WW2 Winchester Model 12 Trench Gun With Fascinating History

[@sarjim4381]

An Ithaca Model 37 was my constant companion during my 27 years of police work. It was built using some of the original Remington Model 12/17 patents once they expired in the '30's, and it made some useful changes, chief of which was bottom load/ejection port, so there were no openings on the sides to collect dirt and rainwater. My "riot" model was built in 1951, and it was still functioning perfectly when I retired in 2005. The only difference between the "riot" gun and trench model was the lack of a heat shield and bayonet lug. They were taken out of service in 2006 and sold off as surplus, with retired officers having first call for a mere $150. I snapped one up as soon as the sale was announced. Any pre-1976 gun will slam fire, BTW. I still run 20-30 rounds a year through it and it still runs perfectly.

[@eleithias]

Ithaca model 37 is my favorite shotgun. I don't feel like there's been many significant improvements to a riot gun ever since

[@outdoorfreedom9778]

The advice of racking the round is frowned upon by most home defense instructors. It gives your location away and warns an intruder. Just push the safety to the right and shoot.

[@JayKayKay7]

I think that is the point. Keeping firearms with loaded chambers lying around is a little too sketchy for me ( except for revolvers). A 12 gauge pump with the tube loaded minus one, action unlocked, and safety off is a pretty good compromise.

[@TheWolfsnack]

...just remember to hold that trigger down when racking to warn an intruder....

[@JayKayKay7]

@@TheWolfsnack That works well with my Winchester 1897.

[@TheWolfsnack]

@@JayKayKay7 Yup...I love my 1897 clone....

[@jspike96]

Agreed. For those worried about leaving a loaded gun, I used to leave my pump half racked under the bed with the safety off so it was a matter of just finishing the action and it'd be ready

[@MysteriousMarsupial]

That racking noise brings joy to my soul. Greetings from New South Wales South Coast Australia Mate. Love the content!

[@lostatsee6867]

God Bless you In Jesus Holy Name

[@josephwallace7287]

Never give up your freedom.

[@johnauten6111]

I had a rack of these in Iraq 05-06. They were well worn but great as a master key for opening doors

[@nellsonstout7001]

That was probably the 1200

[@joshuagibson2520]

To me it looks like very fine condition. Not in terms of grading of it, but for its age and the life its had, I think it looks great. I would be overjoyed to own that fine piece. $3225 is already above my budget though lol. Exponentially.

[@stevest.martin3940]

More then I’m willing to pay.

[@mandrakevermilyea7488]

I bought a non trench 18in cylender (cut from full) choke 1929 dated modle 12 for $500 love the gun and slam fire is amazingly silly

[@mudejartrainingnaturalscie6938]

A High Standard identical version just sold at auction for $1200.

[@joshuagibson2520]

@@mudejartrainingnaturalscie6938 was that on GB?

[@thetobaccoguy1751]

This is another that I want to add to the collection.

[@larryspiller6633]

Call me crazy, I've always like things with bayonet lugs.

[@charlie1571]

My father recently passed away and left me a Winchester Mod. 12. He bought it the 30's from earning money on a paper route. He lied about his age and joined the Navy and became a gunner on a Grumman TBF plane. He saw action on the Atlantic and the coast of Africa and the invasion of Okinawa. He came back to the states on the USS Missouri. My God I miss him so much. So take my advice and love them while you can. There is no come back.

[@jason200912]

There were insanely expensive back then. 90 bucks. Basically a few months of wages. Today you can get them for nothing if it isn't a rare us army variant

[@imthatguy1878]

I have a first yr 1897 and a really early model 12 and the 12 is so smooth to operate

[@boarzwid1002]

Good friend of mine blew VC in half with the 97 in 64

[@PTS156]

I have a model 12 from the thirties. Built like a tank, built to last. 90 years old still slinging lead!

[@AdamosDad]

You actually do need to aim a shotgun. Back in 75' a friend of mine bought one for $50, I tried several times to buy it for much more, always no deal. It didn't have the same provenance but still a wonderful gun in immaculate shape. I found out a few years ago he passed, time moves on.

[@sgtmajtrapp3391]

Most interesting background. Both the Model 12 and even Model 1897 were used in Vietnam. The first riot gun I ever used was in fact an 1897 Winchester.

[@roberttaylor6030]

CHUK - CHUNK is an international language.

[@Paladin1873]

First gun I ever owned was a Model 12 that I got for my 18th birthday. I still have it.

[@keithmoore5306]

you are a lucky bastard indeed!!

[@Vangent87]

Oak Ridge is very much still an active military installation. I live in Louisville now but originally lived in a small town in SE KY between Richmond and Oak Ridge. Richmond was to the North of me and has an Army Depot that is used for Chemical weapon storage and oak ridge to the South that is a Nuclear military installation. On 9/11 my house was on the flight path the military was using to patrol between the two facilities and for weeks fighter jets were buzzing my house, it was wild.

[@mikemcqueary9381]

Another great video!!! Thank you 😊

[@joshuagibson2520]

I live within an hour of Y12. This is some of the most beautiful part of the whole country except maybe some places in Alaska.

[@JayKayKay7]

I have a 1950's production Winchester 1897 takedown with Illinois State Police branded in the stock. Cool gun.

[@joelahnstein2281]

i have my dad's civilian Model 12 that he bought in 1959 or 60. still smooth, still works well.

[@williamcrawford7982]

The sound of pulling the trigger works even better ✔

[@brianmoore1164]

There are lots of pump shotguns, but if you spend much time with a Model 12, you will always love them.

[@SteamCrane]

First job out of Engineering School was a company that built custom high-precision machine tools. One of our main customers was UCNC Y-12, which wanted to turn perfect spheres in 2 size ranges, 5-6" OD, and ~16-18" OD. Being naive, I assumed they were just cutting repeatability test pieces, but of course they were making the same perfect spheres, in uranium or plutonium, and high explosive. The machines ended up in 3 sided concrete cells, with a blowout 4th wall. Oddly, we were never invited for a plant visit.

[@GorillaCookies]

I have a original WW1 Winchester Model 1897 and a Model 12 WW2 Trench guns. I inherited them with several other WW 1 & 2 Related firearms from my grandpa who was a Marine who fought in the Pacific and after the war became a gunsmith a avid collector of Military Small arms and a well known engraver of firearms and other things.

[@jerryjohnsonii4181]

Awesome Winchester Model 12 Trench shotgun !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jimsworthow531]

One can cowboy shoot as well; just hold the trigger and pump away; it will shoot as fast as you can run it.

[@thomaswhiteman4261]

Randy. Best thumbnail EVER!

[@seanomeirs8362]

I have Grandpa's 1897 takedown, 16g, with his issued canvas carrying case.

[@ragingjaguarknight86]

Whether it is a M1897 or an M1912, a trench shotgun remains on my wishlist since to me, it is the perfect home defense weapon. ^_^ And I LOLed when Tony Montana popped up.

[@muddbear6410]

Used to live near Oak Ridge, TN. Used to drive be nearly every day. Has an amazing amount of history behind it, and I've heard several hilariously scary stories from some friends that got too close while exploring and had some VERY heavily armed security personnel roll up on them with enough weapons to turn them into scrambled eggs in a few seconds. The security guys were "on edge" to say the least lmao

[@GaryVills]

She’s already at 5k on action with 16 hours to go.

[@judge4all]

Slam fired…I learned something today.

[@mikebennet7697]

TE is a post war cartouche from Toole Army Depot in Utah, not Tennesee Eastman. This gun probably soldiered on into the 1960s.

[@jason200912]

Yeah this guy says all sorts of crazy myths and such

[@knightofthesun758]

Thanks for the Slam Fire, Sir. Great info.

[@Talltrees84]

I saw this in the 1987 movie "The Untouchables" (about Al Capone and Elliot Ness) with an exposed hammer. Did some damage and went up against gangsters with Tommy Guns.

[@meganely670]

One of these is on my gun bucket list

[@pillscottvt6628]

Had some for riot control in ******** 1994, with the Peter Pan length bayonet.

[@tommygun6028]

Great review Tom !!!!!

[@willbar1961]

Not sure why this came through my feed after so long but I always liked this and the exposed hammer model. Unfortunately prices are nuts. I did get lucky a few years ago and got a Rem. 870 Wingmaster ONG (Ohio National Guard) military gun with the long mag tube/bayonet lug. They sold pretty cheap and were gone within a few days. It is in about 95% original condition. I also have the Ithaca Police gun that slam fires. Two of my favorites.

[@jlacc1]

Radiated Model 12.. hahaha... love that next to my Model 97 takedown Riot.

[@jensenwilliam5434]

Thank you!!

[@I8ITSK8N]

One of my dream guns! Love those!

[@mrhamburger6936]

Ithaca made pump shotguns for the Second World War to they were used in Korea and Vietnam Stevens made some pump shotguns for Vietnam War

[@robviousobviously5757]

Stevens 520-30 were made for WW2.. production stopped in 1947/48

[@mrhamburger6936]

@@robviousobviously5757 Stevens manufactured a single-shot break open Mark us on the receiver supposedly their collector items I don't know when they were manufactured for some us military branch

[@johnc2438]

Carried an Ithaca Model 37 myself when assigned to the Seabees in Vietnam (1970 - 1971) and doing security or guard duty around our installation or when riding "shotgun" on a road trip into the Mekong Delta to visit one of our teams.

[@klausvonschmit4722]

Slam firing a pump is almost as much playing an old west outlaw in a shoot out using my old 357 revolver. Ironically, my left hand makes both activities happen although, shooting the revolver like this quickly hurts my hand but, it looks awesome!! 🤪

[@TheGorillafoot]

Great video! Awesome shotgun. Imagine if Winchester made a batch of these again.

[@chipngo9758]

Killing floor 1 weapon. Very good taste sir.

[@soylentgreen7074]

How much did you it up selling for? I see regular ones without as much history attached sell for 7000.

[@thomaswhiteman4261]

I believe it was 8500

[@soylentgreen7074]

@@thomaswhiteman4261 thanks for the reply.

[@Foche_T._Schitt]

Better check it with a Geiger counter. ;-)

[@unspokenbrute]

Keep up the videos!

[@gallen7878]

I don't see one of these on your website right now but I do see a great shape 1943 J Stevens 520- 30 shotgun that was used right on through Vietnam. it slam fires too and also uses the 1917 bayonet. Saw one sell on Rock Island Auction a couple of years ago for $ 5000 dollars and didn't even have the correct heat shield on it because it covered up the writing on the barrel. Thanks

[@BatCaveOz]

Excellent video. Can the Model 12 be "ghost loaded"? Resulting in 5 plus 1 plus 1... for a total of 7 rounds. (ie By loading the tube, putting one in the chamber, and then placing the additional "ghost round" on top of the carrier.)

[@boarzwid1002]

Yes

[@jlacc1]

Not sure about that.. but i modified my Riot 97 magazine follower cap by shaving it down until the 6th round locks up on the receiver feeder claw.

[@jason200912]

I think that's exclusively a bennelli shotgun thing

[@glennellis1584]

~"PUBLIC ENEMIES"~ know two sounds> a shotgun being racked, and the bolt retracted on aThompson. Loaded with 00buck or slugs, it is an effective stopper.

[@juanpablogomez7030]

Excelente arma, yo tengo dos bayonetas que le sirven, una Winchester y otra Remington, como siempre, gran video Doctor Tom!!!!

[@keithmoore5306]

Tom Y 12 was a specific plant at Oak Ridge not the entire plant! Y 12 was a horseshoe shaped building a mile long and about 400 feet wide per leg and it memory serves about 70 feet high! it did gaseous defusion of uranium through kalutron's (basically big electromagnets!!) for enrichment for the little boy bomb!! Oak ridge was active until the 90's they're decommissioning a lot of the place now but part of Oak ridge is still operating as a research facility! as to the gun if you run across a 26" barreled modified choke model 12 in that condition or close post it so i'll know and try on it!!

[@buckshot4428]

That Winchester "logo" is their proof mark.

[@stevewilson4514]

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is no longer in the business of uranium enrichment. That part of the plant is or has been dismantled. Just like it’s counterpart, the Hanford Reservation in Washington State which produced plutonium. Locals who have lived there long will tell you the fishing is great. But you don’t eat the fish or drink the water. The security force at ORNL was run by Martin Marietta in the 1990’s. They had a lot of prior service military on their force back then. And they had M14’s as issued weapons. Those were fully transferable Class 3 M14’s. Some of which got sold or traded in at some point. I think I recall seeing one for sale at a Rock Island Auction House sale a few years ago. Now that would be a great rifle to own.

[@dalanwanbdiska6542]

That looks pretty nice. I have a stevens savage 77c in excellent condition. Looking at them both together i can see the 12 has no pins or screws so it might be a better design. I still love my stevens savage 77c 12gauge

[@judge4all]

What a neat peace o history.

[@Jason.cbr1000rr]

Man this guy is hilarious hes very funny and cool lol

[@jasoncurry8439]

Nice video. Could you do a video on that Remington model 32 that’s for sale on your site?

[@mikeschotte9480]

I have a 1942 Model 12 marked the same way with ‘TE’- but I thought it was Tooele Army Depot, Utah? Where did the Tennessee Eastman info come from?

[@ecoaide3]

I grew up near there. I've always seen Tooele Army Depot as TAD. curious, have you seen it represented as 'TE' before?

[@donvee2000]

Its crazy I never of this model. I love shotguns and to be able to slam fire looks like a blast. Lol

[@nakoawarrior3186]

World War 1 ERA gun in better shape than individuals Model 12's,... their usually bare metal. So that gun is in great condition.

[@TylerSnyder305]

And they're never smart, so they'll think " ha they just dropped their phone "

[@travischandler272]

I have the bayonet to one also fits Winchester Enfield

[@paulbervid1610]

Cool history

[@milsurprifleguy7091]

I saw on back in June at a gun shop , didn’t have the money to buy it

[@keithgordon7700]

Where do you acquire the inspection gloves

[@Bill308A10]

I have the 1897 in excellent almost new condition but it’s not a trench gun has the long barrel on it. Is it worth some $ still?

[@TheAmtrack69]

Does it glow in the dark?

[@Sheltowee1775]

What kind of loads did they use in these during the war?

[@steveshoemaker6347]

THANK YOU....!

[@skigdividerx4991]

Can't find it on Gun Broker.

[@blainechambers5854]

Currently over 4K

[@tiredlawdog]

When I entered the San Antonio Police Dept. in 1965, we had model 97 Winchesters trench guns in our car racks. As you mentioned, when entering a warehouse at 2AM, just rack the slide and that was quite a statement maker. Next to the K9, it made the burglar do some thinking.

[@warpartyattheoutpost4987]

Have you ran a Geiger Counter over it?

[@davidharris9077]

I bought a model 12 ( 1961) in great shape. I have only owned a few pump action shotguns so not sure if this is normal, but if I don't keep foward pressure on the fore stock when I fire, I can't cycle the action after I shoot. I have looked at several KZbin videos and don't have an answer. Is this normal for a Model 12?

[@jason200912]

I can't rack it back until I release pressure on the pump, then pump back. If I try to hold back entire time and fire. It will lock up until I release the pump and do a seperate action

[@stang3787]

Check the gun with a Geiger counter or see if it glows in the dark.

[@mabbrey]

great vid

[@Wolshanze]

Interesting !

[@63DIRTY]

IIRC, it took a 1917 Enfield bayonet.

[@donkeziah2564]

Same bayonet as issued for the US Rifle Model of 1917. Winchester. Remington. Eddystone were the manufactures of the rifles. I don't remember the manufacturer(s) of the Pattern 14 Enfield Rifle made for the British but there was no designation "Enfield" for the American M1917 rifles that I have seen. I have heard thec US Rifle Model of 1917 referred to as "P-17 or Pattern 17 however I have never seen an official US designation for the rifle.

[@GypsyMoFoJoe]

Racking slide (false!) Pres. Joe said “ just step out on your balcony and fire off both of the double barrel”

[@mikeellis4158]

More then I can afford. Plus I would be shooting it. Not sticking in a safe to collect dust!

[@browngreen933]

I still have my father's Model 12 that he bought after he came back from Europe in WW2.

[@bdhtubal]

Jerrys complained of using shotgun on them as inhumane.

[@TheYeti308]

Ole Fritz had them too , Germans build nice shotguns .

[@davephillips7550]

I don't want to rack n fire like the movies. Click pull boom .. I just aquired a model 12 with two matching barrels 1925 model but am trying to track down the wooden box from the owner to complete it

[@wampuscat1831]

I disagree with what you term as Detractions .They are in fact proof marking that it is real. You forget this is not a silver mounted show case ,it is real history.

[@JNF590]

I carry a 18.5 inch Barrel Shotgun Locally Made, Chromed without a butt stock with a pistol Grip. At work There's a reason they issue us with such, People have an inherent fear of shotguns and with it Chromed and shinny it intimidates would be violator's.

[@1339LARS]

I´d rather see the 1897 Winchester!!!!

[@gregorymceaddy8884]

mother Winchester in 1902 after her husband died residing in her estate in New Jersey stated how sad she was how many indeginouis people had been slaughtered by her husband's patent

[@gunslinger383]

Are you sure it's not a 7 shot capacity? Mine is,but not a trench gun.

[@nellsonstout7001]

A real 1897 or 1912 trench gun would be a 5+1 because the bayonet mount limited tube length

[@joehayward2631]

While I was a Deputy all you have to do is rack the shotgun. Bad guys always stopped. I was on the USS MISSOURI end of 80s . Our shotguns were just like these, our 1911s were from ww2. Pretty cool.

[@sheogoraththedaedricprince9675]

The background that at first glance appears to be a mushroom could is actually a laughing clown. It was from an album cover. Whoever did the work photoshopped an image of a nuclear detonation to make it look like a clown and the work was even colored blue and pink with white and red, you know clown colors. This image is just the non colored version of that photo shop.

[@theguy6521]

Only top heavy for the uninitiated.

[@hitlermarlm3187]

👍

[@dustinguigley5230]

I have looked and looked for a video of and interview with a vet that actually carried one of these or any shotgun and you can't find one found flamethrower found bar found greese gun found 1911 but never shotgun

[@haroldgodwinson832]

I struggle to understand why a WW 2 pump action shotgun, used by security guards in this or that facility, (nuclear or otherwise), would be worth so much money. In fact, I think it's a real stretch to try and inflate the price of a firearm simply because it was issued to a particular depot or facility in the overall military industrial complex that was the Continental US during WW 2. When this sort of craziness occurs in asset prices, you really know that economic collapse is imminent. God help us all.

[@SteamCrane]

To many people, the price would be negligible. Maybe someday...

[@dingoduh]

Will you take $100 bucks for it?

[@1220b]

My weapon of choice for Zombie attack. Who says you cant look stylish in the apocalypse.....

[@markmelton587]

Yeah, Y-12 still exists, my Dad and brother in law were irradiated there, and died of radiation induced leukemia. A large stain on American history.

[@dougglaus9256]

Why would you rack the slide to scare away a burglar? This is super so not good advice. Why would I want to give away where I’m at. It’s obvious to me you have never been involved with a home invasion. Please stop perpetuating this old wives tale.

[@michealcastor4775]

I came here becsuse of call of duty world at war zombies 😂

[@deadhorse1391]

A very common faked gun, those electric pencil markings always make me nervous

[@Sp00kyV0id]

Nuclear trench gun