Replica Trenchgun anyone?

[gun toting monkeyboy]

Don't forget the Stevens 520 Trench Guns. They make replica heat shield/bayonet mounts for these as well. And you can generally pick up a working 520 on gunbroker for under $200.

-Mb (who is NOT endorsing playing bubba with C&Rs)

[Asphodel]

I'm wondering if you can convert one from a regular model 12..is that even possible?

Yes, you could, but its not easy.

Reproduction handguards are readily available.....but.....cutting the three grooves for the handguard screws requires some very careful mill work, as the grooves are very nearly as deep as the wall thickness of the barrel, and one really should avoid actually cutting through the barrel. (note, edited.......original Winchester 'trench gun' barrels are slightly larger in diameter than are the 'sporting' or 'riot' grade barrels, so a correctly made reproduction handguard may be too loose on a standard sporting/riot barrel. Some reproduction handguards may be dimensioned for such a conversion, for all I know.......mike the barrel OD at 17 to 19 in., and check with the supplier of the repro parts.)

In theory, and, it seems, in actual practice, having the handguard screws a 'metal to metal' fit against the barrel adequately supports the thinned barrel wall at that point.

Simply shortening the barrel of a M12 to the 20in. 'riot' pattern is easy, but does take a bit of time to do it correctly.

Depending on the aize and model of lathe you have, you may opt to make a 'split sleeve' of aluminium or delrin, to suit the barrel diameter/taper at 19in, and dial the barrel in with a 4-jaw, to part it off at 20in., then radius the muzzle with a little form tool.

Alternatively, make a split sleeve for the barrel threads, and another to suit the barrel at 19in, and support the barrel in the steady rest.

Either method will require removing the barrel from the barrel extension. Sometimes, they will unscrew easily, sometimes one must use very gentle heat. Note the draw lines carefully when replacing the barrel extension.

Drill/tap for the bead sight at .500 from the muzzle. If I remember correctly, the tap size is 3-56. I don't remember the tap drill size, but its easily found in the Machinerys or American Machinist Handbook. Deburr very carefully, that barrel is a thin wall part.

Please don't be tempted to just hack-saw a Winchester barrel to approx 20in, and file it to approximately 'square'. If you think that 'good enough', as....to be fair....some police and guard agencies did, years ago, then find a M12 to which that has already been done.

Opinions differ as to whether the Winchester works may have filled orders for 20in. riot M12 shotguns, when there was a very high demand in late December of 1941 and the early months of 1942, with 'in stock' 28 or 30in. barrels shortened to 20in. at the factory.

A standard production original riot M12 will be marked 'CYL', but one may find 20in. M12's which look like factory work, with 'FULL' and 'MOD' markings. Rather obviously, any reasonably able machinist could shorten a Winchester barrel as well as could have been done at the factory.

cheers

Carla

[Sudaev]

My iac broke after about 200 shells. I had to manually press the shell lifter/bottom of the bolt up from the loading port to make it fully lock up and fire.

Was that the trench version, or the standard 'cowboy' 97 (without heat shield)?

[smle-man]

My iac broke after about 200 shells. I had to manually press the shell lifter/bottom of the bolt up from the loading port to make it fully lock up and fire.

Well, I got mine past that point and so far so good. The later production guns seem to be sturdier than the early ones.

[nick]

A bit late to the party, but I'm about to make an M1897 replica. Got receiver pieces, an 1897 parts kit (not military, but it will have to do), and a repro heat shield from Sarco on the way to me. Gonna be fun

[aghauler]

Don't forget the Stevens 520 Trench Guns. They make replica heat shield/bayonet mounts for these as well. And you can generally pick up a working 520 on gunbroker for under $200.

-Mb (who is NOT endorsing playing bubba with C&Rs)

Friend of mine carried one in 'Nam when went out in the bush as a medic. Used Fleshettes, nasty things he said.

[Sugarfoot47]

East Taylor LLC has the repro units for several shotguns including the Ithaca, Winchester 97 and 12. At $175.00 they're not cheap but they're well made and made in the U.S. The Model 12 units are specifically made for the smaller diameter commercial barrels. They sell them in the "white", so they would have to be blued or parked depending on what you want. They also have the required magazine caps for the Winchesters as well.