Win Mod12 Trench Gun Conversion

[Madcap]

Depending on availability of a friend's shop I hope to get the rivets soldered in this week. On another note, I realized the magazine plug I intended to use is for a M97 and isn't compatible. It's an original so I hope it may not be too hard to find a trade for M12 plug. I'll try a notice in the classified.

[Madcap]

Follow up on the above post:

I was mistaken about the mag plug. Apparently, both e M97 and M12 are the same. I was always curious about the hole through the main portion of it and apparently it was meant to allow any pressure built up in the tube to be released.

The rivets are trimmed now to fit flush and been inserted into the adapter with the heat shield in place. Everything looks good to go for soldering. The tapered barrel should be shimmed prior to attaching the adapter. I may send it off to have that done since the taper has to be compensated by shimming the outside diameter of the barrel and then turned down after silver soldering the barrel and shim together.

That's about it for now.

Dick

[Madcap]

I didn't have the chance to do anything further yet. Plumbing and vehicle maintenance got in the way. However, I've been in communication with Tom Wilkinson at "Bull Creek Arms" who has kindly taken time to explain the possible need to shim my barrel before attaching the adapter. This is something I was aware of earlier concerning commercial barrels but had forgotten about it. The military apparently had to do the same thing when they were forced to use commercial barrels to keep up with the trench gun production.

I'll be back with more info soon as I can. Meantime I highly recommend Bull Creek Arms and Tom Wilkinson for any honest, quality work. He totally cleared up the question on the correct original rivet attachment to the adapter which was not silver soldered but traditionally riveted. I may solder mine out of simplicity since it won't appear or make any difference to me.

Getting closer despite the time taken....

[Tom Doniphon]

Winchester used special purpose barrels for the Model 12 trench gun. These barrels do not have a taper like the riot barrels do. I have never heard that they used commercial barrels on trench guns to keep up with production nor have I ever seen an original production Model 12 trench gun with a commercial barrel. After WWII the military decided to convert many of its riot and long barrel Model 12s to trench guns. They brazed a sleeve on the muzzle end of the barrel to make the bayonet adaptor fit properly. The sleeve had the three transverse groove cuts on the bottom for the bayonet adaptor screws.

[Madcap]

Tom,
You are no doubt correct, thanks for the clarification. I think I got the Trench Gun barrel confused with the commercial ones. It's been too long since I read about it. My conversion recently progressed to the point of sending off to have barrel sleeved. Tom Wilkinson at Bull Creek Arms is handling the work for me and I cannot say enough of how impressed I am with him. He took time on more than one occasion to talk to me about how the adapters were attached and the need for a sleeve on my commercial barrel. He even called me a couple nights ago to let me know it arrived. I can't say enough about how confident I am with him doing the work and will post any further info. He also was impressed with the home made heat shield which I am so thankful for the help and generosity of rcathy without whom this project probably would never have happened.[COLOR="black"]

I'll post anything further of interest that comes up.

Dick

[Madcap]

Hello all -
My project should be completed following receipt of the barrel and adapter from Bullcreek Arms. The barrel was sleeved, grooved and apparently re- blued. Soon as it arrives and assembled to the receiver photos will be posted.
Dick

[browningautorifle]

Looking forward...

[Madcap]

The barrel and adapter arrived this morning and is now finally attached to the receiver. I'm pretty happy with it considering all the effort and period of time involved.

Not real sure about the rerpro sling - I think it's ok late for post WWII (?)....I had a 1907 sling but sold it before the conversion.

Comments or questions are welcome.

It's feels good to be a kid...

Dick

[browningautorifle]

It looks good...the sling, I had a flat slider sling that I think was a Danish made that I used on my 870 Remington. It looked better I thought than a later M1 type. I wouldn't use the 1907 sling myself, they're so heavy.

[Madcap]

Thanks Jim, I sorta wish I still had that 1907 sling just for comparison, but that's about all. The web sling is good enough and still looks period correct I believe. I'm just as proud of everything after all the time and effort anyway. The only bit I regret is the misaligned hole I drilled that I may try filling in with a modified rivet and very carefully trying to smooth off flush without messing up the bluing...just a thught.

Dick