Winchester Model 12

Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 July 2009 17:12 Written by Administrator Thursday, 02 July 2009 20:46

The Winchester Model 12 is a pump-action shotgun designed by John Browning and Thomas Crosley Johnson. It was manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company from 1912 to 1963. Some special versions were manufactured until 2006. More than 2 million Model 12 shotguns have been manufactured till date.

The Winchester Model 12’s design is based on an earlier shotgun known as the Model 1897 ‘Trench Gun’. This weapon was used extensively in the First World War in close-combat situations in the trenches. However, it proved to be lacking in many regards. Thus the Model 12, developed in the meantime, was immediately adopted after the end of the war.

The Model 12 had several features that were very similar to its predecessor. For example, the Model 12 retained the Trench Gun’s bayonet lug though it was rarely used. The Model 12 saw extensive action throughout the Second World War and remained in service with the US Military until the 1960s.

The Model 12 came in different versions with different bores and barrel lengths. Versions were designed to fire 12, 16, 20 and 28 gauge shells. The Model 12 fed from a 5-round tubular magazine.

During the First World War, the US Army purchased 20,000 Model 12 shotguns and during the Second World War another 80,000 were purchased and deployed mainly in the Pacific Theatre. In addition, riot-control versions of the Model 12 were also purchased for protecting bases. The shotgun was also deployed during the Korean War and in Vietnam. Subsequently, when the Model 12 was discontinued in 1963, the Ithaca 37 took its place.

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