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[fred cook]

Went to a (mostly) gun auction on Saturday just for chuckles, sat there for several hours watching while people paid too much for things! Finally right at the bitter end, maybe 10 or 15 items from the finish, a very nice Winchester Model 12 w/deluxe wood came up for sale. Since most of the bidders had already left or spent their money by then, I was able to buy it for a very low price, maybe 1/2 of what it is worth! When I got home, I did some research and found out that it is a "Super Field Grade" gun. These were only made from 1954 thru about 1959. This one dates to early 1954. It has deluxe wood and hand cut checkering, vent rib, special blueing, and the bolt and loading plate are machine turned. It also has the red Winchester shoulder pad. It will be a companion gun to go with the Model 12 in 20 gauge that I already had. Some pictures. The 12 gauge is the one with the darker wood.

[rfuerst911sc]

Very nice

[crustychief]

Beauty.

[biosurfer1]

Your "machine turned" comment reminded me of a conversation I had with an older engineer at work not long ago. He seems to remember back in the 50's/early 60's all the advertising was "space aged materials" and "precision machining" etc, etc.

Now 99% of the stuff out there is machine made and advertising likes to showcase "fine hand craftsmanship" or the like.

Guess when the ad guys run out of ideas, its rinse and repeat

[fred cook]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

Your "machine turned" comment reminded me of a conversation I had with an older engineer at work not long ago. He seems to remember back in the 50's/early 60's all the advertising was "space aged materials" and "precision machining" etc, etc.

Now 99% of the stuff out there is machine made and advertising likes to showcase "fine hand craftsmanship" or the like.

Guess when the ad guys run out of ideas, its rinse and repeat

I think that I used the wrong term to describe the finish on the Winchester M12. I should have said "Engine Turned" which is done by hand. Here's a picture of a lifter plate finished like the one on my Super Field Grade. Apparently the Super Field Grade guns were very close to being the same as a Pidgeon Grade gun!

[on2wheels52]

For myself, there's a number of Winchester models in that era are just 'right'.
I kept waiting for a nice Model 12 to come through the pawnshop but it never did. A nice score for you.
Jim