That doesn't make sense since the 1893 and the 1897 was designed by John Browning . I just took my 1956 -1897 apart and tried to screw the sleeve on one of my model 12's doesn't fit. I have fitted hastings model 12 after market bbls to old actions its lots of work not as simple as putting a new adjustment sleeve on but you do end up with a model 12 that you can shoot steel through srew in chokes nice aftermarket bbls but expensive
Model 12 Heavy Duck Gun
- Thread starter goosechsr
- Start date
The Model 1893 was a Browning design that was perfected at Winchester by William Mason and Thomas Crossly Johnson. The Model 1893 was a solid frame built during the transition period between black and smokelass powder. The M1893 failed when used with smokeless powder but managed to produce near 35,000 guns.
By 1897 Mason and Johnson had perfected a much better action. The Model 1897 was a success. The serial numbers for the 1897 continued where the 1893 left off. Early 1897's were also of the solid frame design. The 1893 and early 1897 has the letter A or B above the serial number. I can't remember if the take down was a 1898 or 1900 patent. Either way the change was noted by the letter C above the serial number. The C change also included a thicker receiver wall and a spring added to the ejector. Then the D change had wider grooves on the inside of the receiver and E change, I forget. The C still had the rounded magazine cap and the D had the flat cap. But with Winchester there were the running changes. When changes were decided, not all came to be at the same time. Some parts bins were still full of the old style while other bins were empty and filled with the new style. So the term "Running Changes" became the term to explain while some guns had the changes before others and some new still had the old.
But back to the take down feature. This was not a Browning but a Johnson better idea. I just took down a pre-war Model 12 and removed the adjustment sleeve and threaded on a Model 1897 one. Fit perfectly. The threads on the inside of the sleeve are fine thread.
One way to tighten up a worn loose receiver and barrel without having to purchase the next size sleeve, is to turn the sleeve around and with a sharp 3 corner file: install new grooves in the sleeve to the same measurements and spacing as the other side. Got to be neat and accurate with the layout and the filing so the lock will mess. It takes at least an hour to get it done right and if you figure in the time, may as well just buy the next size and call it a day.
Anyways, that's the was it was back then. .
Rod
Ahhhhhh.... Model 12's. I have a few sitting in the safe that have been passed down through the family... some have got repaired cracked stocks, one had the barrel chopped after an incident with snow in the barrel back in the 40's... and one is pristine as it was owned by the brother who wanted to fit in... but didn't really like hunting.
I shot my first ducks and geese with Model 12's while all my friends were shooting the newest Benelli's and Beretta's. I still take em out at least once a season, just for the sake of using one of the best and most traditional water fowling guns in history. They still kill and shoot just as well as they did 70 years ago.
To the OP, I would recommend you pick up the HD Model 12 just to have a bit of history in your collection.
I shot my first ducks and geese with Model 12's while all my friends were shooting the newest Benelli's and Beretta's. I still take em out at least once a season, just for the sake of using one of the best and most traditional water fowling guns in history. They still kill and shoot just as well as they did 70 years ago.
To the OP, I would recommend you pick up the HD Model 12 just to have a bit of history in your collection.
