The bayonet has a M3 scabbard with olive-drab plastic body and parkerized steel throat. The front of the throat is marked: "U.S.- M1917/B.A. INC." in two lines. Winchester manufactured a relatively small number of parkerized Model 12 Trench Guns in late 1943 and early 1944. Serial numbers for these trench guns start about 1,030,000. Winchester Model 12 Trench Guns saw a large amount of combat use with the Marine Corps during WWII and continued in service with the military thru the conflicts in the Persian Gulf. Most of the Winchester Model 12 Trench Guns were factory overhauled following WWII and the Korean Conflict. Model 12 Trench Guns with original finish are scarce. Manufactured in small numbers than the Model 12 Trench Guns with commercial blue finish, parkerized Model 12 Trench Guns are very scarce and highly desirable.

Excellent, as issued. This Model 12 Trench shotgun retains 99% of the original parkerized finish. The right side of the receiver has the small spot of discolored parkerizing at the lower front edge of the ejection port that is the result of heat treatment during manufacture and is found on all parkerized Model 12 receivers. The blue on the action bar shows the slightest trace of cycling wear. All of the screw heads are perfect. The Ordnance inspection marks and Winchester markings on the barrel, receiver and handguard/bayonet adapter are perfect. The stock and forearm are in new condition with all of the original oil finish. The Ordnance final inspection marks on the left side of the buttstock are in perfect condition. The bayonet and scabbard are excellent. The bayonet has 95% of the parkerized finish on the blade with scabbard scuffing. The grips and scabbard are excellent with only very minimal handling and storage wear. This is one of the finest parkerized Winchester Model 12 Trench shotgun ever offered for sale by the Rock Island Auction Company.