Has anyone done a clone 1200 trench gun? I have a canidate for the conversion if it is not too difficult. Will the 97 shroud & bayo lug work on a 1200?
The repro 97 shrouds are avaliable and it seems like it would be a fun spring project.
Printable View
Has anyone done a clone 1200 trench gun? I have a canidate for the conversion if it is not too difficult. Will the 97 shroud & bayo lug work on a 1200?
The repro 97 shrouds are avaliable and it seems like it would be a fun spring project.
If you peruse the previous 15 pages of this "Military Shotguns" forums, you will find numerous threads on 1200 Trench guns, including many photos.
The 1200 Trench Gun was equipped with a proprietory Heat Shield/Bayonet Lug assembly.
Winchester 97 or 12 Heat Shields, or Ithaca 37 Heat Shields would look similar, but are not legitimate for a 1200 Trench. It all depends on how accurate you want to be on your clone.
Monitor eBay and GunBroker websites - original heat shields, stocks, forends, and even barrels, show up every now and then.
You will also have to think about re-anodizing the receiver to a matte black finish, and parkerizing the Bolt and Shell Carrier to a matte black finish. Originals were a "greenish/grey", but difficult now to reproduce as t's my understanding that some of the chemicals used are banned as environmentally unsafe.
Below is a 1200 Trench Gun clone I was able to put together with parts I sourced from the above noted websites. However, took about 16 months to find everything.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...20Genera-1.jpg
The doner itself is cheap enough to at least make is worth considering. The repro 97 heat shield bayo lug is around $100. Not concerned about 100% authenticity but some duracoat and the heat shild bayo lug would make it visually close.
Look at East Taylor, LLC, in Statesboro, GA - they make a very good M97/M12 Heat Shield reproduction. Link below:
Parts for Antique Guns
Also consider Cerakote over Duracote - better finish.
Cheers!
Thanks for the tip.
Very nice looking repro.
Will the 97 or the 12 fit the 1200?
Best to measure your 1200 barrel diameter at muzzle end - at 20" finished length, then call them to see what's the closest fit.
Well I emailed them with the measurements and am told the 1200 shield is different and theirs will not fit. Looked at many photos and the 97s & 1200 shields sure look similar.
@ 20.5" from the breach face the OD of the barrel is .860.
:confused::crying:
Reply from East Taylor about diffrences in the 97 & 1200.
"The model 1200 bayo att has a lip on the muzzle end which stops the barrel from protruding past it. The barrel OD of the 97 is approx.. .875 to .878 at the muzzle."
Not sure that is somthing that cannot be delt with with some modifications.
Apologies...had a brain fade - you should be looking at the East Taylor Stevens Heat Shield, not the Winchester 97/12 unit. (see photo below of East Taylor Stevens unit).
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...40_x_480-1.jpg
The Lug for the Bayonet Mounting Ring on the Stevens' "flares out", as opposed to the Lug on the 97/12 lug, which looks thinner and straight.
The Bayonet Mounting Ring on a 1200 Heat Shield "flares out" - like on the Stevens assembly (see below photos of real 1200 Heat Shield assembly).
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...98Medium-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...00Medium-1.jpg
Additionally, the East Taylor Stevens unit has the Heat Shield spot welded to the Bayonet Lug - similar to a real 1200 Heat Shield. M97/12 Heat Shields are riveted to the lug, which wouldn't be right for the 1200 Trench.
The "lip" on the 1200 Heat Shield Lug is not critical for what you are doing, as you are mainly looking for a reasonably close appearance.
As long as your barrel outer diameter (OD) is smaller than the internal diameter (ID) of the Lug Clamping assembly, you can use thin shim stock to tighten things up.
And, even if you barrel is slightly larger than the ID of the Stevens assembly, a competent gunsmith or machinist can ream out the ID - there is a fair bit of material on the clamping lug. I've had to do this before on other projects.
Thanks.
East Taylor seems unfamiluar with this concept as he did not even suggest using the Stevens type. I even asked if they had plans to offer the 1200 type to which they responded no. Think they may be missing the boat on this with the number of 2 3/4 1200s floating about and not favored by hunters any longer.